Early Childhood Focus

Kennebunk School, Arundel Child Care Closed Due to Suspected Swine Flu Cases

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:08:08 PST

KENNEBUNK, Maine � Kennebunk Elementary School and the Crayon Academy day care center in Arundel were both closed late Wednesday after two students were found to have the symptoms of H1N1, or swine flu.

Brown Represents Maine Parents at D.C. Child Care Conference

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:13:04 PST

As the working mother of a 3−year−old, Brown said she never considered sending her son to anyplace other than The Children's Center in Sanford. Before she even needed day care for her son, Brown researched the
options available to working parents in Sanford. She decided that The Children's Center's developmental programs and emphasis on learning was the best environment for her son.

City-run Day Camps Fill Up Fast

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:54:00 PST

Municipal day camps are enjoying a surge of interest this year as cost-conscious parents choose less expensive alternatives to overnight camps or traditional day care.

Parents Push for Reprive on Childcare Closing

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:08:17 PST

When Bridgid and Tom Hood left Indian Township, a small reservation in Northern Maine, late last year, they were moving hundreds of miles from family and friends. But Bridgid, having begun her college career at the University of Maine, wanted to finish it in USM's nursing program; Tom had his eye on the paramedicine program at Southern Maine Community College.

Child Care Centers Feel Pinch

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:51:51 PST

Child care centers that have kept waiting lists for years are now advertising to fill openings. Some centers are struggling to make ends meet, as costs rise and enrollments decline. A few have shut their doors.

A 14th Year of School?

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:01:47 PST

In 1998, 27 schools in Maine offered pre-kindergarten programs, also known as 4-year-old programs. By 2002, 78 schools offered the program, and this year, 130 schools are operating pre-K classes. Nationally, the concept has gained acceptance with proponents leaning on the large body of evidence that shows investing in children in the first five years of life yields substantial developmental advantages.

Rowe: Child Care Pays Dividends

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:55:27 PST

Good early child care and parent education could save Maine money on jails, special education and substance abuse, Attorney General Steven Rowe told a group at University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn College on Wednesday.

Melanie Collins is one of 790 child-care workers in Maine who recently voted to unionize

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:51:39 PST

Last summer, when organizers were reaching out to home-based day cares to gather support for a new union that could represent independent child-care providers in Maine, Melanie Collins didn't need any persuading. As a former nurse, she had seen firsthand the benefits unions provide medical workers, from improving the work environment to ensuring adequate pay. "I'm very pro union," she says.

Bangor: Child care providers lauded

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:46:59 PST

While hundreds of child care providers from all over the state were honored at the eighth annual Maine Roads to Quality reception on Saturday for improving their skills, one was selected for special recognition.

Home child care providers vote to unionize in Maine

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:03:42 PST

Nearly 2,200 people who care for children in their homes plan to press their case for joining a union when the Legislature reconvenes next year, following a statewide vote in favor of organizing.

Panel supports new programs for child care

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:09:23 PST

A group studying ways to help young children voted Wednesday on a broad proposal that would give low-income parents more money to pay for child care and create a new office to advocate for children.

Will day-care providers unionize?

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:08:11 PST

With postcard ballots sent out Friday, about 2,200 Maine home-based child-care providers could vote to join a service employees' union to obtain lobbying power in Augusta.

New state debit cards concern child care providers

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:14:45 PST

On Oct. 1, the state will stop using voucher management agencies to dole out child care subsidies and will instead give parents debit cards to pay for day care themselves.

Child-care workers to vote on union

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:19:22 PST

Caregivers' low pay hurts quality

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:52:43 PST