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June 17, 2008
GOVERNOR MAKES GOOD ON PROMISE TO ESTABLISH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COUNCIL COUNCIL AIMS TO PROTECT WELFARE OF V.I. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Fulfilling a promise made in his 2008 State of the Territory Address, Governor John P. deJongh Jr. has signed an Executive Order establishing "The Governor’s Children and Families Council," as well as an advisory committee that reports to the Council on matters of early childhood education and care. The Council will convene quarterly. Governor deJongh wishes to stress the importance of this sweeping effort to improve the quality and effectiveness of the delivery of essential services. "This Executive Order acknowledges the commitment that many residents, but more particularly, those in authority have to the children and families in the Territory and recognizes the need for a collaboration of efforts to ensure educational success, positive socialization and economic opportunity," deJongh wrote in recent correspondence to Senate President Usie Richards. In his State of the Territory Address, the Governor said the creation of this needed council will serve to "develop a holistic approach to supporting our children and improving their school readiness and early learning. The statistics of children in poverty, of teen pregnancy, of truancy and graduation rates, and of youth violence, all demand this new approach to how we support our children and their families." The establishment of the Children and Families Council fulfills the Governor’s commitment to engage the public, private, and non-profit sectors in a nationally-led effort to utilize cross agency bodies, called Children’s Cabinets or Councils. This approach has been recommended by the National Governor’s Association’s Center for Best Practices as an effective approach for addressing issues related to children. The council membership will be made up of public and private sector officials. First Lady Cecile deJongh will serve as chairperson and members will include: Commissioner of Human Services Chris Finch; Commissioner of Health Vivian Ebbesen-Fludd; Commissioner of Education Dr. LaVerne Terry; Commissioner of Labor Albert Bryan, Jr.; Commissioner of Police James H. McCall; Commissioner of Housing, Parks and Recreation St. Claire Williams; Attorney General Vincent Frazer and Government House Deputy Chief of Staff Pamela Berkowsky. Other representatives on the council include a representative from its Committee on Early Childhood Education and Care, as well as a representative from the private sector, a member of the faith-based community, and two persons from the non-profit community. At present, the non-government officials selected to serve on the council include: Dee Baecher-Brown, President of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands; retired St. John Educator Ruth Frett; and Deanna James, Chief Operating Officer of the St. Croix Foundation. The council will be guided by a six point mission: 1) to study, plan, and recommend changes to improve the delivery of services to children and families, and to eliminate duplication of services; 2) to equip all children in the Virgin Islands with the tools and opportunities needed to mature into well-balanced, healthy, productive adults in society; 3) that all children in the Virgin Islands begin school safely, healthy, ready to learn and ready to succeed; 4) that all early childhood programs and services are better integrated and coordinated; 5) to develop an integrated plan for men, women and children to thrive emotionally, and advance in education and technical training; and 6) to develop a strategy to empower families in the Virgin Islands through economic opportunity. The Executive Order also establishes an Advisory Committee on Early Childhood Education and Care that will include advising the Children and Families Council on all matters regarding the welfare of children from birth through school entry; identifying opportunities for, and barriers to collaboration among federally-funded and territorially-funded child development, child care, and early childhood education programs and services; providing recommendations for implementing a unified data collection system for kindergarten entry to track outcomes, determine needs, and measure success; providing recommendations for professional development and career advancement plans for early childhood educators; submitting to the Governor a territorial strategic report addressing the activities and findings of the Committee; meeting periodically to review recommendations and any changes in territorial needs; and creating a broader public awareness of early childhood issues and the overall work of the Committee. The members of this Committee will include representatives from the Human Services, Police, Education and Health Departments, as well as local providers of early childhood education and development services; the University of the Virgin Islands; the Director of the local Head Start agency; and other representatives as determined by the Governor. DeJongh said the creation of the advisory committee on Early Childhood Education and Care is "in compliance with the Head Start Act of 2007 and consistent with the effort in most states to form a collaborative partnership between the government, private sector and community organizations to resolve issues facing children and families." As stated in the Executive Order, "the Governor can establish additional various sub-committees of the council to address other areas of concern necessary to the well-being of children and families." One committee under consideration would encompass the Department of Labor’s interagency YOUTHNET initiative. DOWNLOAD: Executive Order 440 |
