Our community is being challenged this year by the Board of Supervisors’ resolution declaring the Year of the Child in Del Norte County. I have been attending the Board meetings and am amazed with the range of agencies and their services to children and their families. The commitment to our community’s children on many levels is a strength that is known on a limited basis and rarely publicly acknowledged in series of events covering an entire year. It’s a great idea and if you can’t attend the Board of Supervisors meetings you can connect with their web site & listen to it live. At least for the Year of the Child feature.

Our Board of Directors recently went into retreat to review their Goals and Objectives. Continuing to find ways to support families and have a presence in our community is on the top of their list. Also on their list is customer service, so if you have received our annual survey and have not submitted it, now is your chance! The Board reviews the feedback.

Our Alternative Payment staff will be challenged over the next few months by the implementation of child care subsidy regulations. We were reviewed by a team of fiscal representatives from the Department of Education. We learned that we were not in compliance with the Title V regulations: we were using documentation that was not in the best interests of the State. Our efforts to provide comprehensive service to providers created a situation where we were more protective of our providers than was allowed in the State regulations and we are adjusting to compliance requirements. We intend to remain nurturing and supportive of providers and will find ways to accomplish this.

There is a new Del Norte Provider Association being formed! The current president is Vonda Fry. They meet once per month and have several exciting projects planned. Contact information is inside this newsletter.

Summer is coming and there are a variety of child safety items to remember including car seats for travel & field trips, sunscreen and especially water safety. See inside for parent/provider tips.

The DNCCC will again offer a Summer Child Care program for school age children.. Call Kim Geib at Pine Grove Latchkey for more information, 464-7412.

Best wishes for a great summer; thank you for your individual as well as collective commitment to the children of Del Norte County! They are our future.