News

Bethesda, Md.-Westover Consultants, Inc. (WCI) has announced that proposals for conference presentations have been accepted by the 2007 Annual Conference of the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC – www.nafcc.org). The conference celebrating NAFCC’s 25 Anniversary will be held for over 600 attendees at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in California, August 17-18. The conference theme will be Family Child Care: Foundations for the Future. This is the second consecutive year that WCI has had multiple presentations accepted for the NAFCC Annual Conference.

Sarah Hearn, Director, Military Child and Family Services Division, will be featured in the Professional Development & Business Practices track. Her topic, If You Promote it, They Will Come: Marketing Your Family Child Care Business, will give attendees intensive knowledge about effective marketing strategies for operating a family child care home. Participants will have an opportunity to design a sample marketing plan. Hearn observes: “Family child care providers hold a unique place in the early childhood community; they can capitalize on their special characteristics and thereby serve children and families really well.” The session is scheduled for Friday, August 17, 10:45am-12:15pm

Delora Shedrick, Senior Manager, Training, Technical Assistance & Organizational Development, and Geraldine Keyes, Senior Early Childhood Specialist, are presenting in the Health & Safety track. Using vital information gleaned from WCI’s work after Hurricane Katrina, Shedrick and Keyes will address a key topic for family child care providers who often work alone: Promoting Emergency Preparedness During the Eye of the Storm. This interactive workshop will provide a theoretical understanding of emergency preparedness. Participants, using both individual and small group activities, will develop an individualized emergency preparedness plan that incorporates ways to manage the personal stress associated with emergency situations. Practical tips, policies, strategies, and best practices to address emergency preparedness and stress-related challenges will be discussed. Shedrick comments: “Parents who know their children are in settings prepared for all types of events are grateful for the caring and preparing that well-informed FCC providers give their families.” Their session will be held on Friday, August 17, 1:45pm-3:15pm

Edna Ranck, Senior Research Associate, Military Child and Family Services Division, has served as a member of the NAFCC History Committee to plan for the 25th anniversary events during the national conference. She has been Lead Writer for the organization’s history: NAFCC @ 25—1982-2007: Preserving Our Past, Enhancing Our Present, Inspiring Our Future. Copies of the history will update past FCC reports and cover the 25 years of NAFCC activities. “An organization’s periodic reviews pull together the long-time and newest members; a written history creates a renewed focus on where they came from and where they want the organization to go.”  NAFCC will hold its 25th Anniversary Celebration on Friday evening, August 17.