by Cigdem Unal, Director, Office of Child Care and Family Resources August 2025 marked the 10-year anniversary of Cigdem Unal’s leadership as director of the Office of Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR). In this reflection, Unal highlights her most significant accomplishments over the past decade — expanding access to high-quality child care for UW–Madison …
This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Charlotte Zolotow Award event at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) at UW–Madison. This meaningful gathering celebrates outstanding writing in children’s literature—work that thoughtfully centers the emotional lives, experiences, and voices of children. Congratulations to Angie Kang, author of Our Lake, for receiving this year’s award …
Dear Families, Children, and Early Childhood Educators, As we welcome the Week of the Young Child (April 11-17, 2026) we are reminded of the deep importance of this special celebration. Sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), this week is more than a recognition. It is an invitation to honor …
By Cigdem Unal, Director, Office of Child Care and Family Resources (OCCFR) There’s a special kind of energy that fills the room when our dedicated and passionate early childhood education leaders come together — an energy rooted in shared purpose, care, and a collective commitment to uplifting children, families, and educators across our community. At …