NASCCA Annual Meeting held in Rhode Island.

Members of the National Association of State Child Care Administrators came together for their 2007 Annual Meeting with a wide of array of policy and practice issues to discuss. On Oct. 25-26, the group met in conjunction with the National Association of State TANF Administrators at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Providence, R.I.

Opening plenary speakers Nancy Cauthen and Helene Stebbins presented on their recent work at the National Center for Children in Poverty on national policy strategies to promote healthy early childhood development and family economic security. NASCCA panel sessions focused on a range of child care topics, including unionization, intersections between state pre-k and child care programs, the Child Care and Development Fund's improper payments error rate methodology, and family, friend and neighbor care. Guests included Helen Blank from the National Women's Law Center and Danielle Ewen from the Center for Law and Social Policy. Jennifer Crowe, the executive director of the Kansas Coalition for School Readiness, presented effective strategies for coalition building to NASCCA members. Members also began to develop policy priorities for 2008. Their most pressing task will be to develop a platform of child care funding and program needs to present to a new administration in 2009.