Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development

A Message from Governor Paul E. Patton:

In the past few years, something has become very apparent to me. If the Commonwealth of Kentucky is going to take full advantage of the millions of dollars that we have invested in elementary, secondary, and higher educations, we must begin at the beginning.

The large and credible body of research that exists points to the fact that all of the environments in which young children spend time must be of the highest quality. The prenatal environment, the home environment, and the early care and education environment should enable each child to reach his or her full potential. Our KIDS NOW Early Childhood Development Initiative is the first step by Kentucky to reach our 2020 goal which says that “all young children in Kentucky are healthy and safe, possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success, and live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.”

Building on existing resources, fostering public-private partnerships, ensuring collaborative planning and implementation, and mobilizing communities have enabled us to implement this prevention program. The time is now. We can wait no longer. Our youngest citizens can no longer be neglected.

Welcome to our KIDS NOW website. We are pleased to share our approach and our successes. While children are only a small percentage of our population, they are 100% of our future.

Paul E. Patton

Governor

The Vision For Kentucky

All young children in Kentucky are healthy and safe, possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success, and live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.

Our Mission

The future strength of the Commonwealth of Kentucky depends upon the healthy development of our youngest citizens. Therefore, this initiative will build upon existing resources, foster public-private partnerships, insure collaborative planning and implementation, and mobilize communities to:

support and strengthen families,
assure that all children grow and develop to their full potential,
provide high quality, accessible, affordable early care and education options, and
promote public awareness of the importance of the first years for the well-being of all Kentucky’s citizens.

Contact Information

Kim F. Townley, Ph.D.
Executive Director: Office of Early Childhood Development

Telephone: (502) 564-2611
FAX: (502) 564-1984
Postal address: 700 Capitol Avenue, Room 133
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Electronic mail: General Information:
Kim.Townley@mail.state.ky.us

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