On Friday, First Lady Cecile de Jongh addressed participants of the Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) conference, sponsored by the Department of Human Services and the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC) on St. Thomas. The launch of the QRIS initiative is one of many steps underway to expand and reform early childcare in the Virgin Islands and is designed to assess and improve the level of quality in early and school-age education and care programs. 

“This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. It is also one that the Administration continues to embrace, given the overwhelming importance of providing needed resources for children, starting from birth. We are committed to reforming childcare in the Virgin Islands, including increasing access to services and expanding programs, such as Headstart and early Headstart. Our work together is critical in continuing to lay a foundation for future generations, benefiting children and families. There is clearly great momentum on this issue,” the First Lady said. 

During the conference, the First Lady complimented the efforts of the ECAC and the Department of Human Services Office of Childcare and Regulatory Services for their diligent efforts, as well as the leadership of Commissioner Christopher Finch, to bring this initiative to the Territory. “We are not alone in bringing this level of technical assistance to the early childcare platform. Over twenty other states have already implemented a QRIS, and there is a vast amount of experience and expertise that will assist and guide the Territory’s development of its own, unique system. We are however, the first U.S. Territory to embark on the QRIS program, and we look forward to all that it will do to help families make more informed decisions about their children’s early education and care needs.”

The First Lady also spoke of the ongoing work of the Children and Families Council, which she chairs, to comprehensively expand and reform childcare services in the Territory. “Our overarching goal is service delivery, and to make sure that we give all children a solid foundation so that they will do well in any school.”

The four goals of the Council include poverty alleviation (goal of 50% reduction by 2020), early childhood education and care, the coordination and streamlining of services, and leadership capacity building of community stakeholders. The Council includes partners in the public, private, non-profit, and faith-based communities. “It has to be all of us doing this together to effectuate real progress,” she said.

Governor de Jongh also attended the conference, and commented on the critical importance of the QRIS initiative as “putting our children first.” He also said that today’s launch of the system “puts us on a path of empowerment that is long overdue, one that has a direct impact on economic development, poverty alleviation, and community-building.” The governor referred to conference participants as “trailblazers,” noting that their efforts were “breaking down long-standing silos that have existed for too long. Our own imagination and initiative are the keys to all that we will collectively achieve for our young people.”

A QRIS is a method to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early childhood and school-age care settings, including standards; accountability measures; outreach; financial incentives; and family/consumer education. Implementing a QRIS in the Territory will improve professional development for childcare providers and will empower parents and families to make critical and informed decisions about early care and education facilities for their children.

The Virgin Islands QRIS project is supported by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.