Press Release:

YWCA Downtown Children's Center Earns National NAEYC Accreditation
Among First in Country to Complete More Rigorous Accreditation Process

MINNEAPOLIS - Oct. 15, 2007 - The YWCA Downtown Children's Center today announced it received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals.

"We're proud to have earned reaccreditation under these higher NAEYC standards," said Deby Ziesmer, YWCA Director of Early Childhood Education Programs. "It validates the high-quality care and education we provide to all our children, and recognizes our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards."

The YWCA Downtown Children's Center is one of the first childcare centers in the country to be accredited under these new standards. Established in 2006, the NAEYC standards have introduced a new level for quality, accountability and service for parents and children in childcare programs. The standards reflect the latest research on positive child outcomes and best practices in early childhood education and development to ensure young children receive the highest-quality care and education possible.

"All children and families in our programs are getting the best education and early learning experiences possible regardless of their parent's ability to pay," said Becky Roloff, CEO of the YWCA of Minneapolis. "NAEYC Accreditation demonstrates to the community the quality of the care we provide for families."

The YWCA Downtown Children's Center underwent an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Education Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. Every age group at the Downtown Children's Center was visited by NAEYC Assessors and is subject to unannounced visits throughout the five-year accreditation period.

More than 11,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAYCE - representing approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs across the country. "The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for early childhood programs," said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. "The YWCA Downtown Children's Center's NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that it is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and is helping to give all children a better start."

About the YWCA of Minneapolis
The YWCA of Minneapolis is a nonprofit organization striving to achieve the empowerment of women and girls, and to eliminate racism.

The YWCA Early Childhood Education Programs serve more than 530 infant, toddler, pre-school, and school-age children annually. In 2006, 77 percent were from low-income households and 86 percent were children of color. The YWCA strives to nurture young children in partnership with their parents and prepare them for success in school. For more information, please visit www.ywcampls.org.

Media Contact:
Ellen Cleary
YWCA of Minneapolis
ecleary@ywcampls.org