Better Beginnings, a program of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Di-vision of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, is seeking nominations for the next Arkansas Outstanding Early Childhood Professional (AOECP). Established in 1988,this award administered by DCCECE honors an early child-hood professional who makes significant contributions to the early care and education field in Arkansas. “Child care providers are the workforce behind the work-force,” said Better Beginnings Program Administrator Kelli Hilburn. “This award allows parents and other child care providers to recognize an early childhood professional who consistently goes above and beyond for the children placed in their care. ”To qualify for the award, nominees must:· Meet minimum licensing requirements for child care staff.· Be employed by a licensed provider in good standing.· Have taught an early childhood classroom for at least three years.· Plan to remain in early childhood in2023.· Be willing and able to serve as a nearly childhood ambassador. The winning professional will have an opportunity to serve on commit-tees, represent early childhood educators in the media as needed, and be featured on media and social media outlets. Amber Scott, director of Grace Discovery Center in Hensley, was named the 2022AOECP.The nomination packet is available on the Better Beginnings website. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, February17. See the nomination packet for sub-mission details. For more information on finding quality child care in Arkansas or about Better Beginnings, follow their social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or visitarbetterbeginnings.com.