A Message from the President
Investments in child care and early learning result in improved
services for children, families, early childhood
teachers, other persons working in the field, not
to mention the citizens of Florida. Nationally,
approximately 69 percent of children ages birth
to five are in some type of non-parental care. In
Florida, this means that more than 700,000 children
require one form of child care or another. State
level support services are integral to the success
of quality child care and school readiness outcomes.
To ensure success, knowledgeable, reliable, responsive
professionals must work to provide accurate policy
and operational information. A coordinated system
of services is critical to achieving the goal of
accessible, affordable, high-quality child care
and early learning experiences for children. Overarching
support of and assistance to local efforts is necessary
for the provision of a seamless child care and early
learning system.
Through various programs, special projects, events and publications,
Children's Forum staff provide services
for families, providers and communities. Our goal
is to improve quality in all settings by supporting
state and local governments and a sound system of
care. Forum staff members are proud to work on behalf
of all early childhood stakeholders to support the
work of child care and early learning providers.
We are grateful for the opportunity to work side-by-side
with our fellow colleagues in the industry who work
daily to support children and families in Florida.
Phyllis K. Kalifeh
President
