Conference to explore kids’ role in economy

BREWER – Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe will headline an upcoming conference examining why employer investment in family-friendly programs and policies is good business.

The conference, titled “Why the Future Matters Now: Maximizing Returns by Investing in the Families and Children of Maine,” will focus on the ways in which supporting child care, preschool and parenting education programs can improve work force retention and productivity.

Conference organizers hope to attract business and community members from Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington counties. In addition to Rowe, speakers will include public health consultant Dr. Richard Aronson and Dr. Burtt Richardson of the Maine American Academy of Pediatrics.

The event aims to increase understanding of how early childhood and family issues relate to economic growth and Maine’s regional competitiveness. Discussion will cover work force development, worker satisfaction and productivity. Participants will discuss how best to help Maine children succeed from preschool through college and how to promote local investment in children.

The conference will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer. The conference is sponsored by University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and the Center for Community Inclusion. Registration is $30 for the full day or $15 for the attorney general’s breakfast talk only.

For more information or to register, visit www.extension.umaine.edu or contact Nannette Marcinkowski at 581-3445 or njones@umext.maine.edu.