NPCC's Helms wins state award

Terri Helms, director of Child Care Aware of West Central Arkansas at National Park Community College, received the Outstanding Member Award for 2014 at the recent Arkansas Early Childhood Association conference.

The award is presented annually to a member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and involvement at both state and local levels of the association. As president of the Hot Springs Early Childhood Association, an affiliate of AECA, Helms served on the AECA Advisory Board for 10 years. She has presented professional development training at both local and state levels and has served as a conference volunteer.

Arkansas is one of 13 states affiliated with the Southern Early Childhood Association. The AECA and SECA are committed to improving the quality of care and education for young children and their families through advocacy and professional development.

Child Care Aware of West Central Arkansas, which is funded by a grant from the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, serves Garland, Perry, Saline, Hot Spring, Clark, Pike, Montgomery, Polk, Howard and Sevier counties.

The group maintains a database of state licensed and registered child care centers and family child care homes and provides referrals to families in search of child care. In addition, it partners with other agencies and organizations to provide quality professional development and resources for child care facilities in its service area.

Prior to becoming Director of CCA WCA in 2011, Helms' work experiences included child care director, professional development trainer and advisor, CDA instructor, ABC Pre-K lead teacher and Head Start site supervisor. In 2009, she received a master's degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College.

School on 12/21/2014

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