14 The Hampton Roads Messenger Hampton Student


FROM PAGE 2


Volume 14 Number 1


October 2019


Expansion of Child Care Assistance Program for Military Families Announced


Hampton University student Jayla Brown


finale event was an absolutely amazing experience. Once I was there, I knew it something that I needed to see. The women there


were being uplifted,


encouraged and appreciated for the way they look, and not just women that wear size 0, it was all women. It was very breathtaking to see,” said Brown. “I’m appreciative and humbled to


Photo courtesy of Hampton University


be able to accept my scholarship, along with the other women who won awards. It’s amazing that women who look like me are succeeding and doing well.”


has already accepted


Brown graduates this year and a full-time


position to teach mathematics with Teach for America.


BY GOVERNOR.VIRGINIA.GOV RICHMOND—The state of


Virginia announced that the United States Department of Defense (DOD) has selected Virginia as one of just two states to participate in a pilot to expand the military child care fee assistance program, Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN). Previously, only a limited number of community child care providers were eligible to participate in the MCCYN program, which provides fee assistance families civilians,


for of active duty sponsors, guard/reservist, and guard/


reserve technicians who are unable to access on-installation child care.


Through the new pilot MCCYN-PLUS, Virginia licensed child care providers serving military families in the fee assistance program who are not nationally accredited must participate


in Virginia Quality, the


state’s quality rating and improvement system (QRIS). The QRIS is a systemic approach


to assess, improve, and


communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs. QRIS awards quality ratings to early care and education programs that meet a set of defined program standards. The pilot provides a unique opportunity for this collaborative and value-added partnership with DOD.


licensed


“Finding high-quality, affordable early


childhood American we know that the care availability


education is challenging enough for the average


family, and and


accessibility of care is often even more difficult for military families,” said Governor Northam. “The expansion of licensed child care offerings through MCCYN-PLUS will not only support Virginia’s military


community, but


will also strengthen the quality of child care providers throughout the Commonwealth. My administration is working hard to ensure every child in our Commonwealth has the same shot at a healthy and successful life, and this pilot initiative will help Virginia better serve and support our military families.”


on the heels of a larger


The MCCYN-PLUS pilot occurs statewide


child care marketing and recruitment plan by the Virginia Department of Social


Services (VDSS) to increase the quantity and quality of child care programs. As a result of focused efforts on the part of VDSS and local


departments of social services, Virginia has experienced significant growth this past year in the number of children served through the Child Care Subsidy Program,


which helps


parents pay for the cost of child care while


they work or participate education or training programs.


“The MCCYN-PLUS program will help ensure that more of Virginia’s military families have access to quality affordable child care,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey, MD. “When a family has access to child care that promotes a child’s health, happiness, and development, it can lead to better health outcomes for the entire family.”


“Our team will continue our


efforts to make Virginia the most military friendly state in the nation and this pilot program provides an exciting opportunity to partner with our military communities,” said Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos Hopkins. “We understand how important it is to have affordable, licensed child care available


for


our military communities. The pilot program will help military connected families access quality child care and continue to serve our country and Commonwealth.”


and of quality families


“Expanding child


care is crucially and


the accessibility for Virginia’s important,”


said Virginia Department of Social Services Commissioner Duke Storen. “Quality child care not only improves development


school When launched readiness


for children, but benefits families, employers and communities as well.”


in fall 2019,


MCCYN-PLUS will immediately affect approximately 400 licensed child care centers currently participating in the MCCYN program, with a possible expansion to more than 800 additional eligible child care centers in regions with military presence.


For information on child care fee


assistance for military families, visit usa.childcareaware.org. To learn more about Virginia Quality programs that have made a commitment to quality child care and early learning, visit VirginiaQuality.com. To search for quality, licensed child care or learn how to become a licensed provider, visit ChildCareVA.com.


low-income in


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