Campus News

Leaders Converge on UK Campus to Discuss Early Childhood Services

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2016) — More than 50 leaders across the Commonwealth and the University of Kentucky — including former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, former Gov. Paul Patton and UK President Eli Capilouto — will meet on campus this week to discuss the university's commitment to young children.

The gathering, being held Thursday, Nov. 10, is the inaugural meeting of a new advisory council for the Kentucky Partnership for Early Childhood Services at the UK Human Development Institute. Various state leaders will participate, including Health and Family Services Cabinet Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services Adria Johnson, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc. President Wilbert W. James.

The meeting will include presentations from Collins, Patton and an exemplary child care provider from the Lexington area who will share her experience. The council will also recognize the history of child care in Kentucky and honor Patton for his early childhood initiative, KIDS NOW, which was enacted in 2000.

The Kentucky Partnership for Early Childhood Services enhances high quality services for children and families through active engagement in collaborative research and professional development. It provides programs to support child care providers across the state and works collaboratively with the Kentucky Early Childhood Data System, Online Learning for Child Care teachers, School Ready Libraries, Stars Plus, and National Early Care and Education Learning Collaborative.

Sponsoring agencies of the partnership include Kentucky Division of Child Care, Kentucky Department of Public Health, Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Child Care Aware of America, Frank Porter Graham Institute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Human Development Institute and the UK College of Education.

To find out more information about programs and services for Kentucky parents and providers, visit www.kentuckypartnership.org/.