Children First 2005 Conference Summary
Early Childhood Development Community Groups ▪ Non-profit organizations could take on youth as board members to gain a better understanding of their perspective on what works and what doesn't. ▪ Work together and advocate. In advocating keep educated and informed as to what the current issues are and what some of the best methods are for getting the point across. ▪ Establish ways to offer affordable parenting classes. ▪ Raise community awareness of the unmet needs of young children. Launch an education campaign aimed at parents, business, educators, elected officials, etc. regarding the impact of developmentally appropriate stimulation during the first 3-5 years of a child's life. ▪ Faith groups can open child care centers at churches. Educators (Child care providers, primary/secondary teachers, university) ▪ UNCA & AB Tech could offer more classes in the evening and weekends to make education more accessible to child care providers. ▪ UNCA & AB Tech could develop a reciprocal relationship so that student's working on degrees in Early Childhood Development can transfer credits between schools. ▪ Educators should be constantly learning. Attain the highest level of education possible and stay updated on recent information and studies dealing with early childhood development. ▪ Band together and lobby politically for a greater share of public money to address financial problems surrounding Early Childhood Development. ▪ Address the needs of Non-English speaking families. Children and Youth ▪ Make it mandatory for high school students to have some education in early childhood development. This might help in getting more students interested in Early Childhood Education as a career. ▪ Youth can provide childcare for parenting classes and other family support groups. ▪ Non-profit organizations should work with the high schools to develop volunteer programs that get youth involved in the field of Early Childhood Development. ▪ Offer more outreach programs at the high school level. ▪ Devise a method of getting feedback from youth about their experiences in childcare growing up. Elected Officials ▪ Do not allow the North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program to change eligibility requirements for children with special needs, this would eliminate services for the most at risk children. ▪ Create more subsidies, especially more money for children with special needs. ▪ Re-examine how zoning regulations could be changed to support children to be educated in their neighborhood providing more safety and decreasing the cost to run day care centers. The present zoning regulations place child care centers in commercial areas increasing operating costs which get passed onto parents in the form of fees. ▪ Elected Officials should increase their education and awareness of early childhood development. This could be done through consulting with Early Childhood teachers, reading newsletters (Neurons for Neighbors) and keeping up to date on the latest research. ▪ Provide better tax credits for parents of dependent children living under the poverty level. Families ▪ Advocate!! Collaborate and work together on topics such as inclusion of special needs children, subsidized child care and health and dental care. ▪ Keep educated. Attend parenting classes and keep up on issues that are affecting early childhood development. ▪ VOTE!!!! ▪ Volunteer at your child care center. ▪ Stay involved in your child's development by keeping in contact with day care providers, educators etc. Business and Employers ▪ Look into 'adopting' a day care center where the business could provide volunteers and/or financial support. ▪ Provide on-site, subsidized childcare. ▪ Create flexibility in scheduling to allow employees who are parents to be more involved in their child's development. ▪ ADVOCATE!! ▪ Promote community services and provide time for employees to participate.
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