Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis it was necessary to cancel the in-person National Smart Start Conference.
However, we are very excited to offer this virtual conference experience.

“Supporting Child Care During Crisis”

Wednesday, May 6th | 10:30 – Noon

On May 6th, join Smart Start’s Featured Session on Supporting Child Care During Crisis! Panelists from North Carolina, Ohio, and Louisiana will discuss supporting centers that are staying open to care for the essential workforce and ensuring we have a supported, healthy child care industry on the other side of this.

Presenters

Moderator:

Scarlett Bouder, President and Co-Founder, Advocacy & Communication Solutions

As president of ACS, Scarlett directs strategic communication planning, government relations and advocacy efforts, and policy analysis and strategy development for ACS clients.

ACS is one of the only female and minority owned consulting firms in Ohio and has gained a national reputation for not only its communication and strategy development expertise but also a deep understanding of policy and advocacy, especially for organizations within the early childhood and K-12 education sectors. In 2011, the northeast Ohio small business chamber of commerce, Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), named ACS a “Ten Under 10” award winner. This COSE award is given annually to 10 small businesses with 10 employees or fewer to honor their ability to innovate, grow and reach ambitious goals. In 2015, ACS received a Platinum Award in the Communication Plan category of the MarCom Awards and was named a Weatherhead 100 Upstart Winner as one of the fastest-growing companies in Northeast Ohio.

Scarlett has nearly 20 years of experience in government relations and communication. After helping to start ACS in 2004, she left the company in 2007 to join the administration of Governor Ted Strickland, where she was appointed Director of Communication & Marketing and later Chief of Staff at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, at the time, the state’s largest agency with an $18 billion budget. Scarlett rejoined ACS in 2009. Scarlett also held government relations and communication positions for The Cleveland Metropolitan School District, The Greater Cleveland Film Commission, Ohio Alzheimer Council, and the Ohio Democratic House caucus races, where she developed and led strategic communication efforts for more than 20 local and statewide candidate and issue campaigns.She developed and led communication and marketing strategy for two cabinet level agencies, responsible for Medicaid, workforce and child welfare programs.

Panelists

Joy Bivens
Director,
Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services

Joy Bivens serves as the director of Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services, the largest agency under the guidance of the Board of Commissioners. Franklin County is the largest county in the state with more than 1.3 million residents. As director, she leads the agency under three guiding principles: Operational Excellence, Leadership and Development and Integrative Partnerships. The agency has a staff of more than 600 full-time workers who serve as the county’s first-line social safety net agency. In addition to determining eligibility for food assistance, Ohio Works First cash assistance, Medicaid and Publicly Funded Child Care, the Agency also provides millions in funding for family supportive services, including youth after-school programs, health-science academies, summer employment opportunities and workforce development services. Roughly one in four Franklin County residents receives assistance from FCDJFS.

Nasha Patel
Chief of Early Childhood Strategy,
Louisiana Department of Education

Donna White
Interim President,
The North Carolina
Partnership for Children

Donna White is Deputy Director and Vice President of the North Carolina Partnership for Children. She partners closely with the President to develop and implement NCPC’s strategic plans and policies. Donna’s responsibilities range from partnership and project management to administration and human capital development; and directly oversees Community Development, Programs, and Quality Assurance and Evaluation departments. She holds an M.S.H.E. from East Carolina University in Child Development and Family Relations.

Wednesday, May 6th  | 10:30 – Noon

To participate register here:
https://smartstart.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__mjPUTeKSnCNrlgtjMwLLg