It’s that time of year again—August recess! Congress has adjourned for the month of August and will not be back in session until September 9. During their month-long recess, many Members take the opportunity to re-engage with their community and the constituents they serve. This is a perfect opportunity for you to foster and cultivate those very important relationships with your Senators and Representative, as well as their key staff. You want them to know who you are and what issues you care about –early learning, child care, resource and referral services, etc., and how those issues are affecting your local community and your state.

With the busy flu season, it is important to remember why hand hygiene is so important. By keeping your hands clean you can reduce spreading germs. You can practice this at home, but you can also talk with your child care provider to make sure they have hand-washing policies in place as well. The more your child hears the message, the more likely he or she will practice good hand-washing habits.

A popular song once asked – “What’s love got to do with it?” For those of us who are working to make sure that our youngest children have what they need, we need to ask a similar question:  What’s adults got to do with it?

Oklahoma's Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R) community kicked off the state’s annual leadership meeting in the Oklahoma City Zoo Aquarium Building last month. I was thrilled to be one of the speakers as part of a two-day visit to the state. It was the first time I shared speaking time with a seal, who occasionally appeared in the porthole behind me. The spirit of camaraderie and fun among the attendees reflected what I've seen at the many states I've had the pleasure of visiting during my year since I joined Child Care Aware® of America.

When you decided to seek child care, you locate the "best matched" provider for your child. You took the time to research programs, visit staff, and ask all the right questions. You were able to make your decision and now you're ready to go. But have you thought of everything?

¿Cuando empezó a buscar el servicio de cuidado de niños, usted localizó el proveedor “adecuado” para su hijo. Usted se tomó el tiempo necesario para investigar programas, visitar al personal, y hacer las preguntas correctas.  Pudo usted tomar su decisión, y ahora está preparada.  ¿Pero ha pensado en todo?