The Family Room Blog

Today we celebrate child care provider appreciation day. It’s a day when everyone   in the early childhood field takes time out to recognize the important work of early care professionals.

Everyone who works in the early childhood field has the same goal: making sure there are high quality services and supports for young children and their families.

Learning begins at birth and primary relationships, interactions, and environments that very young children experience set a foundation for growth, development, and lifelong learning.

ACF’s early childhood programs are committed to encouraging the development of healthy habits in young children but we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re so pleased by what the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is doing to promote good health for children and families.

When I first met “Baby Jenny” she was the picture of fragility. Buried in the rubble of the Haitian earthquake for seven days, the three-month old had a bad head injury and her arms were so wounded she could barely move them.

Today, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of Head Start funding in 97 Head Start service areas across the country.  

This week child welfare advocates from all sectors of society (social work, education and law enforcement) will converge in Washington, D.C., for the 18th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect.  This conference is the nation’s leading training event for policy makers, practitioners and researchers involved in promote child safety and well-being.

This week, the Obama Administration appointed Dr. George Askew to become the first-ever Chief Medical Officer for the Administration for Children and Families.  Askew will provide expert advice and consultation to the Assistant Secretary on the development of plans, programs, policies and initiatives that address the health needs and strengths of vulnerable children and families, including people with developmental disabilities and refugees.

On April 3, the Administration for Children and Families kicked off Minority Health Month with a panel of experts from the Office of Minority Health discussing health equity in the United States. Four knowledgeable officials gave us a look at initiatives designed to increase access to health care for people of color, immigrants, and the LGBT community.

Child care providers across the country have adopted Let’s Move! Child Care recommendations by getting their children up and moving and off to a healthy start.  States and territories have also embraced the state challenge. They are competing to have the greatest percentage of their providers registered for the effort.