Early Learning Coalition Briefs
The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County
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| State Rep. Janet Long met with several VPK teachers who spent five to seven years acquiring their BS degrees on a part-time basis as they continued to work in the classroom. |
In November 2008, the Pinellas Early Childhood Association joined the
Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County in a meeting with state
Representative Janet Long to discuss VPK issues.
A group of child advocates and private providers met with Rep. Long at AC
Kids Campus. AC Kids Campus owner Peggy Comerford gave Rep. Long a tour
of her VPK classroom and presented Rep. Long with a Buckley Moss print to
thank her for her support of children's issues. For the second year in a row,
Rep. Long is supporting legislation to require degreed teachers in all VPK
classrooms. The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County supports Rep.
Long in her efforts.
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The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County has implemented the
Program for Inclusive Early Care and Education (P.I.E.C.E.), which trains
staff in five early care and education centers each year in areas critical
to learning for all children, but with an emphasis on including children
with special needs such as autism, speech/language impairments, sensorimotor
disorders, and challenging behaviors.
In the first year, four early care and education centers and one family
child care home participated in P.I.E.C.E. As a result, 75 early childhood
educators received training, coaching, and classroom materials to support
implementation of the project, thereby impacting 430 children. The four
centers and family child care home are now mentoring a group of second-year
participants in an effort to sustain the P.I.E.C.E. program in the county.
Ultimately, the goal is that each classroom in Pinellas County will
welcome all children and have educators who are prepared to provide optimal
learning environments for them while meeting their individual needs. The
P.I.E.C.E. program is funded by the Florida Developmental Disabilities
Council.
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The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe Counties
The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe has been selected for
continued funding through May 22, 2009 to complete the Recognition &
Response initiative in partnership with the Early Childhood Initiative
Foundation and Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Chapel
Hill, North Carolina.
The Recognition & Response system provides needed support services
for young children age birth through five-years-old who show signs that
they may not be learning in a typical manner. The study, implemented in
13 early care and education centers serving 4-year-old children throughout
Miami-Dade County, is research-based and utilizes mCLASS:CIRCLE for
assessment and Read It Again! for intervention programming. It is
expected that the outcomes of the research will be of national
significance in providing identification and strategies for young
children with learning difficulties.
The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation has funded the Recognition &
Response project for the past two years, and this extension will allow
the study to be completed. The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe
is humbled not only to receive this generous monetary investment in a time
of national economic hardship, but also by the recognition that the
Foundation's work is among the best in the country.
The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe proudly acknowledges
Bethany Sands and her Inclusion Team for the impact their dedicated efforts
have had on the professional development of educators and the educational
success of children. Moreover, the ELC wishes to thank Dave Lawrence and
Ana Sejeck of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and Ready Schools
Miami for their confidence in our team and for working so hard to bring
dollars and innovative programs to the Miami-Dade community.
For more information about Recognition & Response, please visit
www.recognitionandresponse.org,
www.fpg.unc.edu and
www.rtinetwork.org.
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The Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast
The Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast offered the Start
with the Arts training to teachers in the Tri-County area (Dixie, Gilchrist,
Levy) on January 27.
Start with the Arts is an instructional program created
by VSA arts (Washington, DC) for preschool and early elementary school
children that uses the arts to assist young children, including those with
disabilities, in exploring themes commonly taught in early education
classrooms. The training promoted inclusive environments by introducing
developmentally appropriate activities from the visual arts, drama, dance
and movement, and music to promote cognitive and social skills
development.
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Nature Coast Coalition staff are also gearing up to promote Hanging
of the Hands, a Children's Week event.
Hanging of the Hands is one of the major events of Children's Week in which
early learning centers throughout Florida design a unique way to display their
children's hand prints at the Capitol Rotunda in Tallahassee on March 29, 2009.
Centers are asked to write the name of their center and city on the back of the
hands. After the hands are taken down, they will be distributed to the centers'
district senator or representative to remind them that strong families are
at the center of strong communities. For more information on Hanging of
the Hands or Children's Week, please visit the
Children's Week website.
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The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County
The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County is honored to partner
with the School District of Osceola County, Scholastic, the National
Council of La Raza, and Verizon on the implementation of Lee y serás;
a national Latino early literacy initiative that empowers families and
communities to foster children's literacy development and helps Latino
children realize their potential as strong readers and learners.
Lee y serás provides quality awareness and learning experiences
through a variety of culturally authentic literacy materials. Resources
for families include Lee y serás Family Album: an audio guide with
stories that build literacy skills; Lee y serás Family Fun Guide
on reading and literacy; and
www.leeyseras.net, a bilingual, interactive website featuring initiative
materials and expert advice as well as games and animated stories.
Resources for community-based partners include a six-week workshop series
for parents and family members; a six-week workshop series for child care
and home care providers; a literacy awareness institute for community
decision-makers; and an electronic tool kit that provides core curricula
and outreach materials.
By providing research-based, in-culture curricula and resource materials,
and by using local events and activities to garner awareness and engagement,
Lee y serás empowers and supports Latino parents and other family
members as their child's first and most important teachers and role models;
provides caregivers and other community members who work with Latino families
the resources and tools they need to help create literacy-rich environments
for Latino children; and offers policy makers, businesses, and community
leaders the information and tools necessary to understand and address the
early literacy needs of their local communities.
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The Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County
The Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County is proud to offer the
free Father & Child Connection Program (FCCP) with the support of the
local Children's Services Council, which funds the program. FCCP, in
collaboration with other St. Lucie County agencies, sponsors monthly
activities men can attend with their children to enjoy quality time while
learning valuable fathering skills.
Nationally, research has shown that children with involved fathers tend
to perform better in school, have fewer behavioral problems, and develop
resilience through a healthy self-esteem. Involved fathers learn to provide
good role models for what their boys will become and what their daughters
will seek. Children who do not have a father's involvement in their lives
are many times more likely to engage in substance abuse, live in poverty,
struggle with teen pregnancy, and face incarceration.
Since its inception in April 2007, FCCP has grown to reach fathers,
step-fathers, uncles, and male role models who directly impact a child's
life through the following venues:
- Nurturing Father's Classes offer fathers and father figures a chance to meet weekly to examine how they were raised, how this impacts their parenting skills, and the importance of nurturing healthy family relationships
- Breakfast with Dad at local elementary schools where fathers meet to enjoy breakfast and quality time with their children
- "Daddy & Me" activities at local parks and libraries provide an opportunity for a group of dads and their children to enjoy fun activities as well as father-child connection through literacy
- Holiday Crafts with Dad provides a focused, interactive opportunity between father and child to create something to be treasured
- The Coalition's Annual Family Fun Fair attracts more than 300 people who spend a fun afternoon together enjoying family-friendly activities, music, food, and exhibitors from the community
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Staff members of the Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County
helped make the holidays brighter for two local families. The
group donated and wrapped more than 40 presents for the family members.
Family Preservation Services in Ft. Pierce assisted the Coalition by
identifying the families. Each family submitted a wish list of toys and
necessities. The Coalition trimmed its Christmas tree with festive tags
containing a family member's first name and an item from his or her wish list.
Staff members selected tags from the tree and purchased toys, diapers,
food and other wish list items. Wrapped gifts were delivered to the
families the week before Christmas.
"I am very proud of the Coalition staff for helping those less
fortunate have a nice holiday," said Nancy D. Archer, Executive Director
of the Coalition.
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The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County
The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County has received $50,000
from the A.D. Henderson Foundation in support of professional development
opportunities for early care and education teachers.
Through this award, 40 teachers will receive financial assistance to
advance their education by obtaining the Child Development Associate (CDA)
National Credential, an Associate's degree or a Bachelor's degree in early
childhood education. The A.D. Henderson Foundation has a strong history of
commitment to the early learning field.
Supporting early learning teachers is critical, as research demonstrates
providing quality early learning environments, starting with highly
qualified teachers, results in positive learning outcomes for children.
Building partnerships in the community, especially with those in the
classroom each day, is an important objective for the Coalition. Through
professional development services, the Coalition is able to reinforce the
leadership roles of these early care and education professionals.
For detailed information about the Coalition's current community
partnerships, and for opportunities to join as a new partner, please call
(954) 377-2188 or visit
www.elcbroward.org.
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As part of its continuous community outreach efforts, the Early
Learning Coalition of Broward County will participate in the 14th Annual
Children's Week celebration in Florida at the end of March.
The coalition will once again be partnering with early learning centers
and family child care homes to provide children's artwork for the traditional
"Hanging of the Hands" ceremony in Tallahassee. In addition, the Coalition
will be collecting proclamations from municipalities across Broward County in
support of children and family issues. For additional information about
Children's Week, please visit
www.childrensweek.org.
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| Employees of the ELC of Marion County and the Marion County Public Library celebrate their collection of 558 pairs of pajamas and 1,194 children's books. |
Early Learning Coalition of Marion County
The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, along with a Success By 6
parent education initiative, sponsored a "pajama party" in November and December.
Sadly, many children go to sleep every night in the clothes they wore that day
and with no bedtime books to read. Community members were asked to donate
unused children's pajamas and books for the event, and the response was tremendous.
A total of 558 pairs of pajamas and 1,194 children's books were
distributed before Christmas Day to children of all ages throughout Marion
County.
Early Learning Coalitions of St. Lucie County and Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee Counties
The Early Learning Coalitions of St. Lucie County and Indian River, Martin
and Okeechobee Counties collaborated to sponsor the 18th Annual Treasure Coast
Children's Conference on Saturday, January 31, 2009 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Over 700 participants attended to listen to 29 guest speaker presentations.
Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend
The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend hosted a Sweetheart Beach
House Raffle ($50 per entry) for a chance to win a one-week stay at a private
beach house in Rosemary Beach, FL.
This lovely beach home and carriage house sleeps ten and is located within
easy walking distance of the beach, a pool, restaurants, unique shops and a
spa. Proceeds from the Sweetheart Raffle benefited My First Books, an early
literacy project of the Coalition. Through My First Books, a new children's
book is given to each family who visits one of the seven ELC Family Service
Centers. During the visit, Coalition staff members help parents to identify
various ways they can support their children's literacy development. In addition,
the ELC collects quality used children's books from the community and gives
families "Book Coupons" which can be exchanged for a gently-used children's
book throughout the year.
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