Our Focus
Current Priorities
The Early Learning and Development Working Group partners with child care providers to enhance early learning programs for children.
- Prioritize early childhood workforce development and wage increases to ensure centers have a strong workforce available.
- Explore options for philanthropic, business and other community support for childcare systems and “family friendly” practices.
- Our Family-Friendly Business Toolkit provides businesses with ideas, knowledge and resources to advance early childhood outcomes while supporting one of their most valuable assets--their employees. Download the toolkit.
- A Guide to How the Business Community Can Engage in Childcare – US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Promote a professional development and education hub so child-care providers can easily find training opportunities.
- Expand newly piloted Hampton Roads Shared Services model to help child-care providers work together and strengthen their businesses.
- Hampton Roads Shared Services Alliance Infographic - This two-page flier provides compelling data related to the shared services model here in Hampton Roads.
- Increase regional utilization of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in child care centers and day home care settings.
- Establish resources and guidance for early childhood education directors and teachers when it comes to healthy social and emotional development.
- Mental Health Well-Being For Early Childhood Providers
- Early Childhood Marketplace Fact Sheet - Affordable and accessible coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The Minus 9 to 5 initiative provides an incredible opportunity for me to contribute to big ideas that will improve our system of early care and education. The collaboration among organizations is allowing us to be much stronger together.
Lauren Small
Early Education Business Consultants, LLC
Working Group Members
Beth Anderson, Children’s Harbor
Beverly Becker, Square One
Kisha Burchard-Goodfield, Infant Toddler Specialist Network
Joetta Camp, Virginia Star Quality Initiative – Tidewater Community College
Kristen Carter, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Minus 9 to 5
Maggie Charlton, Tidewater Community College
Kayla Corbitt, Operation Childcare Project
Tessa Davis, Armed Services YMCA
Emily Edmonds, Chesapeake RU Ready
Shikee Franklin, Early Head Start/ Head Start
Sharon Howell, Planning Council
Jeanne Hopkins, Tidewater Community College
Chamika Johnson, Urban Strategies
Dusti Johnson-Brinker, Portsmouth Public Schools
Barb Lito, Virginia Beach Grow Smart
Jordan Mellott, Great Bridge Child Care Center
Patricia Meyer, VDSS Eastern Region Lic
Susanne Rakes, Child Care Aware
Laura Roberts, Armed Forces YMCA
Sara Rotherberg, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Pediatrics, Community Health and Research
Lauren Small, Early Education Business Consultants, LLC
Brittany Sutton, Urban Strategies
Sean Wynn, United Way, SHR
Contact Beth Parker for more information at ParkerEK@ODU.EDU