>> Renee: THE COVID PANDEMIC MADE GLARINGLY APPARENT THE DEFICIENCIES IN OUR CHILD CARE SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF THE INDUSTRY'S CHALLENGES, THERE ARE COMMITTED PROVIDERS WHO NURTURE CHILDREN WITH HOPES TO BRIGHTEN THEIR PATH AND ACADEMIC FUTURE.

I TALK WITH THOSE CONNECTED TO THE LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND HOW THE SYSTEM NEEDS MENDING.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

CHILD CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY, ONE THAT UNDERGURDS NEARLY EVERY OTHER SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY, BUT THE PANDEMIC MAGNIFIED THE CHALLENGES THAT PARENTS FACE IN FINDING HIGHúQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR CHILDREN IT IS NOT JUST A BABYSITTING SERVICES AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY STRUGGLE WITH STAFFING AND FUNDING.

THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ITS MISSION TO ADVANCE EQUITY FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE LARGER LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY.

I'M JOINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF LCCC KEVIN FIELDS AND PEDIATRICIAN Dr. BEVERLY GAINES, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF BEVERLY M. GAINES M.D.

AND ASSOCIATES.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> Mr. FIELDS WAS JUST ON KET MONDAY NIGHT PRIOR TO OUR SUNDAY BROADCAST; TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE OF CHILD CARE CHALLENGES IN LENGTH, Mr. FIELDS, I JUST WANT TO FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THAT PROGRAM, YOU WERE PHENOMENAL IN PARSING OUT THESE ISSUES FOR US AND THE IMPACTS OF HAVING AN SYSTEM THAT NEEDS PROPPING UP IN SO MANY WAYS BUT I WANT TO FAMILIARIZE OUR AUDIENCE OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY ABOUT WHAT LCCC IS.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE IT DIFFERENTLY THAN I JUST DID?

>> THANK YOU RENEE.

IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE ON THIS PROGRAM TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

I HEARD LAST NIGHT OR EARLIER THIS WEEK, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE PANEL, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAY THAT EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT IS A SMALL BUSINESS THAT SERVES EVERY OTHER BUSINESS AND THAT'S SO TRUE.

LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU GAVE A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT REFLECTS OUR MISSION.

WE ADVANCE EQUITY AND DO THAT THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF THREE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

AND WE HAVE A FLAGSHIP THAT WE CALL THE MINI UNIVERSITY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

WE HAVE BEEN A STATE REGULATED CHILD CARE CENTER AS A PART OF THE UNITED WAY NETWORK FOR WELL OVER FEIST FEIST YEARS AND IT IS A PLEASURE AND HONOR TO SERVE THOSE FAMILIES.

OUR UNIVERSITY SERVE OVER THREE GENERATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WE CAN DOCUMENT THAT AND WE PROVIDE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME SERVICES TORE SCHOOL AGE KIDS AND WE DO THAT YEAR ROUND WE USE IT AS A STRATEGY TO DEVELOP YOUTH AND TO HELP THEM GROW AND ENHANCE THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS, THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS, THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WE DO A LOT WITH OUR SCHOOL AGE POPULATION.

AND THIRDLY, WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOCUS WITH ADULTS AND WHERE WE FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT READINESS, A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY SKILLS TRAINING IS HAPPENING NOW BECAUSE OF THE SKILLS GAP IN THAT PARTICULAR INDUSTRY.

BUT WE ALSO FOCUS ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SO WE DO A LOT OF DIRECT SERVICE WORK BUT THAT'S NOT ALL WE DO AT GLOBAL CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTER.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPER AND WE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING OUR FACILITIES, EVERYTHING THAT WE OWN, WE HAVE DEVELOPED.

THE MINI UNIVERSITY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, WE DEVELOPED THAT BEGINNING IN THE 70s AND THEN WE NOW IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD, WE DEVELOPED THAT CAMPUS, 120,000 SQUARE FEET OF MIXED PURPOSE FACILITIES AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST LCCC THERE.

WE HAVE A BUSINESS INCUBATOR, WE HAVE FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS AMPLE EVENT SPACE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, FAMILIY VEHICLES.

AND WE ARE BUILDING THE GRAND LYRIC THEATER WHICH WILL BE A COMMUNITY VENUE FOR CHILDREN'S THEATER AND MORE WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVEN DECADES DURING ALL THE TIME BEING IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT RUSSELL, RUSSELL IS AN HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN SETTLEMENT IN LOUISVILLE I.

WAS ONCE A VIBRANT BUSINESS CORRIDOR, WALNUT STREET COMING OFF DOWNTOWN IN WEST LOUISVILLE, THAT WAS KNOWN AS LOUISVILLE'S HARLEM BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF THRIVING BUSINESSES THERE.

SO OUR VISION AS A PROVIDER AND WE WERE FOUNDED WITH THE MISSION OF ADDRESSING POVERTY.

SO WE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY AFTER DECADES OF ADDRESSING FAMILIES IN POVERTY THAT WE HAD TO BE PART OF THE LONG RANGE SOLUTION, TRANSFORM NEIGHBORHOOD CONDITIONS THAT SUSTAIN POVERTY SO WE BELIEVE IF WE DO THAT AND DO THAT WELL, THEN THAT'S-- FAMILIES WILL FIND THEIR WAY OUT OF POVERTY WHEN THEY CAN LIVE IN A CONDITION THAT IS THRIVING AND THAT IS VIBRANT AND THAT'S WHAT RUSSELL ONCE WAS.

SO WE ARE THERE FOR THE LONG HAUL.

GOT A DEEP STAKE IN THE GROUND.

DON'T PLAN TO GO ANYWHERE BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO PERSIST, WE STILL HAVE SOME CHALLENGES TO OVER INCUMBENT AND-- TO OVERCOME AND THERE ARE SOME THAT PLAGUE US ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.

>> Renee: Dr. GAINES, CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THE VALUE OF EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES, HIGH QUALITY ONES?

WE KNOW THAT ACCESS IS AN ISSUE, BEING ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE ACCESS IS A BIG ISSUE.

THE COST IS A BIG ISSUE.

WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT CHILD CARE DESERTS THAT ARE ALL OVER THIS STATE.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES LIKE WHAT'S PROVIDED BY LCCC ACTUALLY IMPROVE A CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?

>> I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY YOUR EARLY LEARNING, WITH A FOCUS ON PREPAREDNESS TO ENTER THE SCHOOL.

WE FIND THAT CHILDREN, WHEN THEY'RE NOT STIMULATED AND NOT KEPT APPROPRIATE ON ALL THEIR MILESTONES, THEY DO POORER IN SCHOOL.

AND THEN THEY GET DERAILED IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE STELLAR CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT EARLY LEARNING AND EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A HEALTHY CHILD THAT CAN COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND GO ON TO COLLEGE.

>> Renee: 0-5, THOSE ARE-- GO AHEAD, Mr. FIELDS.

>> WELL, JUST TO ADD, TO ECHO WHAT Dr. GAINES SAID, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE A GREAT EMERGING PARTNERSHIP WITH Dr. GAINES AND ASSOCIATES, WE LEARNED THROUGH YOUR QUALITY ASSURANCE WORK OVER THE YEARS THAT WE WERE SEEING MORE AND MORE INCIDENTS OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IN CHILDREN AND AS A PROVIDER ON THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND WE REALIZE WE WERE NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES AND MAKING THOSE ACCURATE ASSESSMENTS AND THOSE ACCURATE RESPONSES, SO WE FOUND OURSELVES DOING A LOT OF EXTERNAL REFERRAL WORK BUT NOT BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE CERTAIN THAT THAT CHILD WAS REALLY TAKEN CARE OF.

SO WE ARE ENTERING INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH GAINES AND ASSOCIATES TO CO-LOCATE PEDIATRIC MEDICINE AT OUR EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER KNOWN AS THE MINI-VERSITY AND THAT PUTS EARLY EDUCATION AND PEDIATRIC MEDICINE TOGETHER IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT.

Dr. GAINS IS RIGHT.

IT HAS BEEN WELL RESEARCHED AND SHE IS A PHENOMENAL RESEARCHER AND SHOWN THE DATA ON, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DON'T MEET YOUR BENCHMARKS AS A CHILD, THEN THESE HAVE LASTING EFFECTS IN YOUR DEVELOPMENT.

CERTAINLY THAT PLAYS OUT IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD BUT ALSO IN OTHER AREAS.

THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO KIDS THAT DON'T HIT DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES THAT SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR PEER GROUP AND, YOU KNOW, SELF-ESTEEM BECOMES AN ISSUE.

AND IF YOU DON'T-- IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY ENGAGED IN LEARNING, THEN LEARNING BECOMES AN ISSUE.

SO IT'S SO FOR THIS EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE IDEA OF US PARTNERING WITH Dr. GAINES AND ASSOCIATES IS TO REALLY CREATE INNOVATION AROUND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN A HOLISTIC FASHION IN BOTH WITH THE EDUCATIONAL FOCUS AS WELL AS THE PEDIATRIC AND MEDICAL FOCUS.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP AND PLEASED TO BE ON THE TEAM WITH HER.

>> Dr. GAINES, I WANT TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO LCCCC IN HELPING THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EFFORTS ALREADY BY INCORPORATING THIS MEDICAL ASPECT AND OTHER PARTS OF YOUR PRACTICE INTO WHAT IS ALREADY HATCHING THERE.

>>-- WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING THERE.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS STAYED DOWNTOWN SO MOVING TO THE LCCC CAMPUS IS COMFORTABLE FOR US.

OUR BABY, IF THEY DON'T COME HERE HEALTHY, AND WE KNOW THE MOTHERS, A LOT OF THE MOTHERS THAT WE TAKE CARE OF, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TROUBLE DURING THEIR PREGNANCY, THEIR BABIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN WHITE BABIES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE.

SO IF YOUR BABY COMES HERE EARLY, THE MOM HAS HAD SOME TYPE OF MATERNAL COMPLICATION, PREMATURE, THAT BABY IS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL NOW F. WE PUT THEM IN A VERY STIMULATING AND ENVIRONMENT, THAT BABY CAN CATCH UP.

AND THAT GOES ALONG WITH GOOD HEALTHCARE, IT GOES ALONG WITH GOOD NUTRITION, GOES ALONG WITH STIMULATION, KEEPING THE BABY ON THEIR MILESTONES.

SO WE HOPE TO-- GO AHEAD.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU MENTIONED AND THE SCENARIO OF A CHILD, EYE PREEMIE THAT COMES TO THE WORLD SOONER THAN EXPECTED, THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO NURTURE THAT DEVELOPMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND TALKING ABOUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT HOW YOU EVEN PREPARE THE PARENTS AND MOTHERS FOR HELPING THEIR CHILD WITH NUTRITIONAL CONCERNS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER CHILD DEVELOPMENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, KIDS DON'T COME WITH MANUALS.

AND FOR MANY OF THE WOMEN THAT YOU MAY SERVE, THEY MIGHT WISH THAT Dr. GAINES WOULD WRITE THEM ONE, BUT IN A SENSE, YOU ARE PROVIDING A LIVING MANUAL FOR THEM STEP BY STEP.

>> EXACTLY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE TO DO WHEN WE MOVE TO LCCC IS INTERACT WITH THE MOTHER EARLY IN PREGNANCY.

SOME OF THE ADULTS, CATCH THEM EARLY AND GIVE THEM A LIFE MATE-- NOT A LIFE MATE BUT A HEALTH COACH AND SOME TECHNOLOGY SO THEY CAN CHECK SOME OF THEIR VITAL SIGNS, BLOOD PRESSURE ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE OUR MOTHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A COMPLICATION DURING PREGNANCY AND SO WE WANT TO FACILITATE THEM HAVING A HEALTHY BABY THAT HAS A HEALTHY CHANCE AT LIFE.

BUT WE DO OUR PART.

TAKING CARE OF SOME OF OUR MOTHERS TAKES MORE TIME.

BUT THAT'S WHY I THINK GOD SENT ME HERE, TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND TO HELP THE MOTHER THAT NEEDS A LITTLE MORE HELP.

SOME MOTHERS DON'T NEED AS MUCH.

BUTS BUT I FOUND OUR BABY DOZEN QUITE WELL BECAUSE-- OUR BABIES DO QUITE WELL, WE GET THEM IMMUNIZED, WE WORK ON THEIR NUTRITION TRIGSAL STATUS AND NOW OVERWEIGHT OBESE BY IS A-- OBESITY IS A PROBLEM FOR SOME OF OUR KIDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNHEALTHY MEALS.

WE DO A LOT OF COUNSELING AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

ONE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS IS WORKING WITH DARE TO CARE AND HAVING A COOKING CLASS FOR OUR MOTHERS.

AND WE THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO SORT OF HELP THESE KIDS WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN THEIR HOME AND GIVE THEM SOME VERY EASY WAYS TO MAKE HEALTHY MEALS.

>> YES.

>> Renee: ONE OF THE ISSUES WE OFFER IS STAFFING AND THERE ARE LONG WAITING LISTS FOR PARENTS TO GET INTO FACILITIES LIKE YOURS.

CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT HOW STAFFED YOU ARE KNOWING THAT THE PANDEMIC PRESENTED A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND EVEN MAINTAINING YOUR OPERATIONS LET ALONE EXPANDING THOSE OPERATIONS TO SERVE EVEN MORE.

>> IT IS A TOUGH BUSINESS TO BE IN SERVING LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THE QUALITY STANDARDS SPEAK TO THE LEVEL AND THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE YOU NEED TO NOT ONLY HAVE CHILD CARE WORKERS BUT THEY NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT CREDENTIALS AND I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HEIGHTENING THE LEVEL OF EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT FROM AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT A PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE THAT.

THE CHALLENGES ARE REAL.

FIRST OF ALL FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAVE, BECAUSE WE ARE A SMALL NON-PROFIT, UNDERFUNDED, AND NEEDING TO LIVE UP TO THE QUALITY STANDARDS, WE HAVE HAD A HARD TIME EVEN PAYING ADEQUATELY TO CHILD CARE WORKERS.

WHEN I CAME ON BOARD UNDER $10 AN HOUR, IN SOME CASES, BARELY OVER MINIMUM WAGE AND WE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE ON AND WE WOULD TRY TO BUILD THEM UP AND I'M GLAD TO SAY NOW WE ARE AVERAGING ABOUT $11 AN HOUR FOR OUR ENTRY LEVEL CHILD CARE WORKERS BUT WE REALIZE THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

THE DATA SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY NEEDS TO MAKE AT LEAST $14 AN HOUR TO HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING UP TO ABOUT $16.

AND WITH THE ECONOMY BEING IN THE CURRENT STATE WITH PRICES GOING UP, PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY, STRUGGLE MORE WHEN GAS IS UP AND GROCERIES ARE HIGH.

IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS TO BE IN TO HAVE A ROBUST WORKFORCE THAT YOU CAN KEEP AND THAT'S THE OTHER ASPECT OF THE STRUGGLE IS WHEN YOU ARE A SMALL NON-PROFIT AND EVEN WHEN WE BRING ON PEOPLE AND WE THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB OF SCREENING, RECRUITING AND TRAINING STAFF, BUT GUESS WHAT?

AS SOON AS YOU GET SOMEONE THAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CREDENTIALS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT, THEN OFTEN THEY CAN BE RECRUITED AWAY FROM US, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL DISTRICT OR OTHER LARGER BUSINESSES THAT CAN AFFORD TO PAY MORE.

SO IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS FOR A MAUL COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR ALL THOSE REASONS.

SO WE NEED A POLICY OF UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE IN AMERICA AND ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE STATE.

AND ESPECIALLY SO IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, BECAUSE THERE ARE PROVIDERS THAT I KNOW WHO WANT TO DO WHAT WE DO AND HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT IS TO INSIST UPON OUR FAMILIES HAVING QUALITY CARE.

BUT WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH LIMITED RESOURCES SO WE NEED WHO ARE HELP IN THAT AREA.

>> Renee: WE KNOW THE COST OF CHILD CARE VARIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IN URBAN AREAS IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE, PERHAPS THAN IN MORE RURAL SETTINGS BUT ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, INDIVIDUAL CENTERS IN URBAN CENTERS AND URBAN AREAS LIKE LOUISVILLE, CHILD CARE PROGRAMS CAN COST AS MUCH AS $12,000 A YEAR NOW THAT RIVALS Mr. FIELDS AND Dr. GAINES, COLLEGE TUITION.

IF YOU HAVE A CHILD IN COLLEGE AT U OF L, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ONE IN PRE-K, YOU COULD BE SPENDING ABOUT THE SAME TO GIVE THEM QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

Dr. GAINES, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COST?

AND WE KNOW THAT, AS Mr. FIELDS JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, DAYCARE CENTERS ARE OPERATING ON VERY THIN MARGINS AND NOT REALLY HIGH PROFITS EVEN IF THEY ARE A PRIVATE PROPERTY MAKING ENTERPRISE, THEY DON'T HAVE LARGE, YOU KNOW, MARGINS OF PROFIT.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE COST, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MITIGATE THAT FOR FAMILIES?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I WAS PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THAT BECAUSE WE LOST ONE OF OUR FINEST PHYSICIANS BECAUSE OF DAYCARE COSTS.

WHEN SHE HAD HER THIRD BABY, SHE NO LONGER COULD AFFORD TO PAY DAYCARE HERE IN LOUISVILLE AND ENDED UP MOVING BACK TO HER HOME IN WEST VIRGINIA.

AND I THINK THAT THE STATE DOES SUBSIDIZE SOME CHILDREN, AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY INTO EDS TO BE INCREASED SO THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN GET A GOOD EXPERIENCE.

A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE-- THE MOTHERS ARE FORCED TO HAVE THEM IN SMALLER HOMES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SIX KIDS AND ONE PERSON TAKING CARE OF THEM.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT-- IT'S NOT OPTIMAL FOR ALL THOSE CHILDREN.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY GET BAD CARE.

EARLY ON WHEN A BABY IS JUST BEEN BORN, LOVE AND, YOU KNOW, AFFECTION IS WHAT THEY NEED THE MOST.

BUT AS THEY GET OLDER, THEIR BRAINS NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED BY DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS.

AND SO THE COST FACTOR, I THINK, MOST INCOMES FOR FAMILIES ARE NOT GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND MOST OF US WERE HURT TERRIBLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE COST FACTOR IS A VERY SERIOUS ONE.

AND IT DOES LIMIT CHILDREN FROM GETTING THAT HIGH QUALITY EARLY EXPERIENCE.

>> YES, AND Mr. FIELDS, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT, TOO?

YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THE WAGES THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THEM HAVING TO SHELL OUT $12,000 A YEAR BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE PAID, THAT WOULD BE ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT.

HERCULEAN IN MEASURE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S AN AMAZING STATISTIC TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, IT COSTS EQUIVALENT TO A COLLEGE, A YEAR OF COLLEGE TO SEND A CHILD TO DAYCARE.

BUT I THINK WHAT THAT SPEAKS TO THOUGH, IS THAT OUR CHIRP, FROM THE TIME THAT THEY'RE BORN, ARE WORTHY OF A GREAT DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES EDUCATION AND GOOD HEALTHCARE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO BE READY TO PROVIDE THAT.

AND SO IT'S A SAD TESTIMONY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN WE REALIZE WE'VE NOT DONE THAT.

WE HAVE NEVER DONE THAT.

WE START INVESTING IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN AT THE AGE OF 6, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES 5, BUT MOSTLY AT THE AGE OF 6.

THAT'S ABOUT THE AGE THAT KIDS GO TO KINDERGARTEN.

SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF KINDERGARTEN READINESS, AND I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT AND I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE ASSESSMENT THROUGH SIMULATIONS AND WHAT I LEARNED WHEN I WATCHED THAT, IT REMINDED ME OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TO BE ON YOUR FIRST INTERVIEW, YOUR FIRST INTERVIEW.

AND JUST THINK ABOUT THAT.

AT THE AGE OF 5, KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO A REGIMEN OF QUESTIONS FROM A COMPLETE STRANGER, SOMEONE WHO THEY PROBABLY NEVER MET.

AND THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM TO THAT EVALUATOR'S EXPECTATION AND BE RATED ACCORDINGLY.

SO HERE IS THE POINT I MAKE.

IF WE HAVEN'T ADEQUATELY PREPARED THOSE CHILDREN FROM THE TIME THEY'RE BORN TO AGE 5 TO BE READY FOR THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE, WE HAVEN'T INVESTED IN THE CAPACITY TO DELIVER SERVICES THAT WOULD GET THEM READY, THEN WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY SHOW UP, HALF OF THEM ARE NOT READY.

SO I JUST THINK THAT IT'S JUST THE COST OF CHILD CARE NEEDS TO GO UP.

I THINK IT'S ALARMING OR SURPRISING, I SHOULD SAY, TO KNOW THAT IT COMPARES TO COLLEGE TUITION, BUT AREN'T OUR CHILDREN WORTH IT?

THE QUESTION IS, AREN'T THEY WORTH IT?

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE VALUE OF HAVING HEALTHY WELL PREPARED CHILDREN?

WE NEED TO REALLY ASSESS OURSELVES AS A STATE, AS A CITY, AS A NATION, AROUND THIS QUESTION AND AS WE DO THAT, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT-- >> Renee: I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY SOME SAY IF YOU DON'T PAY FOR IT NOW, YOU'LL PAY FOR IT LATER?

>> YOU'LL PAY FOR IT LATER.

>> Renee: THAT YOU MIGHT PAY MORE IN A CORRECTIONS FACILITY OR INSTITUTION.

>> WELL, THOSE-- >> Renee: Dr. GAINES MIGHT WANT TO CHIME IN.

>> WELL, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, Mr. FIELDS AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL BEING TRACKED AND BEING USED AS A PREDICTION OF HOW MANY PRISONS WE BUILD, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IN THEM.

I TRIED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT AND WHEN I DID RESEARCH IT, MOST PEOPLE SAY THAT IT'S NOT REALLY TRUE, BUT A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT YOUR STANDING IN THE FOURTH GRADE, THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE, CAN BE USED AS A PREDICTOR OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO TO PRISON.

AND I THINK Mr. FIELDS' POINT IS EXCELLENT ABOUT FIRST WE NEED-- FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I NEED A HEALTHY MOTHER TO HAVE A HEALTHY BABY AND FROM THE TIME THAT BABY COMES IN THE WORLD, WE NEED TO GET THEM READY AND BE READY TO DO THE TEST AND TO MEASURE UP.

SEE ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS A LARGE NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

AND WHEN THEY ARE JUDGED BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEM, SOMETIMES THE JUDGMENT IS A LITTLE AUSTERE OR AND IN THE CLASSROOM THIS HAPPENS.

I HAD A GROUP OF CHILDREN OVER TO MY HOUSE A COUPLE SUMMERS AGO-- NOT A COUPLE, BEEN ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.

BUT ONE YEAR DURING WHEN I WAS DOING SCHOOL PHYSICALS, I SAID ARE YOU EXCITED YOU ARE GOING INTO NINTH GRADE.

ARE YOU EXCITED?

AND THEY SAID NO.

AND I SAID WHAT'S GOING ON?

THEY SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T LIKE SCHOOL.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT?

I HAD THEM OVER.

I COULDN'T TAKE THAT MUCH TIME DURING THE SCHOOL PHYSICAL TIME BECAUSE IT WAS SO BIZY, BUT I HAD ABOUT SIX KIDS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, ONE'S PARENT WAS A DOCTOR AND ONE PARENT WAS A LAWYER AND A COUPLE OTHER SCHOOLTEACHERS AND THINGS, BUT THE KIDS WERE IN PRIVATE SCHOOL AND PUBLIC SCHOOL.

BUT OVER HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS, I TALKED ABOUT WHY DON'T YOU LIKE SCHOOL ANYMORE?

AND THEY SAID, WELL, THE TEACHER NEVER CALLS ON ME.

AND I SAID REALLY?

AND THEY SAID YEAH, I RAISE MY HAND AND THE TEACHER NEVER CALLS ON ME.

AND I SAID HUH.

I SAID LET'S THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY BECAUSE I DON'T TALK TO KIDS ABOUT RACISM OR SEXISM.

I TRY TO KEEP IT GENERIC AND AT THEIR LEVEL OF BELIEVING.

SO I SAID LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU PREPARE YOURSELF AND OVER PREPARE YOURSELF AND THAT'S HORRIBLE TO PUT THAT KIND OF PRESSURE ON KIDS, BUT I SAID IF YOU OVER PREPARE, YOU READ THE CHAPTER AHEAD AND YOU ARE ABLE TO RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN NOBODY ELSE CAN, NOW THE TEACHER HAS TO CALL ON YOU.

THAT'S A BAD FEELING FOR A CHILD TO HAVE IN SCHOOL.

AND THEN THE MORE THE TEACHER DOES THAT, THEY GET MARGINALIZED AND THEY GET DERAILED AND UNINTERESTED IN SCHOOL AND THAT IS WHERE I REALLY GET UPSET BECAUSE WE DO NEED MORE TEACHERS TO LOOK LIKE THE KIDS THEY'RE TEACHING.

>> Renee: SURE.

>> AND I THINK WE NEED MORE MALES IN THE CLASSROOM.

WE NEED, YOU KNOW, MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, MORE HISPANIC TEACHERS BECAUSE PEOPLE TEND TO JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY IF THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE THEM.

>> Renee: AND THAT'S A GREAT POINT, Dr. GAINES AND I HATE TO END OUR CONVERSATION ON THAT.

I TOLD YOU WE WOULD JUST GET WARMED UP WHEN THE SHOW WOULD BE OVER SO WE WILL HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WITH LCCC AND WITH YOU, Mr. FIELDS, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR PROGRAMS ON KET, TWO TIMES IN A ROW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> >> Renee: AND WE HOPE TO CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU VERY SOON.

THANK YOU Mr. KEVIN FIELDS AND Dr. BEVERLY GAINES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

WATCH PREVIOUS PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE AT ket.org/CONNECTIONS AND FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

TAKE GOOD CARE AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.