A significant number of children are entering kindergarten not ready to learn. In the most rural areas of the county that number is even higher. In most cases, this deficiency is directly related to a lack of readiness in social, emotion, cognitive, and in some cases, physical development.

The most current research on brain development from birth to age three, and long-term studies regarding the link between early childhood development and economic and social stability, suggest that this lack of school readiness will eventually be debilitating as children grow to adulthood. The negative consequences to communities and to society as a whole will be equally as debilitating.

The Business Partnership for Early Learning and the partners we engage, including for-profit business, non-profit business, government and community leaders, public agencies, parents and caregivers, and educators and child care providers are determined to turn this picture around in our communities.

The Business Partnership for Early Learning believes that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher and that the true “gold standard” of care is great parenting. The best way to develop a well-trained and well-educated workforce is to start early; that even the best schools cannot produce the best workers if children come to school unable to succeed. The Business Partnership for Early Learning and its partners have a vested interest and, in fact, a moral obligation to support early learning because we know that children who enter school ready to learn become more effective, productive members of the workforce and of society as a whole

For more information about or to get involved with the Business Partnership for Early Learning contact Wilanne Ollila-Perry, Child Care Resource and Referral Program Manager, at wilanne_ollila-perry@oppco.org.

Refer your employees to Child Care Resource and Referral for more information about high-quality child care and early learning, including but not limited to: referrals to licensed child care providers in Island, San Juan, and Whatcom counties; referrals to community resources; referrals to parenting education classes; research-based descriptions of indicators of high-quality child care; etc. We welcome the opportunity to assist your employees in finding high-quality child care, as well as to support them as they navigate through the child care and early learning field.

CCR&R is unique in the early learning and schoolage care system because we provide direct services to families and caregivers, as well as working with community partners and policymakers on systems and policy development. We work toward quality care settings for all young children so they can succeed in school and in life.

If you are a Business Partner and would like to add or update your information with Child Care Resource and Referral, click here.