SLS 19RS-1692 ORIGINAL 2019 Regular Session SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 128 BY SENATOR MIZELL SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH. Recognizes Friday, May 10, 2019, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in the state of Louisiana. 1 A RESOLUTION 2 To recognize Friday, May 10, 2019, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in the state 3 of Louisiana. 4 WHEREAS, it is estimated that nearly 11 million children under age five are cared 5 for by 2.8 million childcare providers in the United States; and 6 WHEREAS, the Child Care Association of Louisiana is a statewide, nonprofit 7 organization that represents the interests of licensed childcare providers and the children 8 they serve; and 9 WHEREAS, the mission of the Child Care Association is to educate, advocate, and 10 collaborate to build a premier and proactive childcare industry for Louisiana families; and 11 WHEREAS, by calling attention to the importance of high quality childcare services 12 for all children and families within the state, the Child Care Association of Louisiana and 13 other advocacy organizations hope to improve the quality and availability of such services; 14 and 15 WHEREAS, our future depends on the quality of the early childhood experiences 16 provided to our children; and 17 WHEREAS, providing high quality early childcare services represents a worthy 18 commitment to our children's futures; and Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 128 SLS 19RS-1692 ORIGINAL 1 WHEREAS, in the words of Jonathan Pearce, the president of the Child Care 2 Association of Louisiana: "Every child should have access to a high quality early childhood 3 educational program and be prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn"; and 4 WHEREAS, the second Sunday in May has long been recognized as the day to honor 5 mothers for their commitment to children; and 6 WHEREAS, May 10, 2019, the Friday before Mother's Day, has been nationally 7 designated as Child Care Appreciation Day; Child Care Provider Appreciation Day began 8 in 1996, when a group of volunteers in New Jersey saw the need to recognize the tireless 9 efforts of providers who care for the children of working parents; and 10 WHEREAS, Child Care Appreciation Day is a day set aside to recognize child care 11 providers, teachers, child center directors and staff, and all those who work with children and 12 are responsible for their education and care; and 13 WHEREAS, momentum and support for this event has grown each year as both 14 individuals and government organizations throughout North America, Europe, and Asia are 15 recognized for their dedication in providing care to children. 16 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana 17 does hereby recognize Friday, May 10, 2019, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in 18 the state of Louisiana and does hereby urge all citizens of our great state to recognize 19 licensed childcare providers for their important work. 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to 21 Jonathan Pearce, president of the Child Care Association of Louisiana, and Cindy Bishop, 22 executive director of the Child Care Association of Louisiana. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot. DIGEST SR 128 Original 2019 Regular Session Mizell Recognizes May 10, 2019, as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in the state. Page 2 of 2