investing in the future: our children polly fassinger, program directornorth dakota kids count
TRANSCRIPT
Investing in the Future: Our Children
Polly Fassinger, Program Director North Dakota KIDS COUNT
The brain is an environmental organ: its health and development are strongly shaped by the stimulation and interaction children receive, particularly during ages 0-5, a critical period of growth and learning.J. Clinton, 2007
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Quality child care is about child development
Quality child care builds developing brains
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Most children have working parents
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Access to child care is often limited
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Hours of operation are limited
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Spaces in child care facilities are often well below the number of children possibly needing care
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Child care is costly
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Child care adds to the state’s economic success
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2002 data
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Child care worker’s wages are relatively low
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
One of the ramifications of workers’ low income is high job turnover
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
How can the state create better futures for all of our children?
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10 million in aid to preschool 3.5 million to build or expand child-care
centers 1.5 million for mandatory background
checks for providers
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Increase access to child care◦Number of facilities, hours of operation
Increase profitability of child care◦Child-care workers’ wages◦Reimbursement to providers
Reduce costs of child care◦Families’ expenses
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Increase quality of child care◦Skilled and educated caregivers◦Safe, licensed facilities◦Low staff turnover
Support Early Childhood Education◦Preschool programs◦Head Start and Early Head Start programs
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Increase Access ◦ Governor Hoeven’s proposal ◦ Tax credits to businesses◦ Make child care more profitable
Increase Profitability◦ Increase reimbursement rates for providers◦ Provide financial incentives for child-care workers
Reduce Child-Care Costs◦ Create state child-care tax credit◦ Develop state Earned Income Tax Credit◦ Increase child-care assistance to low-income families
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Increase Quality of Child Care◦ More incentives for skilled, educated caregivers◦ Create incentives for using new Early Learning
Guidelines◦ More incentives for licensing◦ Incentives that reduce worker turnover
Support Early Childhood Education◦ Fund Head Start◦ Fund universal preschool in ND
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
Speak to candidates, legislators
Vote for persons who make children a priority
Provide feedback & support during legislative sessions
North Dakota KIDS COUNT
North Dakota KIDS COUNT 2008 Issues Guide
Available atwww.ndkidscount.org
www.ndkidscount.org