I am the mother of two boys, ages 7 and 4. Both have had the benefit of quality child care since they were three months old and quality preschool beginning at age three. We are blessed to have the resources and many child care/preschool providers in our town that allows our family the ability to have choices. It also doesn’t hurt that I have been working in human services for over 10 years with connections to key agencies and staff who have helped me inform these decisions. 
 

The importance of diversity
 
We often hear that diversity is important in our work. 
 
Have you stopped to ponder why? I have given it some thought and have more to ponder. I believe that reflecting on the value of diversity is a first step in opening up for personal growth. It provides an opportunity to learn in a very different way than how one has learned in the past.  
 

A key component of systems building is change. The moving parts of the system (e.g. the people, the organizations, etc.) must be willing to change and adjust in order to improve. As I mentioned in a previous blog, change shouldn’t be forced just for the sake of change, but in order to improve functioning and therefore outcomes for young children and families.