Gov. Lamont, Legislators Celebrate CLC Of Fairfield County

STAMFORD, CT — Over the past 18 months, Connecticut's child care industry was impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early stages, many parents of young children were unable to go to work because of shutdowns.

Although it hasn't fully recovered yet, the industry has stabilized, thanks in large part to increased funding from the state and the hard work of employees at centers across Connecticut.

On Tuesday, Gov Ned Lamont and members of the Stamford legislative delegation along with local leaders gathered at Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County (CLC) in Stamford to highlight the work the organization has done since the pandemic began.

CLC is the second largest, center-based early-childhood education program in the state of Connecticut, serving nearly 1,000 children ages six weeks to five years old. There are eight centers in Stamford.

Leaders also discussed the recent $1.4 million award CLC received from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood's Ready, Set, Rebuild Stabilization Fund program.

The funds were used to support operating expenses allowing for an increase in wages for CLC teachers and staff, playground renovations, and strengthening education programs offered by CLC, including Head Start and Early Head Start.

Eligible programs must be open and currently serving children, or will be reopening and serving children within 30 days of applying. Funding can be used towards rent, mortgage, utilities, payroll and benefits, professional development, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment, and more.

Overall, the initiative is using $346 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to help Connecticut child care programs.

"We've put more of the money to work for daycare and childcare than just about any other state in the country, and I think it's making a difference," said Lamont on Tuesday. He thanked CLC employees for showing up to work everyday once they reopened in April 2020. "It makes a difference for these kids, giving them the very best head start in life so that everybody gets a fair start. It makes a difference in terms of moms and dads, giving them the opportunity to get back to work and get our economy moving again. We couldn't do it without each and every one of you."

Lamont also praised the Dalio Foundation, which provided $3 million for childcare services for hospital workers.

CLC Chief Executive Officer Marc Jaffe said the organization not only educates children, it provides meals, too.

"We provide more meals to young children than any other program in southwest Connecticut, almost 500,000 meals a year," Jaffe said. "We're very concerned as well that there is a mental health epidemic descending upon our state and community; a public health crisis. We address our children's social and emotional development as well."

Enrollment capacity at CLC is currently at 75 percent, but Jaffe is confident that number will increase in the months ahead as more parents get comfortable with sending their children back to daycare. He said there are currently no COVID-19 cases across CLC's 53 classrooms. About 85 percent of staff are vaccinated.

Several legislators spoke about CLC and the importance of early-childhood education and child care: State Reps. Corey Paris (D-145); Caroline Simmons (D-144); Matt Blumenthal (D-147); Stephen Meskers (D-150); and State Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-36). All pledged to work on increasing affordability and access to early-childhood education.

Stamford Mayor David Martin spoke briefly about the power of CLC. His late wife, Judy, worked at CLC on Hillandale Avenue, and later as a reading teacher at Northeast School.

"One of the things she told me and others, was that the kids who came from CLC were prepared when they entered Northeast School in kindergarten. They knew their numbers, they knew their letters. Unfortunately, so many other children did not," Martin said.

Martin said ensuring the American Dream for all children is "one of the most important goals that we should have in America."

"If we set up a system where some children are so far behind when they enter kindergarten that they are constantly behind at reading or at math throughout their elementary years, can they ever achieve equity?" Martin said. "I call this the intergenerational responsibility of us to ensure that these children have the opportunities to become what we believe in in the American Dream. CLC does that."

Stamford resident and CLC alum, Andres Soto, spoke about his experience as a child. Soto walked through CLC's doors as a three-year-old, unable to speak. His parents, who are Guatemalan and Colombian, had immigrated to the U.S. with very little means.

"Through CLC's help, I was able to get into speech therapy. I left at the age of five speaking just fine and entering kindergarten like a normal kid," said Soto, who now works as a Google software engineer. Soto attended Columbia University, and graduated with a degree in applied mathematics. He now speaks fluent English and Spanish, and has been studying Mandarin for 12 years.

"Without this help [from CLC], I honestly don't know where I would be today," Soto said.