Effective May 1st, 2012, Child Care Connections was no longer the Regional Resource Center ...
Weekly Update December 9th 2011
From the Desk of Pam Ward…..
Weekly Update December 9, 2011
Great Start to Quality Sessions
Our staff has started to host sessions for providers to learn about and complete the self assessment survey as part of the Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System. Feedback from the providers has been very positive.
Great Start to Quality Self Assessment Survey Tutorials Offered Online In addition to the trainings offered (see upcoming schedule below) Child Care Connections has developed tutorials for both Center Directors and Family and Group Home providers. The tutorials are in PowerPoint format and they are available on our web site at www.childcarenwmi.com.
RFP Status
In a webinar this week with the Office of Great Start it was announced that we can expect the Request for Proposals (RFP) to be issued as soon as the announcement is made regarding the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant. Obviously, if Michigan receives this grant it will have a significant positive impact on early childhood in Michigan. The announcement is expected mid to late December.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan: Advocates for Healthy Weight in Children
Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan is a state wide initiative dedicated to advocating for healthy weight in children. I participate on the Health, Family and Child Care Services Policy Action Team (HPAT) and I serve on the Child Care Policy Work Group (CCPW). This group is formulating proposals for changing licensing rules to support the goal of healthy children.
We met via phone conference this week to discuss Nutrition, Physical Activity and Screen Time Regulations. I shared information about Great Start to Quality and submitted specific recommendations to the committee pertinent to aligning the recommendations in the 2012 Issue Brief on Family and Child Care Home with the Great Start to Quality Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Child Care Connections applies for Oryana Community Support Grant
Child Care Connections has applied for a grant from Oryana Natural Foods Market to support our “local food for providers” program. Through this home grown initiative (yet to be officially named) Child Care Connections has been serving as the link between child care providers and area farmers. It’s a simple plan that has a huge impact. We negotiate good prices from local area farmers based on a bulk purchase, notify the providers about the food that is available and take their orders. The farmer brings the food here and the providers come and pick it up. If you’re a member of Oryana you can help us earn this grant by voting for our proposal!
Health and Youth Networking Group meeting
The Northwest Michigan Food & Farming Network, is part of the Michigan Land Use Institute. This group is currently planning their annual summit Farm Routes to Prosperity Summit to be held Friday, February 17, 9-4 p.m. at the Hagerty Center, Northwestern Michigan College. I represent Child Care Connections with this group. This work aligns with our goal to encourage providers and families to provide good nutrition for young children. To learn more go to www.foodandfarmingnetwork.org.
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, watch the award-winning movie “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead,” 7-9 p.m. at The Grand Traverse Circuit – 225 W. 14th Street, Traverse City, with donations accepted for Double Up Food Bucks Northwest Michigan. This program doubles the money to SNAP Bridge Card users when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets. Learn more at www.foodandfarmingnetwork.org. Sponsored by Shoreline Center for Healing, Oryana Natural Foods Market, Dr. Joel Roskamp from Burr Chiropractic & Wellness, and The Grand Traverse Circuit. Call 231-946-4325 for more information.
Regional Professional Development Collaboration
Mary Sue Wilkinson, our Training Coordinator, and Susan Chowen, our Child Care Specialist, met with colleagues this week to develop a regional training module for “Planning Effective Small Groups”. In addition to Child Care Connections staff, the meeting was attended by Early Childhood Specialists from Head Start, Wexford Missaukee/Manistee ISD, TBAISD, Char-EM ISD and Mason Lake ISD. Together they developed a training outline to be used throughout the region. Child Care Connections was able to provide valuable video resources from our Lending Library and all participants shared resources and information. It was great to have the opportunity to collaborate region wide.
Early Childhood Leadership Network Meeting: Wexford Missaukee
This week I attended the bi-monthly meeting of the Early Childhood Leadership Network in Cadillac. The discussion included the changes to the Great Start Readiness Programs and
the goal of serving ALL students with high quality programming given the funding levels available. I gave an update on Great Start to Quality as well as the current status of the Child Care Connections work plan and an update on the RFP process.
Regional Professional Development Planning
Mary Sue, our Training Coordinator, recently attended a meeting hosted by Wexford Missaukee ISD and the Great Start Collaborative to finalize plans for their spring conference which will feature Dan Hodgins. In addition the group began work on PD needs for the 2012-13 school year and finalized details for this year’s schedule. Participants in this collaborative effort include the Great Start Collaborative, the ISD, Headstart and Early Headstart, Early On and Child Care Connections.
Looking Ahead…
Social Emotional Foundations to Support Early Learning for Infants and Toddlers – CSEFEL Training offered in Cadillac In collaboration with the Wexford Missaukee ISD, Wexford Missaukee Great Start Collaborative and NMCAA, Child Care Connections is offering the 9 hour CSEFEL training beginning in January. Facilitated by Rene Beyette, this training will assist those who work with infants and toddlers to lay the foundation necessary for positive social and emotional development. The training is based on the model developed by the Center on Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) and focuses on nurturing relationships, quality environments and intentional teaching of skills. Participants will learn strategies to promote young children’s social emotional competence and prevent and address challenging behavior.
The schedule follows:
Thursday, January 19th, 5:30-8:30pm
Saturday, January 28th, 9am – noon
Thursday, February 2nd, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Register online at www.greatstartconnect.org or by email to Mike Acosta at macosta@wmisd.org
There is no cost for this training; however there is a small fee for CEU’s. For more information about CSEFEL visit http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/index.html
Child Care Administration Class Offered in January
Do you have staff members that need the 30 hour Child Care Administration Class required for Center Directors? Child Care Connections plans to offer this class in January in a hybrid format. Students will meet with Instructor Lisa Morley on Friday and Saturday, January 13th and 14th and again January 27th and 28th. In between there will be assignments to complete. Classes will run from 9am – 3pm.
The fee for this class is $185 and students will need to provide their own lunch. This class will only run if we have at least 6 participants registered and paid in full by December 15. Class size is limited to 15. Please register online at www.greatstartconnect .
Great Start to Quality, Self Assessment Survey (SAS) Training Sessions
Great Start to Quality (The Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System) is up and running. In order to assist child care providers in completing the Self Assessment Survey (SAS), the first step in the rating system, we will be hosting workshops throughout the ten counties. Participants will work with one of our Child Care Specialists. Individual computers will be available for use during the workshop. Please note that several of the workshops in Traverse City are for Family and Group Home Providers ONLY and there is one session in
Traverse City scheduled for Center Directors ONLY. In other counties the workshops are open to all licensed providers. The class schedule for the entire region follows.
Participants must register for these trainings online at www.greatstartconnect.
Benzie
Date: 1/12/2012
Time: 6-7, 7-8, or 8-9
Location: Benzie Community Resource Center
Trainer: Candice Case 231-941-7767 or candicec@childcarenwmi.com
Notes: One hour appointments to complete the Self Assessment Survey. Sign up for a one hour block. Participants will work in a small group.
Emmet
Date: 12/15/2011
Time: 6:30–8:00
Trainer: Susan Chowen 231-582-8070 or susanc@childcarenwmi.com
Location: MiWorks in Petoskey
Notes: Class size limited to 10.
Grand Traverse
Date: 12/13/2011
Time: 6:30-8:30
Location: Child Care Connections
Trainer: Candice Case 231-941-7767 or candicec@childcarenwmi.com
Notes: This is open only to Center Directors.
Class size limited to 14.
Date: 12/14/2011
Time: 6:30-8:30
Location: Child Care Connections
Trainer: Candice Case 231-941-7767 or candicec@childcarenwmi.com
Notes: This is open only to Family and Group Homes.
Class size limited to 14.
Kalkaska
Date: 1/17/2012
Time: 6-7 or 8-9
Location: Stone House (Hospital)
Trainer: Susan Chowen 231-582-8070 or susanc@childcarenwmi.com
Notes: One hour appointments to complete the Self Assessment Survey. Sign up for a one hour block. Participants will work in a small group.
Leelanau
Date: 1/17/2012
Time: 6-7, 7-8, or 8-9
Location: Health Department (Lake Leelanau)
Trainer: Candice Case 231-941-7767 or candicec@childcarenwmi.com
Notes: One hour appointments to complete the Self Assessment Survey. Sign up for a one hour block. Participants will work in a small group.
Manistee
Date: 1/10/2012
Time: 6-7, 7-8, or 8-9
Location: Manistee ISD
Trainer: Candice Case 231-941-7767 or candicec@childcarenwmi.com
Notes: One hour appointments to complete the Self Assessment Survey. Sign up for a one hour block. Participants will work in a small group.
Wexford
Date: 1/13/2012
Time: 6:30–8:00
Trainer: Paris Philo 231-876-3387 or parisp@childcarenwmi.com
Location: MiWorks in Cadillac
Notes: Class size limited to 10.
Tuesday, December 13th is the Char-Em Great Start Collaborative Meeting from 9-11am at the Boyne City Char-Em ISD.
Friday, December 16th is Creative Kids Day at the Petoskey United Methodist Church from 10 – 11:30am. There will be cooking, art, face painting, button making and music and movement.
This event is a collaboration of Early On, Char-Em ISD, Head Start/Early Head Start, MSU Extension, LTBB, Women’s Resource Center, DHS, Child Abuse Council, Charlevoix Library,
the Great Start Collaborative and Child Care Connections.
The Great Start Subcommittee for the March Parenting Month Event met this week. Susan Chowen, our Child Care Specialist for this area chairs this committee. This year’s event will be titled “Great Start’s Parent Roundup! Feel Good, Not Guilty!” and will be held on Saturday, March 3rd from 9am – 3pm at the Community Building in Petoskey.
Train the Trainer for CARES
Cares Kits and Parent Education Program Training is going to be provided on December 16 from 8:30-11:30 am. in Cadillac.
Classroom teachers and family support workers (Family Coaches, Family Service Workers, Home visitors, etc.) are encouraged to attend. We will discuss how to use the CARES Kits,
the parent education series and provide you with the links and a CD Rom with resources needed to plan and implement your own parent workshops. We will share resources for organizing your kits and checking the materials out to families. Please register on the WMISD Website. www.wmisd.org Select Professional Development, find the Dec 16 date and sign up!