KIDS NOWKIDS NOWEarly Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

InitiativeInitiative

Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development

Who?Who?ChampionsGovernor Paul Patton

Traditional

Legislators

Cabinet Secretaries/Staff

Early Childhood Professionals (KAECE, KYA)

County Extension

Libraries

Head Start

Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies

YMCA/YWCA

Early Interventionists

Department of Education

Child Care Programs/Staff

Parents

United Way

Family Resource/Youth Services Centers

Non-TraditionalLegislatorsWorkforce Development CabinetHigher EducationBusiness (Bell-South, Fidelity, Toyota, UPS)Chamber of CommerceFoundationsKentucky Medical AssociationAFL-CIOAssociated Industries of KY.KY. Association of School BoardsKY. Association of School AdministratorsParentsCatholic ConferenceKY. Rural Health AssociationKY. Hospital AssociationKY. Psychological Association

What?What?What?What?

House Bill 706Comprehensive, multi-faceted bill designed to get us started toward our goal that all young children in Kentucky:

Are healthy and safe Possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success Live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.

KIDS NOWKIDS NOW

I. Assuring Maternal and Child Health

II. Supporting Families

III. Enhancing Early Care and Education

IV. Establishing the Support Structure

Where?Where?Across the state of Kentucky

Professional Meetings (PTA, KY Assoc. of County Judge Executives, KY Maternal and Child Health Conf.)

Public Forums (10 Task Force Report, 8 Quality Rating System, 7 Professional Development, 7 Community Early Childhood Councils)

Civic Organizations (Chamber of Commerce, Rotary)

Regional Meetings (Area Development Districts)

Local Meetings

When?When?KIDS NOW History

April 1998 Governor Patton announces creation of Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.

November 1998 Executive Director hired after conducting a nationwide search.

March 1999 Governor Patton appoints Governor’s Early Childhood Task Force.

November 1999 Task Force delivers KIDS NOW 20-year comprehensive plan to Governor Patton.

February 15, 2000 HB 706 Introduced.March 28, 2000 Passed both Chambers without one dissenting vote.April 4, 2000 Governor Patton signed HB 706 into law.July 1, 2000 KIDS NOW Implementation.

Why?Why?Current Brain Research

90% of the “architectural structure” of the brain is developed by age 3.Critical periods of brain development happen in the first 3 years of life.

Economic DevelopmentEvery child must reach their full potential and grow in to adults who are taxpayers not tax users.

Education ReformThe next logical step in education reform is to address early childhood.

State of Kentucky’s ChildrenKentucky ranks near the bottom of states in a number of critical areas. Our children deserve better.

WHY KIDS NOWWHY KIDS NOW KENTUCKY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF:• infant mortality from birth defects. • neural tube defects (spina bifida) in the nation.

KENTUCKY HAS • Had 28,500 cases of substantiated child abuse/neglect in FY98, 46%

involved children under the age of four.

KENTUCKY RANKS:• 42nd with 34% of children under 5 living in poverty. • 35th with the percentage of low birth weight babies born in the last 30 not

improving. • 42nd with 33% of children living with parents without full-time, year-round

employment.• 49th with 14% of teens who dropout of high school. • 43rd with 12% of teens not in school or working.

How?How?

CoordinatedCoordinatedEffortEffort

Broad Broad RepresentationRepresentation

ofofTraditional and Traditional and Non-TraditionalNon-Traditional

EntitiesEntities

Collaboration AmongCollaboration AmongStakeholdersStakeholders

Prenatal Work GroupPrenatal Work GroupPrenatal Work Group focused on the time period from pre-conception to hospital discharge post-partum.

In-Home Work GroupIn-Home Work Group

In-Home Work Group focused on providing support to families as they raise their children, birth to age eight, in the home environment.

Early Care & Education:Early Care & Education:Birth to Five Work GroupBirth to Five Work Group

This work group addressed early care and education issues of children ages birth to age five who are in out-of-home settings.

These settings included child care programs, Head Start, public preschool programs and “kith and kin” care.

Early Care and Education: Early Care and Education: School-Age Work GroupSchool-Age Work Group

This work group examined the needs for before and after school child care.

Professional Development Work Professional Development Work GroupGroup

This work group focused on:• Personnel serving children birth to age 5• Personnel working across all early care and

education settings (e.g., Head Start, Early Intervention, Preschool, Child Care)

• Personnel at all levels of education and training

Public AwarenessPublic Awareness Work Group Work Group

This work group addressed issues related to all other work groups.

Objectives:

• Inventory - what are we doing now?

• Needs Assessment - what are the communication challenges?

• Recommendations - what is the best vehicle for the message?

Grass RootsGrass RootsDrivenDriven

Location of TenLocation of TenCommunity ForumsCommunity Forums

CovingtonSomersetLexingtonOwensboroBowling Green

PaducahMadisonvilleLouisvillePrestonsburgMorehead

Advocate ActivitiesAdvocate Activities Early Childhood Task Force (March – July 1999)

Prenatal Workgroup

In-Home Workgroup

Early Care and Education (birth – five) Workgroup

Early Care and Education (school-age) Workgroup

Professional Development Workgroup

Public Awareness Workgroup

10 Community Forums

Advocate Activities (Continued)Advocate Activities (Continued)

HB 706 KIDS NOW Legislation (February – April 2000)

Postcards To Legislators

Early Childhood Display in Tunnel

On-site Visitation With Legislators

Phone Call To Legislators

KAECE/Child Care Resource and Referral Email Alerts

Weekly Meeting With Advocates

Advocate Activities (Continued)Advocate Activities (Continued) Implementation (July 2000 – Present)

Quality Rating System Workgroup (July – September 2000)

6 Community Forums

Professional Development CouncilCore Content Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001)

Training Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001)

Credentials Workgroup (August 2000- February 2001)

Articulation Workgroup (August 2000 – February 2001)

Scholarship Workgroup (July 2000 – Present)

10 Community Forums

Advocate Activities (Continued)Advocate Activities (Continued)

Child Indicators Project Birth to Three Workgroup (June 2001- February 2002)Three to Five Workgroup (March 2001- February 2002)K-4 Workgroup (Fall of 2001- February 2000

State ConferencesKAECE/Head Start Collaborative Annual ConferenceInfant Toddler Annual ConferenceEarly Childhood Annual ConferenceSchool-Age Annual Conference

Working With The MediaNewspaper Articles in Major Papers

Advocate Activities Advocate Activities (Continued)(Continued)

Working With The MediaNewspaper Articles in Major Papers

Appearance on Radio and TV Issue Programs

Press Conferences

Op Ed Pieces by Unusual Suspects

Governor’s Office of Early Governor’s Office of Early Childhood DevelopmentChildhood Development

700 Capitol Avenue, Room 133700 Capitol Avenue, Room 133Frankfort, KY 40601Frankfort, KY 40601

502-564-2611502-564-2611

Dr. Kim F. Townley, Executive DirectorDr. Kim F. Townley, Executive DirectorTeri Mehler, M.S., Executive AssistantTeri Mehler, M.S., Executive Assistant

ChallengesChallenges

Budget/Economy

Political Climate