Chrisi West

Chrisi West
Chrisi has more than 11 years of experience in advocacy (grassroots and digital) through her work for nonprofits, and on candidate and issues organizing campaigns in Virginia and at the national level. She joined Child Care Aware of America in March 2015 and has supported the work of Child Care Aware of America on communications, digital organizing, and now as the director of advocacy, empowering CCR&Rs and family advocates to take action on child care and early childhood education.

Recent Posts

Announcing the Partnership with Bezos Family Foundation Focused on Family Engagement

By Chrisi West on October 12, 2015

Washington, D.C. – Child Care Aware® of America is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation focused on encouraging family engagement through Vroom, a national initiative that empowers parents to turn everyday activities into brain building moments for their children.

Vroom provides interactive tools and resources that highlight the science behind early brain development, showing parents how they can build their children’s brains in everyday moments like bath time and meal time. The tools are free of cost, simple enough to fit into parents’ daily routines, and right at their fingertips.

This partnership will help fuel Vroom’s goal of catalyzing a culture shift – one that begins with parents and extends to families, providers, companies, and communities working together to support brain development during the first five years of life. Child Care Aware® of America will activate it’s nationwide Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) network in the use of Vroom messages and tools. An initial ten sites will also be identified to create a blueprint for using Vroom in the childcare context through deeper programmatic integration. The CCR&R network will greatly expand Vroom’s reach to families through childcare providers across the country.

“Our partnership with The Bezos Family Foundation will engage and encourage providers and parents to take advantage of the seemingly ordinary moments to create extraordinary learning opportunities with each interaction,” said Lynette Fraga, Ph.D., Executive Director of Child Care Aware® of America. “This partnership is a great fit that provides mutual benefit with immeasurable rewards.”

Child Care Aware® of America, the nation’s leading voice for child care, leads the mission of more than 400 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies across the country in working to ensure that all families in 99 percent of populated zip codes in the U.S. have access to safe, quality and affordable child care. With the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) at the end of 2014, it is clear that child care is a critical priority for American families.

For more information on the Vroom initiative, visit www.joinvroom.org/parents.

About Child Care Aware of America
Child Care Aware of America is our nation’s leading voice for child care. We work with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families. To learn more, visit usa.childcareaware.org. Follow us on Twitter @USAChildcare and on Facebook at facebook.com/usachildcare.

About Bezos Family Foundation
The Bezos Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by Jackie and Mike Bezos, who along with their children and spouses, serve as directors. Their vision is that all young people are prepared to achieve their full potential and make a meaningful contribution to society. The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth through high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness, and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children.

 

What is Vroom Week? Learn more!

Topics: Family & Community Engagement, Parenting, News

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CCA to Participate in Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System

By Chrisi West on October 07, 2015

Washington, D.C. - The Administration for Children and Families has announced the creation of six new national training and technical assistance centers. These centers, will be part of a new cross-sector Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance system, bringing together funding, knowledge, and skills from the Office of Child Care, Office of Head Start, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Topics: Systems Building, Policy & Advocacy, News

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Statement On the Passing of Gwen Morgan, Child Care Pioneer

By Chrisi West on September 08, 2015

It is with a sad heart that we announce the passing of Gwen Morgan, legendary early childhood education advocate and child care systems pioneer. She died in her home on Friday, September 4, 2015 at the age of 90.

Topics: News

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Open Applications for Healthy Child Care, Healthy Communities Project

By Chrisi West on August 28, 2015

Washington, D.C. – August 28, 2015 – Thanks to a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is pleased to announce that we are expanding our Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) technical assistance activities in targeted states to emphasize health, nutrition, and obesity prevention with the Health Child Care, Healthy Communities project.

Topics: Health & Safety, News

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July 2015 Child Care Provider of the Month – Kristy Whitley and Mt. Moriah Child Development Center

By Chrisi West on August 13, 2015

Arlington, VA - Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Head Start Association (NHSA), and National Indian Child Care Association (NICCA) would like to congratulate Kristy Whitley and the deserving staff at Mount Moriah Child Development Center in Matthews, North Carolina. They have been named Provider of the Month for July 2015, the first provider to be honored through the new campaign.

Topics: Workforce, Family Stories, News

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Announcing Partnership with Bezos Family Foundation Focused on Family Engagement

By Chrisi West on July 09, 2015

Washington, D.C. – Child Care Aware® of America is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation focused on encouraging family engagement through Vroom, a national initiative that empowers parents to turn everyday activities into brain building moments for their children.

Topics: Family & Community Engagement, Parenting, News, Brain Building Tips

Continue Reading