United Way of Morris County Events
Past Events

Child Care Symposium
October 28, 2004

On October 28, United Way of Morris County brought together 50 child care center directors and early childhood educators for a conference, "Enhancing Quality in Our Centers: Collaborating with United Way to Meet Our Greatest Challenges." Currently, United Way of Morris County funds scholarships at 17 child care centers for families who live at or near the poverty level. At the conference, child care directors, curriculum coordinators, education managers, and head teachers of United Way-funded centers began the process to develop initiatives that address some of biggest challenges that confront centers caring for children 5 years and younger.

Some of those challenges include tight budgets, staff turnover and stressed families. In addition, school districts have heightened expectations regarding children's academic readiness for kindergarten. "There's no doubt that these are formidable challenges that no one director can easily meet on his or her own. However, I believe we can be amazingly effective as a group," said Maureen Dempsey, chair of United Way of Morris County's Success By 6® Team. She added, "The day is really our launching pad for identifying new ways to have a positive impact on our county's youngest and neediest children. Since our child care directors are constantly forced to manage with very limited resources, they are natural out-of-the-box thinkers. We are very excited to bring together such a creative, dynamic and caring group of professionals."

United Way of Morris County also views the conference as a way to develop initiatives that will enable more child care centers to become accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a nationally recognized authority on excellence in child care. Currently, only 13% of child care centers in Morris County are accredited. A highlight of the program was guest speaker Pamala Brooks, of the Director's Academy of the Professional Development Center at Kean University.