Proclamation marks Provider Appreciation Day in Elkins

ELKINS -- Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco signed a proclamation at City Hall this week to recognize child care providers in the area.

Mountain Heart Community Service's Brenda Riggleman, Stephanie Hoover and Peggy Rittenhouse attended the signing that proclaimed May 16 as Provider Appreciation Day in Elkins.

"The child care providers we have in our area are very dedicated to the families that they support," Marco said. "Some of them are professionals and some of them are family members who have stepped up.

"We have children not only in our city but in our state who are raised by grandparents, great grandparents, or no parental individuals. We want to recognize all of them for their dedication to our children."

Mountain Heart Community Service, Child Care Aware of America and other organizations nationwide acknowledged providers this past Friday on Provider Appreciation Day.

Each year, child care resource and referral agencies, child care advocates, community based organizations, government entities, and individuals throughout the United States recognize child care providers, teachers and other educators of children on the Friday before Mother's Day.

A group of volunteers in New Jersey started Provider Appreciation Day back in 1996 as they saw a need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents. This day is to bring gratitude for those who support the social, emotional, and physical care of children.

"Having some consistency and structure is very beneficial for the development of children," said Marco. "And we have many organizations and family members in our city who are providing just that."

MountainHeart Community Service works with individuals, families and communities to provide resources. In the early 1990s, MountainHeart put together a plan in West Virginia to establish child care resources and referral services across the state.

MountainHeart's resource and referral service links parents with child care options, provides consumer information, offers technical assistance and training to providers, and informs parents of other resources in their community.

The mission of the resource and referral service is to meet the diverse needs of parents, children, providers and the community through comprehensive, family-friendly services. These services are designed to encourage providers, empower families and ensure all community members that quality child care for all of our children is a continued priority.

The Elkins MountainHeart provided service to those in Randolph, Lewis, Preston and Upshur counties. For more information, call 304-682-8271 or go to www.mthtwv.com.