1. Investing in the Future: Our Children Polly Fassinger, Program DirectorNorth Dakota KIDS COUNT

2. The brain is an environmental organ: its health and development are strongly shaped by the stimulation and interaction children receive, particularly during ages 0-5, a critical period of growth and learning. J. Clinton, 2007 North Dakota KIDS COUNT

3.  Quality child care is about child development  Quality child care builds developing brains North Dakota KIDS COUNT

4.  Most children have working parents North Dakota KIDS COUNT

7.  Access to child care is often limited North Dakota KIDS COUNT

8.  Hours of operation are limited North Dakota KIDS COUNT

10.  Spaces in child care facilities are often well below the number of children possibly needing care North Dakota KIDS COUNT

12.  Child care is costly North Dakota KIDS COUNT

14.  Child care adds to the state’s economic success North Dakota KIDS COUNT

15. 2002 data North Dakota KIDS COUNT

16.  Child care worker’s wages are relatively low North Dakota KIDS COUNT

18.  One of the ramifications of workers’ low income is high job turnover North Dakota KIDS COUNT

20.  How can the state create better futures for all of our children? North Dakota KIDS COUNT

21.  10 million in aid to preschool  3.5 million to build or expand child-care centers  1.5 million for mandatory background checks for providers North Dakota KIDS COUNT

22.  Increase access to child care ◦ Number of facilities, hours of operation  Increase profitability of child care ◦ Child-care workers’ wages ◦ Reimbursement to providers  Reduce costs of child care ◦ Families’ expenses North Dakota KIDS COUNT

23.  Increase quality of child care ◦ Skilled and educated caregivers ◦ Safe, licensed facilities ◦ Low staff turnover  Support Early Childhood Education ◦ Preschool programs ◦ Head Start and Early Head Start programs North Dakota KIDS COUNT

24.  Increase Access ◦ Governor Hoeven’s proposal ◦ Tax credits to businesses ◦ Make child care more profitable  Increase Profitability ◦ Increase reimbursement rates for providers ◦ Provide financial incentives for child-care workers  Reduce Child-Care Costs ◦ Create state child-care tax credit ◦ Develop state Earned Income Tax Credit ◦ Increase child-care assistance to low-income families North Dakota KIDS COUNT

25.  Increase Quality of Child Care ◦ More incentives for skilled, educated caregivers ◦ Create incentives for using new Early Learning Guidelines ◦ More incentives for licensing ◦ Incentives that reduce worker turnover  Support Early Childhood Education ◦ Fund Head Start ◦ Fund universal preschool in ND North Dakota KIDS COUNT

26.  Speak to candidates, legislators  Vote for persons who make children a priority  Provide feedback & support during legislative sessions North Dakota KIDS COUNT

27. 2008 Issues Guide Available at www.ndkidscount.org