Investing in the Future: Our Children Polly Fassinger, Program DirectorNorth Dakota KIDS COUNT

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

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Most children have working parents

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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

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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

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North Dakota KIDS COUNT

One of the ramifications of workers’ low income is high job turnover

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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

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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