Arlington, VA – Today, Child Care Aware® of America announces the selection of ten sites across the country that will join a national network of communities, states, and organizations activating Vroom, an initiative of the Bezos Family Foundation that is helping parents across the country promote brain development in children birth to five years old.

Participating sites – part of Child Care Aware® of America’s nationwide Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) network – will use Vroom to bolster their work with families in innovative ways, reaching hundreds of thousands of parents with brain building messages and nurturing parent-child interaction with new tools.

“We’re thrilled to see such a diverse mix of child care programs and providers integrating Vroom,” said Jackie Bezos, President and Co-founder of the Bezos Family Foundation. “More than 11 million children under the age of five are in some form of child care. It’s one of the most important decisions a parent can make. This partnership will help strengthen the relationship between child care providers and families by putting brain building language and tools at the center of both environments.”

The CCR&R sites adopting Vroom are:

• Childcare Resources Birmingham (Alabama)
• Child Care Aware® of West Central Arkansas (Arkansas)
• Child Care Resource Center (California)
• Florida Office of Early Learning (Florida)
• Child Care Resources, Incorporated (Montana)
• Southern New Hampshire Services Child Care Resource and Referral (New Hampshire)
• Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council, Incorporated (New York)
• Child Care Council, Inc. (New York)
• Child Care Connection, a program of Info Line, Incorporated (Ohio)
• Corporation of Ohio Appalachian Development (Ohio)

Introduction and integration of Vroom will vary by site. In Florida, the Department of Early Learning will use Vroom as part of its one-on-one home visitor training with providers, parents, and children. In California, the Child Care Resource Center will disseminate Vroom through its partnership network including home visiting services, community events, and in libraries.

In Appalachian Ohio, the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development will activate Vroom across 15,000 square miles through targeted, individualized communications. In Missoula, Montana, which includes the Salish Kootenai Reservation, Child Care Resources (CCR) will provide training and sessions on early brain science to its network.

“Science has shown that significant brain development happens between birth and age five, so this period in a child’s life is critical to their potential future success,” said Lynette Fraga, Ph.D., Executive Director of Child Care Aware® of America. “We’re pleased Child Care Aware® of America is a part of such an outstanding program supporting the healthy growth and education of our nation’s children.”

Vroom provides interactive tools and resources that highlight the science behind early brain development, showing parents how they can turn activities like bath time and meal time into opportunities that build their children’s brains. This partnership is particularly exciting in its ability to facilitate a far-reaching culture shift—one that begins with parents understanding early brain development and extends into how families, providers, businesses, and communities all work to support brain development during the first five years of life.

About Child Care Aware® of America

Child Care Aware® of America is our nation’s leading voice for child care. We work with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families. To learn more, visit usa.childcareaware.org. Follow us on Twitter @USAChildcare and on Facebook at facebook.com/usachildcare.

About Bezos Family Foundation

The Bezos Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by Jackie and Mike Bezos, who along with their children and spouses, serve as directors. Their vision is that all young people are prepared to achieve their full potential and make a meaningful contribution to society. The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth though high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness, and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children. Follow Vroom on Twitter @joinvroom and on Facebook at facebook.com/joinvroom.

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