DEL News

November 19, 2007
DEL works to build public awareness of importance of early learning

OLYMPIA –Following a competitive bidding process, The Department of Early Learning (DEL) has awarded a communications-focused, one-year contract to The Connections Group of Seattle. The contract supports DEL’s ability to reach out to parents, gathering and sharing information about the importance of early learning as well as the quality of existing services and programs in Washington.

“We need to reach out now to parents of young children with information that helps them choose child care settings, and we need to offer information on the brain research that clearly shows birth to age 3 especially is a crucial time for their children’s development,” said DEL Director Jone Bosworth. “Through this contract, DEL will be able to move quickly on building public awareness and the shared responsibility of all Washingtonians to help children every day. This contract will help Washington remain at the forefront of the nation in early learning system improvements.”

The Connections Group will be conducting research that will deepen and enrich the existing data about public views on early learning in Washington, train department staff to be more effective communicators, and execute an awareness campaign to reach parents and all adults who love children and want them to reach their full potential.

This contract will enable DEL to meet both state and federal mandates:

  • The Washington State Legislature funded a statewide “Parents Needs and Desires Assessment” to learn what citizens want and need to know about quality early learning;
  • DEL was created to raise public awareness about the level of safety and health in the more than 174,000 licensed child care “slots” in the state;
  • The agency is charged with improving parents’ abilities to get information on child care settings quickly and in an understandable way;
  • Regulations for the Federal Child Care Development Fund, DEL’s largest funding source, require recipients to “collect and disseminate to parents of eligible children and the general public, consumer education information that will promote informed child care choices.” Further, CCDF regulations “encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care.''

DEL employs one communications staff person, who is responsible for overseeing media relations, internal and external communications planning, public records requests, speech and publications writing, Web content, public service announcements, and coordination with public and private partners.

DEL is working together with its partner, Thrive by Five Washington, to ensure their communications efforts are coordinated. Thrive by Five Washington also is working with consultants to gather information and build public awareness, focused largely on its two demonstration communities in White Center and Yakima.

For more information:

DEL Communications Manager Amy Blondin
360.725.4919 (office)
360.878.0628 (cell)
amy.blondin@del.wa.gov