Child-care providers honored at breakfast

In honor of the Month of the Young Child, Choices for Children's South Lake Tahoe office organized an Annual Provider Breakfast honoring the community's child-care providers for the services they provide to families and children throughout the year. CFC firmly believes that the presence of stable caregivers in a child's life has a positive effect on children's growth and development extending well beyond their early years. Unfortunately, child care is a profession with a low retention rate. Recognition such as the CFC Provider Appreciation Breakfast helps encourage providers to continue doing their important work.

There are 62 child-care facilities at Lake Tahoe, including day-care centers, family day-care homes and baby-sitting agencies. The Provider Appreciation Breakfast averages between 60 and 70 participants each year. This year's theme of "Creating Art, Music and Language" contributed to the success of this year's event with 77 participants.

The Early Care & Education field came together April 12 at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course to attend the 17th annual Child Care Professionals Appreciation Breakfast featuring Bev Bos, teacher/director, author and musician at Roseville Community Preschool in Roseville.

Participants started their conference with a recognition breakfast and opportunities to network and to hear about new resources for parents of children ages birth through 5 developed by the El Dorado County Office of Education and First Five El Dorado Commission. Early childhood specialists Melissa Pereira and Kim Stadtlander discussed the benefit of this new program, the goal of which is to provide early intervention services for children and to empower parents to be an active participant in their child's development.

For more information on becoming a child-care provider or obtaining a reference to a provider, contact Choices for Children at (530) 541-5848.