HEARTS Initiative Fully Funded!

Working families in Juneau need access to quality child care. The HEARTS Initiative was developed to increase the number of licensed child care facilities and increase the recruitment and retention of qualified early childhood teachers. At the Assembly meeting on Monday, May 14th, Assembly members heard testimony on the HEARTS Initiative and received a petition with over 325 signatures from community members supporting the funding of HEARTS. On Wednesday, May 16th, the finance committee of the Juneau Assembly unanimously voted to include full funding of the HEARTS Initiative in the CBJ budget.

HEARTS (Hiring, Educating, and Retaining Teaching Staff) recommends educational incentives, CBJ Child Care Fee Waivers, and Child Care Professional Reimbursements as ways to improve the quality and availability of child care in Juneau. The initiative is based on recommendations developed through a two year strategic planning process involving AEYC, Partnerships for Families and Children, JEDC, Juneau Child Care Association, and Juneau Child Care Task Force members. You can read a description of HEARTS here and see the original recommendations made to the CBJ Assembly here.

AEYC is very excited to see the positive impact of HEARTS in Juneau and looks forward to helping with its implementation! Thanks to everyone who supported the initiative. In addition to young children, families, and child care providers, our entire community will surely benefit from supporting quality child care.