Indianapolis, IN – Natalie Wolfe, a resident of Indianapolis, was chosen to represent area parents at the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies’ (NACCRRA) National Policy Symposium, held March 10-14, 2009, in Washington, D.C. At the Symposium, Wolfe learned about national child care issues and had the opportunity to meet with her local senators, representatives and members of Congress on Capitol Hill to share local child care concerns and advocate for more affordable, high-quality child care for Indianapolis parents.
“We are extremely pleased that parents such as Natalie Wolfe attended NACCRRA’s Policy Symposium,” said Linda K. Smith, Executive Director of NACCRRA. “By attending the Symposium and voicing her child care concerns to policymakers, she is primed to effect change and improve the quality of care that Indianapolis’ children receive.”
Wolfe suffered tragic loss when her 3-month-old child died at the hands of an unlicensed child care provider, who left the child unattended for more than two hours in an adult bed on her stomach. Since her child’s death, Wolfe and her husband, Todd, have committed themselves to increasing public awareness around the need for improved child care standards. As a result of their commitment, the Wolfes helped to pass Reagan’s Law in memory of their deceased child, which seeks to protect children in negligent environments. Their efforts have also helped to establish the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource & Referral Better Baby Care Program, a national initiative to encourage and support states, tribes, and local communities to promote the healthy development of babies, toddlers, and their families. Because of her passion and tireless commitment, Wolfe currently serves as first appointed parent advocate on the Indiana Board for Child Care Rules and Regulation.
“Wolfe’s story is compelling, but she’s just one of the millions of parents across the nation faced with similar circumstances,” said Smith. “High-quality, affordable child care can be a reality for all of America’s children. It is our hope that through Wolfe and other parents, we can finally get this message across to policymakers to not only improve the quality of child care in Indianapolis, but across the nation as well.”
Today, nearly 11 million children under age 5 are in some type of child care arrangement every week while their parents work. On average, children of working mothers spend 36 hours every week in child care. Studies repeatedly have shown that high-quality child care - care that provides a loving, safe, stable and age-appropriate stimulating environment - helps children enter school ready to learn. Yet, less than 10 percent of the nation’s child care is of high-quality.
NACCRRA’s National Policy Symposium seeks to raise the visibility of child care issues, such as the lack of quality, and advocate for improved conditions. It features numerous sessions on the latest policy, research and practice developments in child care and CCR&R. The Symposium also offers a forum for policy analysis and discussion, examination of latest research, high-quality training, peer networking, visits to legislators and resources dissemination for about 600 attendees from across the country.
The Parents@Symposium program is one of the newest elements of NACCRRA’s National Policy Symposium designed to ensure that policymakers hear directly from parents. The program included a series of highly interactive sessions designed specifically to prepare parents to meet with their representatives in Congress and the media. State Networks and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) across the nation were invited to select parents to participate in this initiative. Agencies were invited to select parents who encountered difficulties finding and paying for child care and were willing to share their experience with others. As a result, Wolfe was selected by IACCRR to represent Indiana parents. Jennifer Bump, Director of Quality Assurance for IACCRR, accompanied Wolfe to Washington, D.C., to assist her at the Symposium.