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Healthy Habits for Happy Smiles: Getting Fluoride for Your Child

Helping children develop good eating habits starts at infancy. New feeding guidelines have been released that can help caregivers know what and how best to feed infants and toddlers. These guidelines help make sure that children are getting enough, but not too much of the right foods, so we can reduce their risk of developing health problems later in life.

Advocacy is one of the most important and most underutilized tools we have to influence child care policy in the political system. And we need to work on that – fast!

Late last night, the Senate confirmed Georgia Congressman, Tom Price, as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on a 52-47 party-line vote. Secretary Price will now oversee critical programs that support children and families including the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start. In addition, he will also be a key person in implementing the expected changes and/or possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, of which he has been a fierce critic over the last several years.

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 Julie Hume and the staff at Kind Hearts Day Care in Princeton, Minnesota. They have been named Provider of the Month for January 2017.

Earlier today, the Senate confirmed President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, on a 51-50 vote with Vice-President Pence casting the deciding vote. This is the first time a sitting Vice-President has had to vote to confirm a cabinet nominee.

Last month, Betsy DeVos had a very contentious nomination hearing with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee which resulted in all Democrats, as well as Independent Senators Bernie Sanders (VT) and Angus King (ME), opposing her on the Senate floor. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) also joined the Democrats in opposing Mrs. DeVos.