FIRST STEPS THE NRVS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

FIRST STEPS THE NRV’S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT NETWORK QUARTERLY MEETING ~ APRIL 15, 2020

Welcome Jessica Wirgau, Community Foundation of the New River Valley

What is First Steps? A network of organizations and individuals that provide programs, services, and opportunities for our region’s young children, their parents, and their caregivers. Our shared priorities: 1. Increase knowledge about and access to available services through an early childhood education and development information hub . 2. Identify shared values and messaging so agencies can speak with a common voice about the importance of early childhood. 3. Support and strengthen the early childhood education and development workforce through professional development, recognition, and compensation.

Our Agenda • Remarks from Emily Griffey, Policy Director for Voices for Virginia’s Children • Work Group Updates and Activities: • Common Voice – Kim Thomason and Meghan Pfleiderer • Workforce – Bonnie Graham • Info Hub – Katie Thompson and Andi Golusky • Closing Remarks and Thanks

Emily Griffey Policy Director Voices for Virginia’s Children vakids.org

The funding will be used to increase the availability of child care services for essential personnel and support child care centers by: BIG News! Providing incentive grants to child care providers that are open, • from now through the end of June; https://www.governor.virgini Eliminating co-payments through June for low-income, working • a.gov/newsroom/all- families who receive federal child care subsidy dollars; releases/2020/april/headline -856150-en.html Preparing schools to act as emergency child care centers, where • needed; and Providing additional funding for child care providers that participate • in the federal subsidy program, but have had to close. This will help ensure they are ready to welcome children back as soon as this crisis has passed.

Work Group Updates & Activities

Common • Advocacy Letter to Government Voice Officials Work Group Update & Activities • Templates for Educators, Parents, and Community Members

To support and strengthen the early childhood education and development workforce in the Workforce NRV through: Priorities & Call to Action ◦ Professional development ◦ Recognition ◦ Compensation

Progress: ◦ Gathering data of existing resources in the NRV ◦ Compensation ◦ Professional Development ◦ EC Systems Workforce ◦ Perception and Cultural Dynamics ◦ Assets Progress & Next ◦ Listening to the current workforce Steps Next Steps: ◦ Continue to grasp a collective and clear understanding of the NRV workforce. ◦ Identify and address gaps in services and barriers to a strong workforce. ◦ Capitalize on the potential and momentum in early childhood to support NRV.

Collective Thinking and Capacity ◦ Strengths of First Steps / Workforce Group ◦ Collaboration Workforce ◦ Collective thinking - across the NRV ◦ Passion Collective Thinking ◦ Invest in wide and deep participation and & Workforce gathering of data to strengthen NRV workforce capacity Capacity Patterns emerging to focus support ◦ Director’s/administrator’s role is key ◦ Infant and toddler care ◦ Private Centers

• Continued focus on building networks and expanding access to resources Info Hub Work Group • Pausing in- person “Meet Yourself” Updates & Activities • Currently exploring the idea of virtual “Meet Yourself” sessions

Closing & Thanks I will breathe I will think of solutions. I will not let my worry control me. I will not let me stress level break me. I will simply breathe and it will be okay because I don’t quit.

THANK YOU! FIRST STEPS: THE NRV’S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT NETWORK