Little Rock, AR – Better Beginnings, Arkansas’ quality rating improvement system, is celebrating Arkansas Children’s Week by sponsoring several events throughout the state to recognize the needs of young children. The events also focus on thanking educators and others involved in the education and care of young children.

          During Arkansas Children’s Week, early childhood programs across the state, including child care and Head Start programs, preschools, and elementary schools, hold special events to bring awareness to the needs of young children.

“We’re glad to have the opportunity to sponsor some of these events across the state,” said Kathy Stegall,

program development administrator, for the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. “We have facility directors out there who are paying for this out of their pocket and we wanted to help support what they’re doing.”

Better Beginnings has partnered with the Little Rock affiliate of Radio Disney to provide a one-hour educational

program at eight events throughout Arkansas. Parents and child care providers will have the opportunity to speak with staff members of Better Beginnings at each event, as well as collect information about the new program. For more information or a list of events, visit www.arkansas.gov/childcare/acw.

More Information on Better Beginnings

Better Beginnings is a new quality rating improvement system for all licensed child care programs in Arkansas.

The program emphasizes the value of quality child care. The program gives child care providers valuable tools for improving the quality of their programs. Better Beginnings also empoweres parents by providing an online tool that identifies and locates quality child care providers in their communities. For more information, visit www.ARBetterBeginnings.com.

List of Remaining Events