Early Childhood Advisory Council About the Council Governor Cooper established the North Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council (NCECAC) through Executive Order 40 in February 2018. Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services, chairs the Council, which includes 25 members appointed by the Governor from education (from early childhood through higher education), as well as representatives from business, government, research, philanthropy, health care, mental health, social services, and parents. The foundation for future learning, health, and well-being is built during early childhood. The NCECAC supported the NC Early Childhood Action Plan released on February 27, 2019 that lays out a bold vision and roadmap for how the state can create better futures for our young children by 2025. Read more about the plan HERE. On March 18, 2019, members of the NCECAC wrote to the North Carolina General Assembly to urge them to support Medicaid expansion to help young children and families. The letter recommends increasing access to health care coverage for more adults across the state as a way to ensure more of North Carolina's babies are born healthy and grow up to stay healthy. Read the letter HERE. Early Childhood Advisory Council Read the Executive Order Meetings and Events All Upcoming Meetings See all upcoming meetings Past Meetings and Events See agendas, meeting notes, presentations and more Council Members Name Title Organization Susan Butler-Staub Instructor of Early Childhood Education Piedmont Community College Dr. Lisa Chapman President Central Carolina Community College Dr. Mandy Cohen Secretary NC Department of Health and Human Services Gerald "Jerry" M. Croan Senior Fellow NC Department of Health and Human Services Terry David Director of Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. Stephanie Fanjul Retired Dr. Laura Gerald President Kate B. Reynolds Foundation Eric Hart Visiting Professor University of North Carolina School of the Arts Kathy Higgins CEO Alliance for a Healthier Generation Velva Jenkins CEO YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear Dr. Dore LaForett Senior Research Scientist Child Trends Dr. Kelly Maxwell Senior Research Scientist Child Trends Karen McKnight Director Head Start - State Collaboration Office Susan Perry Principal Deputy Secretary NC Department of Health and Human Services Mamie "Bernadette" Rogers Director/Owner Smiling Faces Childcare Center Meka Sales Director of Special Initiatives Duke Endowment Janet Singerman President Child Care Resources, Inc. Dr. Betsey Tilson State Health Director NC Department of Health and Human Services Banu Valladares Executive Director Charlotte Bilingual Preschool Kristin Walker Deputy Director of State Budget NC Office of State Budget and Management Michelle Winstead Director New Hanover Department of Social Services Dr. Kristi L. Snuggs Interim Director Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services View Embed Latest news on Education Latest news on Education WATCH: Governor Cooper Partners with National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils to Unveil New Fitness Centers in Three North Carolina SchoolsTuesday, October 26, 2021 Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education Adopts Resolution Calling on State to Fully Implement the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial PlanTuesday, September 28, 2021 Student Interns Support Local Governments, Nonprofits Across North CarolinaTuesday, July 20, 2021 Contact the Early Childhood Advisory Council Contact the Early Childhood Advisory Council
Early Childhood Advisory Council About the Council Governor Cooper established the North Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council (NCECAC) through Executive Order 40 in February 2018. Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services, chairs the Council, which includes 25 members appointed by the Governor from education (from early childhood through higher education), as well as representatives from business, government, research, philanthropy, health care, mental health, social services, and parents. The foundation for future learning, health, and well-being is built during early childhood. The NCECAC supported the NC Early Childhood Action Plan released on February 27, 2019 that lays out a bold vision and roadmap for how the state can create better futures for our young children by 2025. Read more about the plan HERE. On March 18, 2019, members of the NCECAC wrote to the North Carolina General Assembly to urge them to support Medicaid expansion to help young children and families. The letter recommends increasing access to health care coverage for more adults across the state as a way to ensure more of North Carolina's babies are born healthy and grow up to stay healthy. Read the letter HERE. Early Childhood Advisory Council Read the Executive Order Meetings and Events All Upcoming Meetings See all upcoming meetings Past Meetings and Events See agendas, meeting notes, presentations and more Council Members Name Title Organization Susan Butler-Staub Instructor of Early Childhood Education Piedmont Community College Dr. Lisa Chapman President Central Carolina Community College Dr. Mandy Cohen Secretary NC Department of Health and Human Services Gerald "Jerry" M. Croan Senior Fellow NC Department of Health and Human Services Terry David Director of Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. Stephanie Fanjul Retired Dr. Laura Gerald President Kate B. Reynolds Foundation Eric Hart Visiting Professor University of North Carolina School of the Arts Kathy Higgins CEO Alliance for a Healthier Generation Velva Jenkins CEO YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear Dr. Dore LaForett Senior Research Scientist Child Trends Dr. Kelly Maxwell Senior Research Scientist Child Trends Karen McKnight Director Head Start - State Collaboration Office Susan Perry Principal Deputy Secretary NC Department of Health and Human Services Mamie "Bernadette" Rogers Director/Owner Smiling Faces Childcare Center Meka Sales Director of Special Initiatives Duke Endowment Janet Singerman President Child Care Resources, Inc. Dr. Betsey Tilson State Health Director NC Department of Health and Human Services Banu Valladares Executive Director Charlotte Bilingual Preschool Kristin Walker Deputy Director of State Budget NC Office of State Budget and Management Michelle Winstead Director New Hanover Department of Social Services Dr. Kristi L. Snuggs Interim Director Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services View Embed Latest news on Education Latest news on Education WATCH: Governor Cooper Partners with National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils to Unveil New Fitness Centers in Three North Carolina SchoolsTuesday, October 26, 2021 Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education Adopts Resolution Calling on State to Fully Implement the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial PlanTuesday, September 28, 2021 Student Interns Support Local Governments, Nonprofits Across North CarolinaTuesday, July 20, 2021 Contact the Early Childhood Advisory Council Contact the Early Childhood Advisory Council
