Our Focus
The Early Learning and Development Working Group partners with child care providers to enhance early learning programs for children.
Current Priorities
- Prioritize early childhood workforce development and wage increases to ensure centers have a strong workforce available.
- Check out our infographic: ECE Career Pathway in Hampton Roads
- Virginia Child Care College Scholarships
- Explore options for philanthropic, business and other community support for childcare systems and “family friendly” practices.
- Our Family-Friendly Business Toolkit provides businesses with ideas, knowledge and resources to advance early childhood outcomes while supporting one of their most valuable assets--their employees. Download the toolkit.
- A Guide to How the Business Community Can Engage in Childcare – US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Hampton Roads Developmental Screening Initiative Rack Cards
- Promote a professional development and education hub so child-care providers can easily find training opportunities.
- Expand the Hampton Roads Shared Services model to help child-care providers work together and strengthen their businesses.
- Hampton Roads Shared Services Alliance Infographic - This two-page flier provides compelling data related to the shared services model here in Hampton Roads.
- Increase regional access to information about child care and military resources. Check out our Hampton Roads Early Childhood Military Resources handout.
- Establish resources and guidance for early childhood education directors and teachers when it comes to healthy social and emotional development.
- Resources for Early Childhood Mental Wellness
- Early Childhood Marketplace Fact Sheet - Affordable and accessible coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Beth Anderson, Children’s Harbor Beverly Becker, Square One Katlynn Bodner, HRCAP Early Head Start/ Head Start Kisha Burchard-Goodfield, Infant Toddler Specialist Network Chanacy Butler, Chesapeake Thrives Kristen Carter, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Minus 9 to 5 Kayla Corbitt, Operation Childcare Project Tessa Davis, Armed Services YMCA Dr. Navine Fortune, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Minus 9 to 5 Sharon Howell, ChildCare Aware of Virginia Mrs. Renee' Hailes, Portsmouth Public Schools Dr. Jeanne Tardiff, Tidewater Community College Josetta Thomae, Virginia Beach Grow Smart Susanne Rakes, Child Care Aware Laura Roberts, Armed Forces YMCA Sara Rotherberg, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Pediatrics, Community Health and Research Lauren Small, Early Education Business Consultants, LLC Sean Wynn, United Way, SHR