Vroom has added value to the family and community engagement efforts of Child Care Aware of Northwest Arkansas (NWA), as it has reinforced our training on brain development. Most parents are happy to learn that they already “have what it takes” to help their children’s brain development. Here's how we've used Vroom tips as conversation starters throughout the community and in our training workshops.
Vroom provides interactive tools and resources that highlight the science behind early brain development, showing parents how they can turn everyday activities like bath time and meal time into opportunities that build their children’s brains. The Vroom Partnership at Child Care Aware® of America is made up of child care resource and referral agencies who educate and provide Vroom resources to families, providers, and organizations in their communities so they too understand the importance of brain development during the first five years of life.
On June 1, 2019, we hosted the Child Care Aware of NWA Child Care Conference which brought together over 200 child care providers. Kandi Novak, a Vroom Partnership Team member at Child Care Aware® of America, was a keynote speaker. She presented information about the Vroom initiative and was well received. After her presentation, many conference participants visited the Vroom booth and asked for more information about this initiative.
Child Care Aware of NWA has partnered with Ronald McDonald House to presents Vroom information during our parenting and child care providers classes. Hundreds of parents/guardians attend these weekly classes—most of whom have children five years old and under. Attendees usually download the Vroom app the same day of the class. Parents are often thankful to learn more about the science behind brain building. One parent stated, “I wish information like this was available when I had my first child.”
Child care providers who attend our training classes enjoy learning about Vroom and plan to share it during their parent engagement nights. We provide them with virtual tool kit that allow them more opportunities to connect with parents while sharing the resources. As the new school year approaches, we look forward to continue sharing Vroom with providers and helping them use the tool kit during their future parent engagement events.