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Community groups at work on child care problems
The stage was set for the creation of Child Care Connection long before its organizers even began to plan in late 1985.
The Anchorage Association for the Education of Young Children (AAEYC) had a small but viable resource library operating on variable funding from the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs and the Municipality of Anchorage. Given changes in funding, the hours and activities varied from year to year. The board of AAEYC had previously tried to obtain funding to expand the program to include a referral service.
An Anchorage Community College conference on Families and Work resulted in a response so strong that the ACC Families and Work Task Force was formed to follow-up on discussions begun at the conference. Child care was a recurring topic of discussion for the Task Force.
ARCO Alaska employees established the ARCO Dependant Care Task Force to address their own and community child care problems. The group enjoyed very strong support from then CEO Harold Heinze.
In the spring of 1985, the ACC Task Force co-sponsored, with ARCO Alaska and the White House, a private sector luncheon to promote discussion of employer support for child care.
ARCO Alaska initiated meeting with community leaders
On August 1, 1985, the Arco Dependent Care Task Force initiated a meeting with Harold Heinze, Mayor Tony Knowles, United Way Director Malcolm Miner, and Superintendent of Schools Gene Davis. The meeting was attended by business and human services leaders. Several aspects of the child care problem were discussed. The ARCO Task Force focused on its concern for more after-school care. Those present identified a need to follow-through on recommendations. Harold Heinze committed $20,000 from ARCO to the effort. Mia Oxley was appointed by Mayor Knowles to provide leadership.
Steering Committee focused on creating a child care resource and referral program
In August of 1985, a steering committee was established to detail a plan for an Anchorage child care resource and referral agency. Committee members included Ilene Risley-Sackett (ACC Families and Work Task Force), Lare (DCRA Child Care Programs), Martha Rasmussen (MOA Child Care Program), Chris Ibanez (ARCO Dependant Care Task Force), Kerry Reardon (AAEYC), Mike Malone (Anchorage School District), and Mia Oxley (MOA DHHS).
The steering committee met three times between August and October. In that time, it revised and adopted a concept paper drafted by Mia Oxley; drafted an initial budget; employed Frank Flavin in a pro bono basis to draft and file articles of incorporation and by-laws; secured startup funding totaling $65,000 (ARCO $25,000, Anchorage School District $20,000, AAEYC $15,000 in library materials, MOA $10,000 in office space and copier usage); and assembled the center’s first board of directors.
The steering committee consulted with Patty Siegel of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to learn from established R&Rs. Key early decisions included filling one board seat with a representative from a licensing agency, adopting, “helping parents find child care” as the focus, and orienting the agency as an advocate for system change.
Child Care Connection is a reality
CCC was officially incorporated October 17, 1985.
The first Board of Directors was composed of Kathe Bourch-Roberts, Providence Child Development Center; James Crane, attorney and parent; Bernardette Huston, ARCO Alaska; Laré, Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs; Mia Oxley, Municipality of Anchorage; Kerry Reardon, AAEYC Board; Martha Roderick, Anchorage School Board; Ilene Risley-Sackett, Director, ACC Center for Women and Men; and Eligio White, Director, Tanaina Child Development Center.
Bob Juettner was hired as executive director in February 1986. He hired Lani Groman Brennan as program director the following month and, using a computer donated by ARCO, the agency opened its doors for business in May of 1986.
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CCC History