Iowa Child Care organizations and parents across the globe are joining together the Friday before Mother's Day - May 8 - to celebrate Provider Appreciation Day. Provider Appreciation Day is a special day to recognize home child care providers, child care center directors and staff, and all those who work with children in a variety of ways and are responsible for their education and care. It is estimated that there are nearly 2.8 million child care providers in the United States and that nearly 12 million under age 5 are in their care.

Locally, child care organizations are leading this effort. The Child Care Resource and Referral and Family Resource Center Child Care Projects are hosting a night dedicated to child care providers from the six counties surrounding Fort Dodge. It will be held at the the Best Western Starlite Village. We are honored to have state Sen. Daryl Beall attending to present a letter of proclamation declaring this day as Provider Appreciation day that was signed by Chet Culver, the governor of Iowa. We will also have Sally Shaver a motivational speaker from Ames. Please join in celebrating this day with us by saying "thanks" to your child care provider. We couldn't live without them.

This has all been possible because of the support from the our local businesses in Webster, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright and Hamilton counties. Just to name of few of the businesses that have played a large part in this evet: Best Western Starlite Village, Wal-Mart, Kaplan Learning Center, Creative Cakes, AmericInn, Curves, Culver's, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Tico, Long John Silver's, Godfather's Pizza, Family Bowling Center, Kemna Auto, Graham Tire & Auto, Creative Memories, Applebee's, Papa Murphy's, Tea Thyme, Country Kitchen. Village Inn, Larita's, Domino's, Creative Cakes, Pizza Hut, Dr. J's Computer Service, Becker Florist, Kathy's Hallmark Shop. Thanks to these businesses and to everyone else who contributed to our event.

The children and parents in Iowa depend on our child care providers. Friday is the day to recognize the hard work and dedication of providers, and to acknowledge their contributions to high-quality care.

''By applauding the dedication of child care providers we remind our communities of the importance of high-quality child care, and let providers everywhere know that we recognize and value their important work,'' said Linda K. Smith, executive director of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, the lead sponsor of Provider Appreciation Day. ''It is important that the care a child receives during the first five years of life be of high-quality because 90 percent of brain development occurs during those years.''

In recent years, local governments across the United States have joined many governors in proclaiming this day of recognition. The celebrations this year promise to carry on and strengthen Provider Appreciation Day. Efforts are under way to ask child care organizations, public officials, and parents to honor their child care providers for their hard work and commitment to children through events such as luncheons, parades, dedications and other recognition celebrations.

It takes a special person to work in the child care field and these individuals are often unrecognized This day offers an opportunity for parents to show their child care providers their appreciation.

To learn more about Provider Appreciation Day or for ideas on how you can thank your child care provider, contact Child Care Resource and Referral at (800) 567-3951 or The Child Project at 576-4088.

Julie Kuhlmann is a parent provider and child care specialist with Child Care Resource and Referral, Fort Dodge. Rachel Ronan is a child care home evaluator with the Family Resource Center, Fort Dodge.