YoungStar

​YoungStar is a seven year old early care and education program run by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. As part of its focus on continuous improvement, it offers ratings and support for child care centers as they work to improve the quality of care they give children.

“[Youngstar] values educated and well trained staff, enriching learning experiences, professional business practices and safe, healthy, and nurturing environments," according to the YoungStar website.  Providers that participate in Youngstar can receive technical consultation from early care and education professionals to help them grow quality and improve practices.

In addition to providing child care center ratings, YoungStar’s website provides a variety of parent focused resources such as videos and activities to support their child’s growth and development outside of the classroom.  

In 2000, the University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty found that quality and affordable child care can have a positive impact beyond families and children by decreasing crime, giving employers and more focused workforce, and expanding the tax base by allowing more people to work.

In Kenosha County 94 out of the 113 child care centers are YoungStar rated.  Building Our Future Smart Beginnings believes YoungStar is an important program for the county because it provides a framework for assessing what higher quality child care in Kenosha County should include and ensures children are getting the best possible care.

How You Can Get Involved
Kenosha County’s children deserve the best child care so they too can thrive.  Here are a few ways you can help Kenosha County’s children succeed:

• Find a YoungStar rated child care center near you
• Discuss questions about YoungStar with a YoungStar Early Care and Education professional at 414-267-3434
• Discuss YoungStar ratings with your child care center and encourage them to participate in YoungStar if they are not already
• Apply to have your child care center rated by YoungStar
• Learn about Center for Disease Control's Developmental Milestones and how you can help your child achieve them​

Article written by Marley Uran
Communications Intern
​University of Wisconsin Parkside
​Published by the Kenosha News

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