PNC Grow Up Great® helps prepare America’s youngest learners to achieve success in school and life. In partnership with the creators of Sesame Street®, this initiative provides children with encouragement and resources to help them reach their full potential. 

In 1992, Neurons to Neighborhoods was published laying out the scientific research that concluded the first five years of life were the most important years in every individual’s development.  Over the next 20 years, investments in the first five years of life became the top priority for early educators.  In California, Proposition 10 funded First 5 Commissions and investment in early childhood increased significantly.  California’s state budget investment in young children grew to a remarkable $3.2 billion but was then reduced to $1.8 billion during the recession.  As the economy recovered, funds were returned to the system mostly in the form of increased investment in state preschool.  And, just recently, there was also an increase in Federal funding for preschool.

On November 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, into law (CCDBG). The legislation passed both the House and Senate in the fall of 2014 with strong bipartisan support and was authored by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Richard Burr (R-NC), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Tom Harkin (D-IA). This is the first reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant in nearly 20 years. The original law, which was first passed in 1990, is a major source of federal funding and requirements for child care throughout the nation.

As California continues to recover from the Great Recession, not all of the population has experienced the renewed economic growth. Recent census data shows that one in five children in California live below the poverty line. According to USC Sociology Professor Manuel Pastor one in four women in the U.S. and a third of single mothers currently live in poverty. About 40 % of children in female-headed households live on incomes below the federal poverty line.

In early January, Governor Brown released his 2015/16 Budget Proposal. Overall, California is in a much stronger position due to the recovering economy and changes made over the past few years. The Governor’s January Proposed Budget focuses on saving money, paying the state’s liabilities and continued implementation of new programs. These programs include the Local Control Funding Formula for schools and MediCal expansion. In Child Care and Development Programs, the Governor’s proposal reflects a caseload driven budget for subsidized child care that fulfils the agreements made in last year’s budget deal with the legislature and includes the following key components.

The Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) has been named a finalist in the 2015 Public Relation News’ Nonprofit PR Awards! CCRC will be among those recognized during the awards luncheon at the prestigious National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on March 12, 2015.

This is a great honor and we are excited to be a finalist among these outstanding nominees in the Event PR category!

• American Society of Clinical Oncology – 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting Press Program
• Child Care Resource Center – 5th Annual Laps4Literacy Event
• Copacino+Fujikado – The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience Asks: Do You Know Bruce?
• Henson Consulting – Navy Pier Announces Legacy Gift for Centennial Redevelopment
• The TASC Group – Athlete Ally’s and All Out’s Principle 6 Campaign
• United Nations Foundation – Social Good Summit

Child Care Resource Center will be recognized for its 5^th Annual Laps4Literacy Event. Lap4literacy is a free community event held in the Antelope Valley, designed to bring awareness of the critical role that literacy and nutrition play in a child’s life experiences and success. The event combines a 5K walk/run with a free family play day. The event is in conjunction with two of Child Care Resource Center’s (CCRC) cornerstone campaigns – What a Difference a BOOK Makes and Choose Health LA Child Care.

To learn more about CCRC’s community events, contact the Communications Department at 818-717-1036.

To read more about Nonprofit PR Awards Luncheon visit http://www.prnewsonline.com/nonprofit-awards-luncheon2015.