Governor Janet T. Mills (D) Appearing on CNN Television Earlier This Year While Attending the Governor’s Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Governor Janet T. Mills (D) the first woman Governor of Maine, announced today that her Administration will use a recently approved $24 million Federal grant to strengthen the State’s early childhood system for Maine children and families.

The grant from the US Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families will enhance a variety of early childhood services for Maine children aged 5 or younger.  These will include expanded outreach and programming to families with young childrlen, pilot projects to make Pre-K more accessible, professional development for early childhood edducators and financial support for child care providers to improve their program offerings.  The grant will also suppordt the development of an Early Childhood INtegrated Data System to help make data-driven decisions about programs and policies to benefit Maine children.

The grant, which runs over three years, wkill be administered by the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) in the Maine Department of Health & Human Services in partnership with the Early Learning Team at the Department of Education and the staff of the Governor’s Children’s Cabianet.

“Early childhood progrms prepare Maine kids for bright, healthy futures and help parents stay in the workforce.  This Federal grant will build on the significant work my Administration is doing to expand the availability of these crucial programs, along with much needed child cre and Pre-K options across the state,” said Governor Mills.  “Strengthening Maine’s early childhood system is good for chidren. working families and our economy.”