Early Childhood Focus

Klobuchar Introduces Bill to Combat Childhood Obesity

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:14:30 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Review Messenger
Washington, D.C. � Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced legislation that will strengthen nutritional standards and promote healthy lifestyles for children in child care and after school programs. The Healthy Living Starts Early Act of 2010 calls for changes to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to provide health education and guidance for child care providers and implements nutrition standards for meals served in the program. Currently, one in four children are either obese or overweight before entering kindergarten. Joining Klobuchar in introducing this legislation is Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

LETTER: Child Care Costs Burdening Middle Class

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:41:03 PST

EXCERPT FROM: SouthCoastToday.com
By Kimberly Carvalho
My friend is a mother raising an infant and cannot afford day care. Her family's economic status is considered middle class, as she and her husband are both employed. As a concerned friend, I would like to emphasize the importance of lowering the cost of day care for middle-class families. With costs averaging about $11,000 a year, Massachusetts has the most expensive day care in the United States.

Clock is Ticking for Training Before New Childcare Rules Start Sept. 17

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:39:45 PST

WEST MICHIGAN -- About 800 relatives and in-home day care aides who provide child care in Muskegon County must receive six hours of training to continue getting paid with state child care subsidies.

ChildCare Education Institute Supports the First Lady's Efforts to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:05:20 PST

EXCERPT FROM: PRNewswire
By PRNewswire
DULUTH, Ga., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) gives child care professionals the opportunity to aid the campaign against childhood obesity. Child care staff can enroll in HLTH100: Early Childhood Obesity, at no cost, and learn strategies for combating childhood obesity.

More Than Numbers, Quality of Childcare Spaces is Important

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:46:24 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Edmonton Journal
By Jeff Bisanz
Re: "Caring for kids goes corporate; Expected stock listing of daycare operator has some people in industry uneasy," The Journal, Jan. 25.
The article's focus on corporations creating childcare spaces is understandable, but it reflects what we regard as a misunderstanding of the issue.

ChildCare Education Institute Receives National Accreditation

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:58:52 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Child Care Education Institute
Press Release
Duluth, GA/ January 26, 2010 - ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), a distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care industry, announces today that it has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training
Council (DETC).

Obama to Propose Almost Doubling Child Care Tax Credit

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:21:02 PST

EXCERPT FROM: CNN Politics
Contributor: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux
Washington (CNN) � President Barack Obama will propose nearly doubling the child-care tax credit for middle-class families on Monday, according to a White House official.

Cutting Early Childhood Programs Could Worsen Fiscal Problems

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:56:04 PST

EXCERPT FROM: NJToday.net
WASHINGTON, D.C.�States can save money and stimulate their economies by protecting funding for effective pre-kindergarten and home visiting programs, according to a new issue brief by the Partnership for America�s Economic Success.

Child Care Forum Launched

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:01:11 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Alameda Sun
By Staff Reporters
People Care 4 Day Care recently announced that it has launched a community forum, on its Web site at http://forum.pc4dc.org.

Social Services' Children's Division Now Nationally Accredited

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:37:04 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Missourinet
By Jessica Machetta
Social Services is lauded for gaining national accreditation. The Children�s Division is recognized for its polices and operating procedures.

Children�s Needs Are Addressed

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:24:55 PST

EXCERPT FROM: WLKM Radio
By WLKM
The needs of children and the quest for public policy to address those needs were key elements of a gathering Tuesday morning (January 12th) at the St. Joseph Intermediate School District (ISD) headquarters near Centreville.

Karen Heller: An early start, a big step ahead

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:31:56 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Philadelphia Inquirer
By Karen Heller
Early-childhood education is among the best investments a society can make for the future. Students enrolled in pre-K programs, a time when the mind is especially responsive to learning, perform demonstrably better in school later on.

Women Are Especially Hard Hit By State Budget Cuts, Report Says

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:53:57 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Boston Globe
By John M. Guilfoil
A local research firm will issue findings today that conclude that state budget cuts over the past decade have been especially tough on single mothers and women in the workforce.

Family Child Care One-time Licensing Grants Available

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:27:44 PST

EXCERPT FROM: PRNEwswire
IVANHOE, Minn., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Child Care & Nutrition, Inc. (CCNI) is pleased to announce a grant for daycare providers who apply for licensing for the first time in most areas of Minnesota. The grant, up to $160, will help pay for background checks, licensing fees and equipment required to run a licensed family child care home.

New Research Reveals PreK-12 Educators Increasingly Value and Use Digital Media

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:10:19 PST

EXCERPT FROM: PRNewswire
Annual Grunwald survey for PBS shows educators integrating more digital media into instruction; pre-K use mirrors strong interest of K-12 educators in digital media and social networking

Should the Government Help Provide Child Care?

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:59:04 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Wall Street Journal
By Sue Shellenbarger
Any working parent knows child care is an economic issue. The ability to find and pay for good daycare has a big influence on whether parents work for pay and how many children they decide to have.

Too Much TV, Juice in Home Child Care

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:00:36 PST

EXCERPT FROM: UPI.com
CORVALLIS, Ore., Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Home-based child care exposes children to too much TV, U.S. researchers said.

Bill Addresses Needs of Children During Disasters

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:03:00 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Courier
By Jeremy Alford
BATON ROUGE � Federal legislation sponsored by a bipartisan team that includes one lawmaker from Louisiana would establish a unique framework to care for young children before, during and after natural disasters like hurricanes.

U.S. Senate to Consider Background Checks for Child-care Providers

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:49:17 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Journal Sentinel
By John Diedrich
Legislation calling for child-care providers across the nation to have comprehensive background examinations, including FBI fingerprint checks, was introduced Thursday in the U.S. Senate.

Working Families Find Safe, Affordable Care at Mustard Seed

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:37:25 PST

EXCERPT FROM: The Wenatchee World
By Rachel Schleif
Like many of its clients, Mustard Seed Neighborhood Center lives month-to-month.