By Diane Nester
For The Office of WV Secretary of State Kris Warner
On Monday, May 11th, WV Secretary of State Kris Warner will join representatives from the WV Association for Young Children (AYC) for the AYC’s fifth regional Legislative Reception to recognize local legislators.
Secretary Warner agreed to attend a series of nine Legislative Receptions throughout the state hosted by the AYC to recognize and thank members of the WV State Senate and the WV House of Delegates for passing HB 4191 during the recent legislative session.
The next reception is set for 10:00am on Monday, May 11th, at the Cross Lanes YMCA Child Development Center. The Center is located at 5113 Rocky Fork Road in Cross Lanes, WV. This center provides daycare for children 6-weeks to 4 years of age and preschool for children ages 4 and 5. They also offer after-school care for children 5 thru 12 years of age.
Legislators from the region have been invited to attend the reception that begins at 10:00am. Secretary Warner and the legislators will then be given a tour of the facility.
The Executive Director of the YMCA Child Development Center at Cross Lanes is Sarah Bolyard. The Executive Director of the WV Association for Young Children is Kristy Ritz.
HB 4191 was landmark childcare legislation that addressed a number of issues relative to the stability of daycare centers throughout the state. The legislation will also encourage the expansion of daycare operations. Today, families of more than 26,000 students (birth to four years of age) cannot find daycare.
Secretary Warner joined the AYC effort last year to demonstrate the need for additional daycare positions for children of working parents. Secretary Warner, the former Executive Director of the WV Economic Development Authority, told legislators that parents who want to work have to stay home because of a lack of childcare options.
Members of the media are welcome to attend the reception and the tour. Secretary Warner will be available for interviews.
