Take a Stand for Quality Child Care

On June 1, 1998, communities across the country will be taking a Stand for Quality Child Care by focusing attention on the importance of quality, affordable child care and after-school activities for all families who need them. The third annual Stand for Children Day is the perfect opportunity for anyone concerned about the well-being of young children to raise awareness and show support for quality, affordable child care.

The need for quality care and after-school activities is a daily concern for millions of American families. Everyday, three out of five preschoolers are in child care and millions of older children are in after-school care. Child care and after-school activities help to shape the way children think, learn, and behave for the rest of their lives, but many adults pay little attention to the quality of those experiences.

Stand for Children is a national organization helping grassroots children’s activists build Children’s Action teams (CATS), which improve children’s lives through successful policy change, awareness raising, and service initiatives. You can get involved and show support for quality, affordable child care by planning a Stand for Children event in your community. For example, child care providers can host an open house or pot luck picnic; families can hold a book drive or a letter writing campaign to make their local, state and federal legislators aware of the importance of quality child care; or families and caregivers can collaborate to hold a play area clean-up.

So far, there are more than 700 activities planned or in progress. Here’s a look at what several communities are planning as 1998 Stand for Quality Child Care activities:

Nevada City, CA
More than 2,000 people are expected at a child care rally and fair where they will hear firsthand from local child care leaders.

Wilmington, DE
The Governor of Delaware, the Mayor of Wilmington, state legislators and community activists will join CAT leaders on a Child Watch Visitation through neighborhoods in Wilmington. This tour will highlight the pressing need for before and after-school programs.

Pinellas County, FL
The County’s Children’s Action Team will host a dinner and dance to honor all those involved in promoting quality child care.

Minneapolis, MN
A child care rally on June 6, will feature entertainment, speakers, display booths, and children’s activities.

Trenton, NJ
A state-wide rally is being organized by a union which represents child protective services workers. They will be asking the New Jersey legislature and others to promote policies and a budget that funds child care and services.

Reno, NV
On June 6, more than 1,000 people are expected to attend the Stand for Children Day parade and festival.

Buffalo, NY
More than 50 child care agencies and advocates are working together to organize the Western New York Child and Family Festival to be held in Buffalo’s Niagra Square. The festival will include child entertainers, street performers, an internet booth and information on quality child care.

New York, NY
A rally will take place June 1, in Central Park. More than 10,000 children, families, care providers, and other community members are expected to join in the festivities.

Marion, OH
Community members will auction off fifty beanie babies. All money collected will go to the "Pennies for Shoes" campaign to address the needs of local low-income children.

Philadelphia, PA
High school students, community members, and political leaders will visit area child care centers on June 1, where they will give out books and read to children.

San Antonio, TX
A parade will wind through the city and end in Sam Houston Park. A rally will follow the parade featuring speakers and entertainment.

To find out more about Stand for Children or to find a Stand for Quality Care event in your area, check out the website at http://www.stand.org or call 1-800-663-4032.