NEWS
US Army Recognizes Child Care Professional

Rumford, RI—Jessica L. Warren is Director of the Child Care Connection center in Rumford, RI, where she leads a team of teachers who provide high quality child care and early education services for children. One of her team is a member of the RI National Guard who was notified of possible deployment to Iraq. In addition, one of the fathers at her center is currently serving in Iraq. Recently, Warren was surprised at her office by an Army officer who presented a plaque recognizing her as a "Supportive Employer."

The Army has a policy to give deployed soldiers an opportunity to submit their employer or supervisor for recognition of his or her support. Thales Da Riva, a teacher assistant, submitted Warren's name for the Award. Although Da Riva may be deployed in the future, his fellow guardsman, John Carvalheira was deployed and is currently serving in Iraq. Carvalheira is a parent at the center and has a 4-year-old daughter who is attending the preschool program.

Warren stated, "I am very proud to receive this award, but I am more proud of Thales and John. I appreciate the service and sacrifice they are making. I feel we all need to support our troops now in whatever way we can."

Warren has been serving at Child Care Connection since 1996. She is a resident of Pawtucket, RI.

Child Care Connection, prides itself in providing their families with high quality care and learning and offers "The Creative Curriculum", a nationally recognized educational approach to teaching young children. Child Care Connection was founded in 1991 as a company dedicated to providing high quality child care services to infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten and school age children. The company opened its first child care center in Lincoln, RI in 1991 and has grown to 15 early learning centers throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.