CLOUD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Misty Elder, (800) 729-5101, ext. 269

Cloud agency recognizes Week of Young Child

(Concordia, KS)  – Cloud County Community College Early Childhood Resource and Referral Agency asks all parents and child care professionals to come together for children during the Week of the Young Child, April 13 to 19, 2008. 

The referral agency, which began in 1998, serves children, parents and child care professionals in 19 counties in North Central and eastern Kansas.

As part of the national Week of the Young Child celebrated across the country, the referral agency is honoring young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives.

Nearly 12 million children under age five in the United States are in some type of child care arrangement every week. Almost two-thirds of women with children under six are in the workforce. Children of working mothers spend an average of 36 hours per week in a child care setting. Research has shown that 90 percent of brain development occurs by age five, which means the setting in which children spend most of their time is critical to their overall development.

“All young children need and deserve high-quality early learning experiences that will prepare them for life and our referral agency has a great opportunity to do our part to help young children and those professionals and parents who care for them,” said Misty Elder, agency director. “Week of the Young Child is a time to recognize the importance of early learning for all young children and to bring parents and child care professionals together to help give all young children a great start.”

Elder said the Cloud County resource and referral agency is proud to support North Central Kansas child care professionals.   Her office also works with the North Central Kansas Child Professionals with members from Washington, Republic, Cloud, Jewell, Mitchell, Lincoln, Osborne and Smith counties.

To celebrate Week of the Young Child, the agency encourages parents to call (888) 527-8680 to request a free DVD “Raising Readers” from the PBS Ready to Learn Initiative.  Child care providers may call the same number and request a free copy of “One Frog Sang” by Shirley Parenteau.   The offer expires April 19.

- END –

PHOTO CUTLINE

Recognizing Week of the Young Child – Pictured are some of the members of the North Central Kansas Child Care Professionals, from left, back row,  Karla Danielson, Clyde; Sue Affolter, Washington; Deb Peters, Palmer; Crystal Gilkeson, Concordia; Rachel Elsen, Beloit; Nancy Dugas, Concordia; Loleta Deaver, Concordia; Barbara Lewis, Beloit; seated, Jennifer Rupert, Michelle Charbonneau, Ashlea Marsh and Vanessa Moore, all of Concordia.