Provider Issues

Mark Sims of the CT Radio Network interviewed Maggie Adair at the annual Advocacy Day event at the Capitol on April 7. She spoke of the need for a Department of Early Education and Child Development. The piece ran on WTIC AM 1080.

CT Associated Press reporter Stephanie Reitz covered the Charts-a-Course and Sen. Beth Bye press conference releasing "Connecticut's Early Care and Education Workforce" report on March 8. The story ran in the Stamford Advocate of CT and The Republic of Indiana.

Sen. Beth Bye and Charts-A-Course held a press conference on March 8 to release a report on Connecticut's early care and education workforce.

On March 7, the Education Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1106, which would create a Department of Early Education and Child Development. Advocates came out in strong support of the bill, including the CT Early Childhood Alliance, CT Voices for Children, Graustein Memorial Fund, CT Association for Human Services, family child care providers, SEIU and CBIA. Director Ann Pratt and GMF's David Nee are both quoted in the article by Grace Merritt (3/7/11).

The CT Early Childhood Alliance, All Our Kin, family child care provider Lushanna Thompson and state Sen. Beth Bye were all featured in an extended business report on early care and education as a small business. The piece, by business reporter Harriet Jones, touched upon the long-term importance of early care and education, the need for a coordinated system, workforce development and discussion of Care4Kids rates, which haven't increased since 2001. Ran on 2/22/2011 at 8:06 a.m. and again at 5:40 p.m.

Executive Director Ann Pratt sat down with Sam Gingerella of WTIC AM/FM's "Face CT" for an interview that ran on Aug. 15 at 6 a.m. Here is the link to that interview. Ann is the second half of the interview, starting around the 16 minute mark.