Elly Lafkin, a child care advocate in Shenandoah awarded the Making Kids Count award. Read the below article by Ryan Cornell to see how she was honored for her contributions in improving child care safety.
Child Care Advocate Awarded, By RYAN CORNELL, Daily News-Record
HARRISONBURG A Shenandoah woman who channeled her grief into an effort to improve child care in Virginia has been recognized for her advocacy work.
Elly Lafkin, 28, received the Making Kids Count award Wednesday at a reception in Richmond. The award, presented by the Voices for Virginia’s Children advocacy group, honored her contributions in improving child care safety.
Lafkin has pushed for stricter regulations ever since her 3-month-old daughter Camden died in the care of an unlicensed, unregistered day care provider in Massanutten.
Camden died May 17, 2012, from sudden infant death syndrome, police determined. The provider was not implicated in the infant’s death, but a search of the home uncovered methamphetamine, for which the provider was charged.
Before selecting the provider, Lafkin and her husband, Cameron, ran a name-based background check the only kind required by the state at the time that showed a clean record. However, the woman, who was a convicted felon, had several aliases of which the Lafkins were unaware.
Had a fingerprint-based background check been used, it would’ve revealed the provider’s aliases and history of criminal drug and fraud charges.
Legislation passed at this year’s General Assembly session now requires all licensed day care employees to undergo finger print based background checks starting July 1, 2017. Those convicted of barrier crimes, such as sex offenses and crimes against minors, may not be hired by the provider.
But the new law does not apply to everyone: day care centers run by religious organizations as well as voluntarily registered providers do not need the checks.
Another part of the legislation says family day homes must be licensed to care for five to 12 children unrelated to the provider and not residing in the home. Previously, providers had to be licensed only if they cared for six or more children.
Emily Griffey, a senior policy analyst at Voices for Virginia’s Children, worked closely with Lafkin in advocating for the new regulations. Griffey said they still have some work to do in expanding the requirements.
Elly just doesn’t give up, she said. She’s completely committed to this cause and she has every quality that makes her a successful parent advocate.
Lafkin described being named for the award as a wonderful surprise. She said it was really awesome to hear that her efforts are making an impact.
To receive this award sort of solidifies that other people do agree with what we’re pushing for, she said, and that it’s a legitimate need. Voices for Virginia’s Children, a policy research and advocacy group based in Richmond, champions policies and practices that improve the lives of children, according to its website. The nonprofit’s annual Carol S. Fox Making Kids Count award is given to people and organizations who have turned grief into passionate advocacy and fulfill their mission, Griffey said.
That’s definitely the case with Elly’s work for child care safety in Virginia, she said.
Other recipients of this year’s fourth annual award include Grace and David Gallagher of Henrico County and Family Lifeline.
The Gallaghers’ 16-year-old daughter Cameron died from a heart condition after completing a half-marathon in Virginia Beach in March 2014. Since then, the couple has sought to honor her legacy, by working to raise awareness for teenage depression and children’s mental health issues.
Family Lifeline, an agency in Petersburg, was awarded for its programs to strengthen and empower pregnant women and new parents and provide them with health education and resources.
Contact Ryan Cornell at 5746286 or
Article by Ryan Cornell in the October 9, 2015 Edition of the Daily News-Record
