Vroom project is a Bezos Family Foundation initiative
Child Care Council Inc. has been chosen as one of only 10 sites across the country to participate in a healthy child brain development project.
Child Care Aware® of America selected the Council as part of a national network of communities and organizations activating Vroom, a Bezos Family Foundation initiative that is helping parents nationwide promote brain development in children from birth to five years old. Child Care Council and other participating sites – part of Child Care Aware of America’s nationwide Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) network – will use Vroom to bolster its current work with families.
Vroom provides interactive tools and resources that highlight the science behind early brain development, showing parents how they can turn activities like bath time and mealtime into opportunities that build their children’s brains. This partnership is particularly exciting in its ability to facilitate a far-reaching culture shift − one that begins with parents understanding early brain development and extends into how families, providers, businesses, and communities all work to support brain development during the first five years of life.
“Child Care Council is pleased to be selected as one of the 10 sites in the nation to participate in this outstanding Vroom project,” said Child Care Council CEO Barbara-Ann Mattle. “Through Vroom, we will help nurture parent-child interaction and educate parents about brain-building messages, both of which are critical to healthy child brain development.”
“We’re thrilled to see such a diverse mix of child care programs and providers integrating Vroom,” said Jackie Bezos, president and co-founder of the Bezos Family Foundation. “More than 11 million children under the age of five are in some form of child care. It is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. This partnership will help strengthen the relationship between child care providers and families by putting brain-building language and tools at the center of both environments.”
Other sites selected for Vroom include: Childcare Resources Birmingham (Alabama); Child Care Aware® of West Central Arkansas; Child Care Resource Center (California); Florida Office of Early Learning; Child Care Resources Inc. (Montana); Southern New Hampshire Services Child Care Resource and Referral; Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council Inc. (Albany); Child Care Connection, a program of Info Line Inc. (Ohio); and Corporation of Ohio Appalachian Development.
About Child Care Council Inc.
Child Care Council Inc. (childcarecouncil.com) is a comprehensive parent-referral, adult-education and community-resource agency working to improve the quality of child care. A Child Care Aware® Quality Assured agency, the Council provides information, training and resources to child care providers and parents in Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties. The non-profit agency offers coordinated services to support child care programs, including a professional library, referral services, free notary public, fingerprinting waivers, reduced-cost business services, and a resource/recycle shop (Repurpose & More Store).
About Child Care Aware® of America
Child Care Aware of America is our nation’s leading voice for child care. We work with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families. To learn more, visit usa.childcareaware.org. Follow us on Twitter @USAChildcare and on Facebook at facebook.com/usachildcare.
About Bezos Family Foundation
The Bezos Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by Jackie and Mike Bezos, who along with their children and spouses, serve as directors. Their vision is that all young people are prepared to achieve their full potential and make a meaningful contribution to society. The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth though high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness, and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children. Follow Vroom on Twitter @joinvroom and on Facebook at facebook.com/joinvroom.
