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?

Earlier this week, members of the Child Care Aware® of America Policy Team jumped on a plane and went to Tampa for a one-day on-site Advocacy Training. They worked closely with the Children’s Forum in Tallahassee to put together a jam-packed agenda for each of the 60 attendees at the training.

“The African saying, that it takes a village to raise a child is true, but the thing we need to remember all the time is that we are that village, it’s not somebody else, each one of us are part of the village and we have to daily say, what I can do to contribute to this, what can I do to help somebody further the life of a child,” stated Alma Powell, Chair of the Board at America’s Promise Alliance, discussing the importance of the advocacy community taking action on early childhood policies.