April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Child abuse cuts across all socio-economic groups, races and religions. Most people who abuse or neglect their children are ordinary people whose stressors overwhelm their coping skills. What makes ordinary people lash out at defenseless children? Substance abuse, lack of
Morning Without Childcare
On March 15th, childcare professionals, teachers, advocates, parents, and children gathered in seven locations across the state to advocate for $700 million dollars to help save the struggling childcare system in Connecticut. In Bridgeport, Danbury, New Britain, New Haven, New
Hidden Dangers of Button Batteries
Recently, one of our local early childhood collaborative partners, Enfield KITE (Key Initiatives to Early Education) sponsored a live talk on the Hidden Dangers of Button Batteries. They wanted to share this powerful and moving event with the rest of
March is National Reading Month!
Did you know? March is National Reading Month! We’re joining United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and our partners through the Hartford Campaign for Grade-Level Reading to ask children and families in central and northeastern Connecticut to pledge to read for at
Celebrating Women’s History Month
The 2022 theme for Women's History Month is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope." This theme is "both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of
The Story Behind Black History Month
"With the rise of the civil rights and Black Power movements in the 1960s, young African Americans on college campuses were becoming increasingly conscious of the historic dimension of their experience. Younger members of the ASNLH (which later became the Association for the
Child Care Leaders and Providers Call for Federal Lifeline
On January 25, 2022 Veronica Phelps, the Owner & Operator of My School in East Hampton; Erica Phillips, President of All Our Kin; and Beth Bye, Commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood were guests on Connecticut Public Radio's
Neighborhood Assist Grants
State Farm is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It's Neighborhood Assist program is in its 11th year and is now accepting more submissions, awarding more grants and spreading good to more communities. This year, the program will award 100 $25,000 grants (vs. 40 grants in previous years) to
A New Year Message from OEC Commissioner Beth Bye
To our Child Care Providers, Happy New Year 2022! We cannot thank you enough for all the hard work, dedication, inspiration, and love you have put into your roles each and every day. The challenges we have faced over the past
State Update on COVID-19 Safety Measures in CT Childcare Centers
Governor Ned Lamont on Monday January 10, 2022 held a news conference to discuss an update regarding ongoing COVID-19 safety measures at Connecticut's childcare centers. He was joined by Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye; Monette Ferguson, executive director