In this Issue
- 13th Annual Children's Week a Success
- Forum Corner
- Early Learning Coalition Briefs
- Legislative Updates
- Worthy Wage Day and Provider Appreciation Day
- State and National News
- Calendar of Events
- Spotlight on: T.E.A.C.H.
Celebrate Worthy Wage Day & Provider Appreciation Day
Celebrate Worthy Wage Day on May 1
Each year, thousands of professionals leave the early care and education field because they cannot afford to stay. Worthy Wage Day is our time to remind everyone that early childhood educators play an important role in educating our nation's children - a role for which they are vastly under-compensated. May 1 is recognized as Worthy Wage Day each year, a day to build community awareness and highlight the importance of quality care for children and its relationship to worthy wages for those who provide it. The Children's Forum encourages you to organize and engage in activities such as rallies, job shadowing, fundraisers and media events to bring attention to early care and education workforce issues in your community. For more information on how you can become involved in Worthy Wage Day, please visit www.worthywageday.org.
Provider Appreciation Day is May 9
Today's child care professionals are the world's unsung heroes. This profession is one of the most underpaid occupations in the country; yet research shows that the first five years form the most critical developmental period in a child's life. Special skills are needed to work in this field, and the contribution these individuals make to the quality of children's and families' lives too frequently goes unnoticed. Provider Appreciation Day recognizes the tireless efforts, unselfish dedication, commitment and compassion that child care providers, teachers and other educators of young children demonstrate every day. You can participate in Provider Appreciation Day by planning events, scheduling media coverage and issuing proclamations to recognize the work of child care professionals in your community. By involving parents, community groups, child care agencies, and government leaders, you can ensure that everyone will have the opportunity to say Thank You to these important people. For more information, call 1-888-334-7781 or send an email to info@ProviderAppreciation.org.