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OCR Page 1 of 79TO:
Melanne, Patti
FROM:
Neera
RE:
State visits by the First Lady to Highlight Child Care
Over the last few years, a number of states have begun creating innovative programs to promote
early learning and childhood development as well as improve the quality of child care. Many of
these programs are in states that the First Lady visits infrequently, and therefore present an
opportunity for her to highlight aspects of the child care initiative while also reaching out to new
constituencies.
The following list is a rough outline of programs and places she could visit, grouped under the
aspects of the initiative she could highlight.
Early Learning Fund
North Carolina:
The North Carolina Partnership for Children (the coordinating group for Smart Start), the
National Governors Association, the Families and Work Institute, and the National Center for
Children and Poverty are partnering together to hold a conference on Smart Start and best early
learning practices. The conference is tentatively scheduled for May 11 and 12. The idea of this
event is to bring together governors and other state leaders to do a Smart Start visit and then
disseminate best practices in order that other states may start similar programs in local
communities across the country. The NGA would love to have the First Lady attend some or part
of the conference. [I recognize that we have a tobacco problem with this state, but we can keep
this in mind if those things clear up a bit.]
Ohio:
The Ohio Family and Children First initiative promotes coordination and collaboration among
state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and parents for the benefits of
the state's children. The focus of this initiative is on three objectives: ensuring that infants and
children are healthier; increasing access to quality preschool and child care for families desiring
enrollment; and improving services to aid family stability. At the local level, each of Ohio's 88
counties has established a Family and Children First Council whose membership includes
representatives from public child-serving systems and families who have received services (much
like North Carolina's Smart Start structure). These local councils review all existing programs for
children; retool programs to produce better result; fill service gaps; and invent new approaches.
Governor Voinavich is the current chair of the NGA and has made early learning a priority for the
group.
Missouri:
Governor Carnahan made early childhood education a priority of his recent state of the state
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