kids now early childhood development initiative initiative governor’s office of early childhood...
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KIDS NOWKIDS NOWEarly Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development
InitiativeInitiative
Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development
Who?Who?ChampionsGovernor Paul Patton
Traditional
Legislators
Cabinet Secretaries/Staff
Early Childhood Professionals (KAECE, KYA)
County Extension
Libraries
Head Start
Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies
YMCA/YWCA
Early Interventionists
Department of Education
Child Care Programs/Staff
Parents
United Way
Family Resource/Youth Services Centers
Non-TraditionalLegislatorsWorkforce Development CabinetHigher EducationBusiness (Bell-South, Fidelity, Toyota, UPS)Chamber of CommerceFoundationsKentucky Medical AssociationAFL-CIOAssociated Industries of KY.KY. Association of School BoardsKY. Association of School AdministratorsParentsCatholic ConferenceKY. Rural Health AssociationKY. Hospital AssociationKY. Psychological Association
What?What?What?What?
House Bill 706Comprehensive, multi-faceted bill designed to get us started toward our goal that all young children in Kentucky:
Are healthy and safe Possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success Live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.
KIDS NOWKIDS NOW
I. Assuring Maternal and Child Health
II. Supporting Families
III. Enhancing Early Care and Education
IV. Establishing the Support Structure
Where?Where?Across the state of Kentucky
Professional Meetings (PTA, KY Assoc. of County Judge Executives, KY Maternal and Child Health Conf.)
Public Forums (10 Task Force Report, 8 Quality Rating System, 7 Professional Development, 7 Community Early Childhood Councils)
Civic Organizations (Chamber of Commerce, Rotary)
Regional Meetings (Area Development Districts)
Local Meetings
When?When?KIDS NOW History
April 1998 Governor Patton announces creation of Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.
November 1998 Executive Director hired after conducting a nationwide search.
March 1999 Governor Patton appoints Governor’s Early Childhood Task Force.
November 1999 Task Force delivers KIDS NOW 20-year comprehensive plan to Governor Patton.
February 15, 2000 HB 706 Introduced.March 28, 2000 Passed both Chambers without one dissenting vote.April 4, 2000 Governor Patton signed HB 706 into law.July 1, 2000 KIDS NOW Implementation.
Why?Why?Current Brain Research
90% of the “architectural structure” of the brain is developed by age 3.Critical periods of brain development happen in the first 3 years of life.
Economic DevelopmentEvery child must reach their full potential and grow in to adults who are taxpayers not tax users.
Education ReformThe next logical step in education reform is to address early childhood.
State of Kentucky’s ChildrenKentucky ranks near the bottom of states in a number of critical areas. Our children deserve better.
WHY KIDS NOWWHY KIDS NOW KENTUCKY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF:• infant mortality from birth defects. • neural tube defects (spina bifida) in the nation.
KENTUCKY HAS • Had 28,500 cases of substantiated child abuse/neglect in FY98, 46%
involved children under the age of four.
KENTUCKY RANKS:• 42nd with 34% of children under 5 living in poverty. • 35th with the percentage of low birth weight babies born in the last 30 not
improving. • 42nd with 33% of children living with parents without full-time, year-round
employment.• 49th with 14% of teens who dropout of high school. • 43rd with 12% of teens not in school or working.
Broad Broad RepresentationRepresentation
ofofTraditional and Traditional and Non-TraditionalNon-Traditional
EntitiesEntities
Prenatal Work GroupPrenatal Work GroupPrenatal Work Group focused on the time period from pre-conception to hospital discharge post-partum.
In-Home Work GroupIn-Home Work Group
In-Home Work Group focused on providing support to families as they raise their children, birth to age eight, in the home environment.
Early Care & Education:Early Care & Education:Birth to Five Work GroupBirth to Five Work Group
This work group addressed early care and education issues of children ages birth to age five who are in out-of-home settings.
These settings included child care programs, Head Start, public preschool programs and “kith and kin” care.
Early Care and Education: Early Care and Education: School-Age Work GroupSchool-Age Work Group
This work group examined the needs for before and after school child care.
Professional Development Work Professional Development Work GroupGroup
This work group focused on:• Personnel serving children birth to age 5• Personnel working across all early care and
education settings (e.g., Head Start, Early Intervention, Preschool, Child Care)
• Personnel at all levels of education and training
Public AwarenessPublic Awareness Work Group Work Group
This work group addressed issues related to all other work groups.
Objectives:
• Inventory - what are we doing now?
• Needs Assessment - what are the communication challenges?
• Recommendations - what is the best vehicle for the message?
Location of TenLocation of TenCommunity ForumsCommunity Forums
CovingtonSomersetLexingtonOwensboroBowling Green
PaducahMadisonvilleLouisvillePrestonsburgMorehead
Advocate ActivitiesAdvocate Activities Early Childhood Task Force (March – July 1999)
Prenatal Workgroup
In-Home Workgroup
Early Care and Education (birth – five) Workgroup
Early Care and Education (school-age) Workgroup
Professional Development Workgroup
Public Awareness Workgroup
10 Community Forums
Advocate Activities (Continued)Advocate Activities (Continued)
HB 706 KIDS NOW Legislation (February – April 2000)
Postcards To Legislators
Early Childhood Display in Tunnel
On-site Visitation With Legislators
Phone Call To Legislators
KAECE/Child Care Resource and Referral Email Alerts
Weekly Meeting With Advocates
Advocate Activities (Continued)Advocate Activities (Continued) Implementation (July 2000 – Present)
Quality Rating System Workgroup (July – September 2000)
6 Community Forums
Professional Development CouncilCore Content Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001)
Training Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001)
Credentials Workgroup (August 2000- February 2001)
Articulation Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001)
Scholarship Workgroup (July 2000 – Present)
10 Community Forums
Advocate Activities (Continued)Advocate Activities (Continued)
Child Indicators Project Birth to Three Workgroup (June 2001- February 2002)Three to Five Workgroup (March 2001- February 2002)K-4 Workgroup (Fall of 2001- February 2000
State ConferencesKAECE/Head Start Collaborative Annual ConferenceInfant Toddler Annual ConferenceEarly Childhood Annual ConferenceSchool-Age Annual Conference
Working With The MediaNewspaper Articles in Major Papers
Advocate Activities Advocate Activities (Continued)(Continued)
Working With The MediaNewspaper Articles in Major Papers
Appearance on Radio and TV Issue Programs
Press Conferences
Op Ed Pieces by Unusual Suspects
Governor’s Office of Early Governor’s Office of Early Childhood DevelopmentChildhood Development
700 Capitol Avenue, Room 133700 Capitol Avenue, Room 133Frankfort, KY 40601Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-2611502-564-2611
Dr. Kim F. Townley, Executive DirectorDr. Kim F. Townley, Executive DirectorTeri Mehler, M.S., Executive AssistantTeri Mehler, M.S., Executive Assistant