Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (AzAEYC)

Looking to build your leadership skills? Interested in being an ambassador for Arizona’s children and early childhood profession? If so, we invite you to apply to serve on the AzAEYC Governing Board! As a board member, you will help lead our collective movement to create a strong, vibrant, equitable early childhood field. We are recruiting for several Board roles with terms ranging from one to two years. Available positions include: - President-Elect - VP of Development - VP of Membership & Communication - Secretary - 3 Member-at-Large positions (with both a spot for a Student and Higher Ed member open) - Chapter Chairs for Maricopa, Northern Arizona, Pinal/Gila, and Yuma As an AzAEYC Board member, you will: - Attend 12 board meetings per year (one per month on the 2nd Monday) virtually with some in-person meetings. - Share your expertise to help Arizona's children, families, and early childhood educators thrive. - Plan and support activities/events for the early childhood profession. Applications are being accepted through Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Terms start January 1 with onboarding and mentorship. Learn more and apply to serve at https://lnkd.in/gUEserrM.

Your voice is needed! Join AzAEYC for a virtual focus group on Early Childhood System Workforce Issues. Who: ECE directors, child development managers, & child care leaders When: Saturday, October 26, 2024 9-11 a.m. Where: Zoom We encourage you to join and share your viewpoints around ECE childhood system workforce issues. Participants will receive a $20 gift card after successful participation! Registration is limited and will close once full. Register today ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dFyjFu

Save the date for the 2024 AzAEYC Annual Professional Development & Breakfast! Saturday, November 16, 2024 9 a.m.-Noon In-person at Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034   Enjoy breakfast and networking with colleagues as we explore the topics of Transformation and Resiliency.   As we navigate challenges inside and outside the classroom in this post-pandemic world, join AzAEYC as we discuss strategies of perseverance and resilience to help our students, staff, and ourselves.   Breakfast is included. All participants will receive a certificate of 1.5 hours of professional development. Current AzAEYC/NAEYC members: no-cost registration Non-members: $15   Register now at https://lnkd.in/gBJeSMux.   SOUTHERN ARIZONA ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

According to new bi-partisan polling from First Five Years Fund, voters across political affiliations overwhelmingly support policies that help families with young #children access quality #childcare — with strong support for increased federal funding to help states expand their existing child care programs. And in states like Arizona that are critical to the makeup of the U.S. Senate, over 4/5 of voters say they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports increased federal funding to expand child care. Paired with a recent Center for the Future of Arizona survey that showed 77% of Arizona voters agree the state should invest more in child care assistance programs, it's clear that Arizonans want to see current lawmakers — and candidates for elected office — step up in support of #ECE programs. Learn more and see the polling results at https://lnkd.in/gfjJnn4q. FIRST THINGS FIRST SOUTHERN ARIZONA ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN Children's Action Alliance

Are you #hiring for an open #childcare staff position? Do you want to reach more applicants? Do you want to save money by not having to pay fees to post on individual job sites? Then, check out #AZToolkit Job Bank, a no-cost benefit exclusively for AzAEYC AZToolkit subscribers! In 2023, AZToolkit Job Bank helped hundreds of Arizona child care providers get 34,000+ views from potential candidates and receive nearly 2,000 applications through their job postings—all in one easy-to-navigate dashboard. - Post jobs with just one click to 15 popular recruitment sites at no extra cost (included with your AZToolkit subscription)! - Populate ready-to-use job description templates from AZToolkit or upload your own. - Review candidate applications and create customized workflows from interview to hire directly within the Job Bank. - Have your posts automatically show up in Google search results to make it even easier for job seekers to find. AZToolkit subscribers: login to access AZToolkit Job Bank at www.azaeyctoolkit.org. Each licensed, certified, tribal and military regulated Arizona child care provider has 1 FREE AZToolkit subscription through June 30, 2024 thanks to funding from Arizona Department of Economic Security in partnership with Southwest Human Development. Not an AZToolkit subscriber? Learn more and sign up today to get access to our one-stop shared resources platform with more than 1,800 tools, templates and resources to help #ECE programs save time, maximize funding, and improve quality at www.azaeyc.org/toolkit. FIRST THINGS FIRST SOUTHERN ARIZONA ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN Child & Family Resources, Inc.

It’s National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day! Today we celebrate early childhood programs from across Arizona and express our deep gratitude for their role in creating vibrant communities. Join us to honor providers by: - Sending a note of gratitude through the Arizona Department of Economic Security Child Care Appreciation Survey to recognize the providers who support children's lifelong learning plus make it possible for thousands of Arizona parents to go to work: https://lnkd.in/gFS3R3JP - Exploring our “Stories from the Field” collection which highlights the voices of Arizona educators who are leading innovative work in their programs and communities and advancing equitable, quality ECE: www.azaeyc.org/stories To all of Arizona’s child care providers, THANK YOU for all you do to advance the health, education, and well-being of our youngest learners, families, and communities. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

The deadline to take the 2024 Arizona Child Care Market Rate Survey is fast approaching on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Open to all of Arizona’s licensed and certified child care providers, the survey asks about staff wages, benefits, and other provider costs which will better inform child care subsidy reimbursement rates. Your feedback helps make sure that reimbursement rates reflect current private pay market rates and that policies align with common provider business practices. Responses will be kept confidential. Participation is voluntary but highly encouraged. Surveys are available in English and Spanish. Participants who complete the survey by May 7, 2024 will be entered to win a Visa gift card. Center-Based Providers (English/Español): https://bit.ly/49RMaH5 Home-Based Providers (English/Español): https://bit.ly/3W6eceC

From Governor Katie Hobbs, state lawmakers, and across cities, towns, and regions from Show Low to City of Yuma, Arizona and San Carlos Apache Tribe to Navajo Nation and many places in between - elected officials and higher education leaders proclaimed April 6-12, 2024 as Week of the Young Child #WOYC24. This year, we received the MOST proclamations EVER! We are grateful for our continued partnership with FIRST THINGS FIRST . and Southern Arizona AEYC to celebrate WOYC in the Grand Canyon State. We extend our gratitude to the many communities that joined in to highlight Arizona's youngest learners and the importance of accessible, quality #childcare. Check out the proclamations: www.azaeyc.org/woyc https://lnkd.in/ggVEt-PQ National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Cochise County City of Casa Grande Glendale Community College Maricopa Community Colleges Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Division for Early Childhood Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) City of Phoenix

Throughout Week of the Young Child #WOYC24, we've highlighted amazing #ECE professionals in communities across the state through AzAEYC's signature Stories from the Field initiative. These stories showcase real examples of what quality, equitable, accessible early care and education looks like for young learners, their families, and educators in Arizona. Check out this year's featured articles! - #HeadStart teachers at Child Parent Centers, Inc. reflect on how learning more about working with paint as an art medium themselves helped them engage in deeper explorations with young children: https://lnkd.in/grXxP2tG. - Danielle June, an Indigenous parent and educator from the Navajo Nation, describes her perspectives on ECE and the importance of fostering Indigenous children's resilience, joy, and healing: https://lnkd.in/g9eTqXj8. - Blanca Bergeron, Outdoor Classroom Educator at Second Street Children’s School, shares her experience with the Reggio Emilia Approach, the creative ways children have transformed ordinary objects in their outdoor classroom, and the importance of listening to the stories children tell: https://lnkd.in/g4sr6aYU. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Head Start Association Arizona Head Start Association FIRST THINGS FIRST . Valley of the Sun United Way Tucson Children's Project

This week, Arizona parents, child care providers, and community champions came together at the state capitol to urge the state legislature and Governor Hobbs to work together to include at least $100 million in state general fund investments for child care in the final FY2025 budget. Quality child care is a public good. Plus, funding accessible, equitable early care and education is a smart investment that improves child and family well-being, strengthens communities, and grows our state's prosperity. Thanks to ARIZONA EARLY CHILDHOOD ALLIANCE for sponsoring the event! FIRST THINGS FIRST . Children's Action Alliance National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)