Message from the President

After 22 years of leadership and service to the Children’s Forum, Dr. Phyllis Kalifeh has stepped back from her role as CEO. Her legacy of expanding professional development opportunities for early educators and bringing awareness to the need for better compensation of the early learning workforce will never be forgotten. I have big shoes to fill and I am truly humbled to be chosen as the Forum’s next President and CEO. In my new role, I wanted to let you know a few things about me and what I hope to accomplish: My family means the world to me. I have been married to my husband Will for 14 years, and we have two beautiful children, Ellis and Bennett. As a University of Georgia graduate, I am an avid Bulldog fan. In addition, I am a soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, and baseball mom. You can find me at some sort of ball field most days of the week! I am also a leader in the women’s ministry of my church. Spending time with these ladies is one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. As a former preschool teacher and early learning program director, I became convinced that children should have every chance to succeed, regardless of where they’re born or what obstacles they face. Read More

Early Educators Can Get Paid to Do What They Love

Did you know that the Early Childhood Educator INCENTIVE$ Florida program provides annual financial payments between $450 and $5,000 to early educators based on their education level and sustained employment?   With INCENTIVE$, early educators get paid to do what they love and grow professionally. The greater their education level, the higher their stipend. The program works alongside the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program to provide even greater supports.   INCENTIVE$ is currently available to early educators who work in school readiness and VPK programs in Hillsborough, Broward, and Osceola counties. We are excited to announce that INCENTIVE$ will soon be available in Leon and Orange counties. Stay tuned for details!   To learn more about INCENTIVE$, check out the video below, call 888-352-4453, or visit incentives-fl.org.

From Nursing School Student and Former T.E.A.C.H. Scholar to Published Author and CLASS® Assessor: Lianne Betancourt Leads a Charmed Life

Some early educators know from a very young age that they were destined to become teachers. For former T.E.A.C.H. Scholar Lianne Betancourt, it happened by accident. After high school, the South Florida native enrolled in nursing school and volunteered at a child care program in a local hospital. It was there that she found her calling and fell in love with the overall structure and philosophy of early childhood. “I switched my major a week later,” Lianne said, “and it was the best decision I ever made.”  Lianne accepted a position as a child care teacher at Riviera Presbyterian Church and enrolled in early care and education courses at Miami-Dade College. Although she loved teaching children and watching them solve their own problems, Lianne was worried about the financial burden of college expenses. Her director at Riviera told her about the T.E.A.CH. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program and encouraged her to apply. Read More

Get Ready for Children's Week Florida 2023! The Children's Forum is honored to host the 28th Annual Children’s Week Florida™ event at the State Capitol March 26-31, 2023! Get ready for the return of our signature events including the Celebration of the Hands in the Capitol Rotunda, the Advocacy Dinner and Awards Ceremony, and Children’s Day at the Capitol. In addition, we are excited to welcome new activities including virtual sessions with some of our Partners on Workshop Wednesday and enrichment opportunities for middle and high school students on Teen Thursday. Click here to view the full 2023 Children’s Week Florida™ schedule.

As the largest advocacy event held in the state, Children’s Week Florida™ seeks to strengthen our state’s families and communities. Our event would not be possible without the generous and dedicated efforts of our Partners. Together, we speak out as “One Voice” to help those who need it most. We hope you will join us as a 2023 Children’s Week Florida™ Partner. Your investment will help us to deliver the message that every child should be healthy, ready to learn, and able to achieve their full potential.  To learn more about Children's Week Florida™ partnership opportunities, visit https://childrensweek.org/partner-levels.

Register to become a Children's Week Partner

Forum President and CEO Receives Advocacy Award

Congratulations to Erin Smeltzer, the Forum's President and CEO, who is the 2022 recipient of the CDA Council for Professional Recognition Advocacy Award! Erin is strongly committed to working on behalf of our early childhood teachers and making their voices heard. She’s a big supporter of the Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™ and even helped write a law that requires one teacher in every Florida classroom to have a CDA®. Through her advocacy and dedication to the ECE field, Erin is sparking positive change and helping young children to thrive.  We are so proud of you, Erin! You are most deserving of this prestigious recognition!

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