Take Action

Our Challenge to You:

• Donate funds to support the efforts of Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads
• Write, call or email your legislators about the importance of the early years
• Sign up to volunteer with Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads
• Adopt a local child care center to sponsor quality improvements

What Can Local Businesses Do?

• Think about quality early childhood education as an economic development tool.
• Learn more about early childhood education.
• Join your local community’s Early Childhood Business Council.
• Examine your firm’s work-life balance policies and improve them if necessary.
• Provide resources to employees to help them find and afford quality care.
• Learn what other businesses are doing to support children and families.
• Download the Economic Impact of the Child Care and Early Education Industry in South Hampton Roads, Virginia (PDF)
• Invite someone from Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads Speakers’ Bureau to address your business.
• Support the Quality Rating Improvement System(QRIS) by becoming a star quality sponsor.
• Adopt-A-Center

Adopt-A-Center

Employee absenteeism due to poor child care arrangements costs American businesses over $3 billion per year. Partner with Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads to Adopt-A-Center and invest in the quality of Virginia’s future workforce and long term competitiveness and economic success.

Every $1 invested in quality early care and education delivers a $7 return.

Businesses can sponsor a child care center to become part of Virginia’s Quality Rating and Improvement System – a market-based solution to assess, improve and communicate the level of quality in early care and education settings. The QRIS defines standards for early childhood education and establishes a network of support and incentives for centers to improve the quality for children in their care. Star ratings are assigned and made public driving consumer demand for high quality and assisting parents in choosing child care.

Businesses can provide support at various sponsorship levels or at in level in between:

Star Champion - $10,000

Funds a program’s participation in the Star Quality Initiative for one year or more. Centers receive a rating; mentoring; and, resources for materials, curriculum, facility upgrades, training and/or scholarships for teachers.

Star Patron - $5,000

Covers the cost of ratings and the development of a quality improvement plan with a mentor and some facility or curriculum upgrades.

Star Supporter - $2,000

Meets the expenses of ratings and mentoring to develop and implement a quality improvement plan.

Star Partner - $500

Provides rating and pre-K PALS screening to assess early literacy skills development and upgrades to materials and supplies.

Non-Monetary Support – Become an advocate for quality early care and education programs. There are many ways to support early childhood initiatives including volunteering or offering in-kind support of services and materials. You can read to preschoolers, help directors file tax forms, write budgets or help local businesses become involved in quality improvement programs.

With your help we can become champions for children and make sure all kids are ready for school and ready for life.