Each Child. Every Community.

by Amy Cubbage, NCPC President  

Along with our partners at The Hunt Institute, Smart Start hosted a roundtable this week with leaders from the White House and the U.S. Department of Education. There weren’t TV cameras or microphones; no podiums or props were in the room. Instead, the roundtable was an opportunity for the administration to hear directly from child care providers in North Carolina about their experiences, their needs, and their dreams.

Now, I am always proud to highlight the great things that Smart Start is doing in our communities. But this event was especially meaningful because it allowed us to elevate the voices of providers – all the way to Washington.

It was a simple, hour-long conversation, but it reminded me of the many ways that our child care providers pour their hearts into their work with our state’s youngest children. We heard how providers have shown up for children and families throughout all the challenges of the pandemic. And, we heard loud and clear that the effects of the pandemic – the stress, the trauma, the overwhelm – are ongoing for both providers and for children.

Providers and state leaders highlighted the importance of supporting the child care workforce with fair pay, accessible benefits, and a stable career path. We emphasized that the stabilization grants are so helpful but that long-term solutions are needed. And providers discussed how important it is to be recognized as professionals and as respected and valued just as much as K-12 teachers.

At Smart Start, we know that early childhood, the time of most rapid brain development in a child’s life, is so critical to success in kindergarten and beyond. I am appreciative that policymakers in both DC and North Carolina value the experiences of child care providers and are working to ensure that both federal and state programs meet the needs on the ground. And, I’m always grateful and honored to work in and with a field that takes care of our youngest – the future of our state.

Thanks to all who participated for an inspiring and uplifting conversation.