HOUSTON COUNTY: GOVERNOR SONNY PERDUE PROCLAIMS APRIL THE MONTH OF THE YOUNG CHILD: A TIME FOR GEORGIANS TO RECOMMIT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE EXPERIENCES QUALITY EARLY LEARNING

April 12, 2004

APRIL 12, 2004 -- Houston County improves early care and education with more than $535,000 from Smart Start Georgia --

ATLANTA ? To focus attention on early child care issues in Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed April the Month of the Young Child. With more than 90 percent of a child?s intellect, personality and social skills forming before the age of three, the early years of a child?s education, ages birth through five, are the most critical in a child?s development.

The Month of the Young Child recognizes early learning professionals for their commitment to Georgia?s children, advocates for quality early care and education for all of Georgia?s children, and celebrates the success of statewide initiatives that improve the quality of early care for Georgia?s youngest children.

One such initiative, Smart Start Georgia, works to foster quality early care and education in every Georgia county. To date, early learning professionals and early care settings in Houston County have received more than $535,000 through Smart Start Georgia?s four initiatives ? INCENTIVE$, SCHOLARSHIPS, Training&Technical Assistance and Tiered Reimbursement. Funding aims to prepare every child in Georgia for success in school, which will last a lifetime.

?The Month of the Young Child is a time to recommit ourselves to ensuring that every child experiences the type of early care and education at home, at child care, at school and in the community that promotes quality early learning,? said Sharen Hausmann, director of Smart Start Georgia. ?We at Smart Start Georgia strive to foster quality early learning experiences so that each child in Georgia is ready to succeed by the time he or she enters kindergarten.?

Smart Start Georgia?s INCENTIVE$ program is a salary supplement program that rewards early care and education professionals for increasing their education and continuing their work in their current child care setting. SCHOLARSHIPS provides financial support for early care and education professionals as they continue their education. Tiered Reimbursement aids child care centers, group homes and family child care providers that strive for and demonstrate higher levels of quality. Training & Technical Assistance provides specialized training to improve quality in child care settings. 

Under the Training and Technical Assistance umbrella, Quality Care for Children ? another early learning agency in the state ? has provided over 200 training hours for early learning professionals in Houston County since July 1, 2003. In addition, in Houston and surrounding areas, Quality Care for Children helps early learning providers complete the necessary applications to receive funding to increase professional development. 

In collaboration with Quality Care for Children, Smart Start Georgia recently worked with Georgia College and State University and Macon State College to host five Child Development Association classes, free of charge to early learning providers in Houston, Bibb and Baldwin Counties, to help improve the quality of early learning in these areas. 

Residents also are urged to show their commitment to Georgia?s children by placing a yellow ribbon on their lapels, cars, desks and trees during the Month of the Young Child.

Month of the Young Child is sponsored statewide by the Georgia Association of Young Children, an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

About Smart Start Georgia
Smart Start Georgia, previously known as the Georgia Early Learning Initiative (GELI), is dedicated to creating and implementing innovative programs and outreach initiatives to improve the quality of early care and education for all children ages birth through five throughout the state, promoting lifetime learning and ensuring greater achievement throughout the child's education and beyond. Smart Start Georgia is a public/private partnership among the State of Georgia, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, United Ways of Georgia, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and more than 40 additional supporting organizations.
For additional information on Smart Start Georgia programs or how to become involved, please call 1.877.STARTGA or visit www.smartstartga.org. 

Stephanie Libby
Edelman
404.262.3000
stephanie.libby@edelman.com

Amanda Bolster
Smart Start Georgia
404.527.7307
abolster@unitedwayatlanta.org