June 17, 2008 — Gov. John deJongh Jr. has created a new Governor's Children and Families Council to improve the quality and effectiveness of essential services, deJongh announced Tuesday.
A new approach is needed for how the territory supports its children and their families, based on statistics of children in poverty, teen pregnancy, truancy and graduation rates, and youth violence, the governor said. He has appointed an advisory committee to report to the council on matters of early-childhood education and care.
"This executive order acknowledges the commitment that many residents, but more particularly those in authority, have to the children and families in the territory, and recognizes the need for a collaboration of efforts to ensure educational success, positive socialization and economic opportunity," deJongh said, according to a Government House news release.
The council membership will be made up of public- and private-sector officials. First lady Cecile deJongh will chair the council.
The first lady is already on the job. As council chairman, she left this week to attend a policy retreat in Denver at the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices. Accompanying her are Eleanor Hirsh, a consultant, trainer, and advocate on territorial children and family issues, and Angeli Ferdschneider, special assistant to the governor.
Other members of the council include Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch, Health Commissioner Vivian Ebbesen-Fludd, Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry, Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr., Police Commissioner James H. McCall, Housing, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Claire Williams, Attorney General Vincent Frazer and Government House Deputy Chief of Staff Pamela Berkowsky.
Other representatives on the council will include a representative from its Committee on Early Childhood Education and Care, as well as a representative from the private sector, a member of the faith-based community and two people from the non-profit community. Non-government officials selected to serve on the council include Dee Baecher-Brown, president of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands; retired St. John educator Ruth Frett; and Deanna James, chief operating officer of the St. Croix Foundation.
The council will meet quarterly. It has six goals, according to the news release:
— To study, plan and recommend changes to improve the delivery of services to children and families and to eliminate duplication of services;
— To equip all children in the Virgin Islands with the tools and opportunities needed to mature into well-balanced, healthy, productive adults in society;
— To ensure that all children in the Virgin Islands begin school safely, healthy, ready to learn and ready to succeed;
— To ensure that all early-childhood programs and services are better integrated and coordinated;
— To develop an integrated plan for men, women and children to thrive emotionally and advance in education and technical training; and
— To develop a strategy to empower families in the Virgin Islands through economic opportunity.
Members of the advisory committee will include representatives from the Human Services, Police, Education and Health departments, as well as local providers of early-childhood education and development services. It will also include the University of the Virgin Islands, the director of the local Head Start agency and other representatives as determined by the governor.
The creation of the advisory committee on Early Childhood Education and Care is in compliance with the Head Start Act of 2007 and consistent with the effort in most states to form a collaborative partnership between the government, private sector and community organizations to resolve issues facing children and families, deJongh said.
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