Updates to Federal Child Care Regulations Focus on Quality
 The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is headed for its first comprehensive update since 1998. In conjunction with a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last spring, the draft regulations call for states to use CCDF dollars more deliberately towards improving program quality. Health and safety, family-friendly policies, and strengthening CCDF program integrity are also addressed in the proposed regulations. |
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A Vision of Sustainable
Child Care in Crookston
Sunrise Center for Children and Families is an early care and education center located in Crookston, MN. The center was founded in 1994 by Sister Judy Moen and the Sisters of St. Benedict, Crookston. Sunrise Center is a key community asset, and as the Board of Directors began to plan for the long-term sustainability of the center, they contacted FCF for assistance with their planning.
In partnership with Sunrise Center, FCF embarked on a 6-month process that resulted in a strategic business plan. Both the planning process and plan have helped Sunrise Center's leadership and board develop a vision for the center's sustainable future. Recently, Sunrise Center was granted a 4-Star Parent Aware rating: the future is bright for Sunrise Center and the Crookston community!
If you're looking for child care business expertise to meet your business goals, consider retaining FCF for a consulting engagement. For more information, contact Heidi Hagel Braid at 612-279-6504.
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High Cost of Child Care Featured in New York Times
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Photo by Alice Proujansky, NYTimes
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"The difficulty of obtaining good, affordable day care is well known as a problem afflicting the working poor. But increasingly, middle- and upper-middle-class parents are finding that day care is hard to find or access and that even when it is available it is startlingly costly."
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Heidi Hagel Braid
Regional Director,
Minnesota & the Dakotas
heidihb@firstchildrensfinance.org
(612) 279-6504 direct
Jamie Swezey
Business Development Associate
jamie@firstchildrensfinance.org
(612) 279-6512 direct
FirstChildrensFinance.org
Or call us toll free:
866-562-6801
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First Children's Finance
Building stronger child care businesses
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Help Us Name Our Baby!
 After months of intensive planning, we are finally ready to announce the arrival of a new and exciting statewide initiative. We've spent so much time and energy on bringing this project to fruition that it has become like a child to us - but we don't know what to call it! The Rural Child Care Business Technical Assistance Center has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? That's where you come in! We're looking for a better name for this initiative that captures its innovation and excitement. See below for a brief description of the project, and email Jamie or Heidi with your creative ideas.
The Northwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation will begin their regional planning in October. Stay tuned for exciting updates on our progress across Minnesota!
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Adopt a Child Care Program Hosts National Night Out in North Minneapolis
With the help of Sunrise Banks, La Creche Early Childhood Center hosted their annual community carnival on National Night Out. This public-private partnership is through FCF's Adopt a Child Care Program, a new and innovative model of corporate sponsorship that uses employee volunteerism busand building the child care center's business capacity.
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Minneapolis mayoral candidate Betsy Hodges dropped by the event to visit with children, constituents and
La Creche Executive Director Phyllis Sloan
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Sunrise Banks donated employee volunteers, prizes, and an inflatable for the children, as well as helped with coordination of marketing and publicity of the event. Up next, Sunrise Banks is planning a bank-wide fundraising campaign for La Creche, set to launch in early 2014 - stay tuned for details and updates!
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