[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1777-E1778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO THE FRANCIS CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE AND THE FRANCIS 
                          FAMILIES FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Ms. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the Francis 
Families Foundation in Kansas City, for their dedication to improving 
the quality of child care for thousands of families in our community.
  The Francis Institute is a major program at Penn Valley Community 
College, one of the metropolitan community colleges, whose mission is 
to provide high-quality training and education to child care providers 
and students seeking careers in early childhood development. In its 
short 6-year history, the Francis Institute has become a national 
leader and advocate for the profession of child care. It is also 
changing the way Kansas City views child care facilities--not as 
babysitting services, but as enriching places for children to go for 
learning and development.
  Today, thanks to a $6.5 million grant from the Francis Families 
Foundation, the Francis Institute is breaking ground on an exciting 
state-of-the-art facility. This building will provide exciting new 
benefits to the community, including a comprehensive resource library, 
a model child development center, facilities for community workshops 
and seminars on child care and more.
  Since 1990, the Francis Families Foundation has worked quietly behind 
the scenes providing leadership in the area of child care education and 
training. As one of the founders of the Francis Institute, it has 
helped establish a unique public-private partnership with the 
metropolitan community colleges. The outcome is accessible education 
and professional development opportunities to urban child care 
providers.
  The Francis Institute's success and impact are built upon a 
foundation of community partnerships and collaborative programs. 
Working

[[Page E1778]]

with local, State, and national organizations to provide academic 
courses, workshops, consultation, entrepreneurial training, mentoring, 
and more, the Francis Institute has improved the skills of thousands of 
child care providers and students. At the same time, its qualified 
staff fosters a lifelong love for learning and personal growth.
  It is common for people to talk about the problems our children face 
today. It is rare for organizations such as the Francis Families 
Foundation and the Francis Child Development Institute to work hand in 
hand toward a common goal with so much success in such a short period 
of time.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Francis Families Foundation of its 
vision and tremendous generosity, and I wish the Francis Child 
Development Institute great success in its efforts to change the way we 
think about child care to the benefit of families.

                          ____________________