On Wednesday, First Lady Cecile de Jongh commended the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands and partners on the release of the new Kids Count 2011 Data Book. CFVI president Dee Baecher-Brown was joined by Kids Count co-directors Judith Richardson and Kim Holdsworth, as well as Family Connection director Ellie Hirsh at a press conference held today at the Sugar Estate Head Start Conference Room on St. Thomas. First Lady de Jongh attended the event.

First Lady Cecile de Jongh and Catholic Charities Executive Director Michael Aiken at the CFVI Kids Count release of the 2011 Data Book at the Sugar Estate Head Start Conference Room on St. Thomas, January 25, 2012

“Every year, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, through its Kids Count project, reports on the health, safety, education and economic status of the Territory’s children, including those at-risk. The Data Book is an incredibly valuable resource that guides our work as a community in our collective efforts to raise the bar on children’s achievement and proficiency levels, as well as overall wellness. I congratulate CFVI on today’s release of data and commend their continued efforts on behalf of the Territory’s children and families,” the first lady said.

The 12th Annual Data Book promotes dialogue on children’s issues and community responses regarding children’s well-being, for youth from birth to age eighteen. The book provides a “snapshot” of information gathered for over a decade by the Kids Count project, including statistics, trends and other information, up to 2009. 

First Lady Cecile de Jongh congratulates Kids Count Co-Director Judith Richardson at CFVI's press conference on January 25, 2011.

CFVI president Dee Baecher-Brown noted, “The title of this year’s report is ‘Investing in Our Children’s Future’ and we believe that is a very important message right now, especially given the financial challenges the Territory faces. Investing in our children is one of the best things we can do.” 

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands has received federal grants from the Annie E. Casey Foundation for the past eleven years to manage the Territory’s Kids Count data assessment, a state-by state initiative to track the status of children in the United States.

“Through the Children and Families Council, which I chair, and other Territorial initiatives, we continue building on the efforts to improve the outcomes for all Virgin Islands children. CFVI partnership is an important part of this community-wide goal,” the first lady said.

CFVI is a philanthropic organization that manages a permanent collection of funds, as well as essential programs and services to benefit the citizens of the Virgin Islands.

For more information, visit www.cfvi.net and click on the Kids Count link at the home page.