Quality Childcare Advocacy Bus Tour of Early Care and Education Centers

NAPLES, Fla. - Sept. 16, 2015 - PRLog -- The Naples Alliance for Children (NAFC) is inviting state, county, city lawmakers, community leaders  and media representatives to participate in the “2015 NAFC Quality Childcare Advocacy Bus Tour” to be held on Friday, Oct. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.   The tour will highlight the importance of quality early child care and education to the community and the impact upon the community and the future workforce.  A Continental breakfast and tour of the NCEF Early Childhood Development Center, located at Florida SouthWestern State College, Collier Campus 7505 Grand Lely Drive, Building K, will kick off the bus tour of three other child care programs, including the First Presbyterian Preschool, Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, and Camp Discovery Child Care Center. A representative from each center will give an overview of their program and explain why quality early child care and education is important, why funding is needed, and how they can help.

An advocacy video which highlights the economic impact of the childcare industry with the tagline “If you think child care is not your business, well it is,” will be debuted. The video includes interviews with Collier County community leaders Mayaela Rosales, Executive Vice President & CCO of Media Vista Multi-Platform Hispanic Media Corporation, Dr. Allen Weiss, CEO and President of NCH Healthcare System, Dr. Kamela Patton, Superintendent of Schools for Collier County and Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Niccole Howard, Chair of the NAFC Early Education Committee said, “Over the last 15 years, parent fees for early childhood education have increased 90 percent.  However, child care educators have only had a one percent increase in salary.  During the bus tour, we hope to highlight the need to invest in high-quality child care.  After all, the early years are the most formative years and for every one dollar invested, there is a seventeen dollar return on investment.”

For more information about the bus tour, or to learn more about the Naples Alliance for Children, call (239) 649-5260.

About Naples Alliance for Children

Naples Alliance for Children is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to connecting the community with the resources that meet the education, health and welfare needs of the children and families in Collier County.  Public education is one of their several program areas that promote local collaboration and dissemination of information on children’s services. For information on this and other NAFC programs call 239-649-5260 or email info@napleschild.org.