Healthy Child Care Colorado celebrates our early childhood professionals every day, and especially on this Provider Appreciation Day on May 7! Our providers have not stopped working to create safe and healthy spaces for children, even in the midst of a pandemic that threatened their health, safety, and livelihoods.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020 and many of us were able to stay home, child care providers continued to work for families of essential workers, yet were not widely recognized as essential workers themselves. Healthy Child Care Colorado stepped up during the pandemic to make sure our early care and education professionals and child care health consultants have a community of practice to ensure the health and safety of children in their care.
We believe celebrating these important professionals today means recognizing these essential contributors to our families and communities by professionalizing their roles and adequate compensation for their tireless work.
To our community of early childhood professionals, from providers to child care health consultants and other professionals: we are so thankful you have been there to make sure children can grow healthy and thrive. We will continue to advocate for sound policies and best practices to rebuild a child care system that works for Colorado families and providers.
Visit Child Care Aware of America to find ways you can show early childhood providers your appreciation! Here are some ideas:
- Send a written thank you note to a provider who has made a difference for your family
- Use the #providerappreciationday hashtag on social media and tag providers you know
- Write to or call your state and federal lawmakers to support policies that provide resources and supports for early childhood professionals
This week the Anna Jo Haynes Early Childhood Act was announced at the Colorado State Legislature. This bill would create a State Department of Early Childhood, bringing multiple programs and funding streams supporting children, families, and providers under the same umbrella, along with supporting the expansion of preschool through Prop EE, passed by voters in November 2020.
HCCC is excited to support this transition to reimagine an early childhood system that puts families and providers first. Learn more about this effort and the broad community coalition that got us to this point here.