7/2015
Thirty-nine states have adopted quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) to rate and support child care and education providers and centers serving children birth to age five. Communications plays a critical role in engaging providers, parents, partners, policymakers, and the public in QRIS. From Child Trends’ communications team, this report provides examples of what some states are doing to market their QRIS, and recommendations for other states.
Source: Child Trends
7/2015
Learn how to use data more effectively to strengthen your work with children and families. Use these resources to support family and program progress. They are designed for Head Start, Early Head Start, and other early care and education program staff. These resources are aligned with the PFCE Framework and Head Start Program Performance Standards.
Source: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement
Available at: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family/assessing
4/2015
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Business leaders from every country have similar concerns – hiring skilled employees, finding customers who can afford their goods and services, and operating in an environment that spurs innovation and economic vitality. Overwhelming, rigorous evidence shows that the root of all of these factors lies in children who have the good start that will prepare them for success in school and in life. For that reason, business executives across the globe—from multi-national CEOs to shop owners in small towns—are starting to take action to create the conditions that will help young children thrive, fulfill their potential and become productive adults.
Companies are acting on their own initiative, because they see the benefit to their community and nation, and their bottom line. This paper describes four types of actions companies can take, along with examples from many countries—actions to
To help companies decide among these many options, the paper ends with advice on choosing a course of action and designing a successful initiative.
ReadyNation is a business membership organization whose 1,100 members, including current and former Fortune 500 CEOs, advocate for public and private investments in children and youth that improve the economy and workforce. Since 2006, ReadyNation has been supporting executives to take actions that start in the earliest years of life to create a strong citizenry able to tackle the world’s challenges.
Source: ReadyNation
Available at: http://www.readynation.org/wp-content/uploads/ReadyNation-Business-Actions-on-Early-Childhood1.pdf
3/2015
The 18th Annual Birth to Three Institute (BTT) was a three-day event designed to enhance the quality of services for expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and families. Explore the plenary sessions and webinars below by topic. They may be helpful to: Early Head Start (EHS), Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start, child care, and family child care staff; training and technical assistance providers; and the broader early childhood community.
Source: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, Early Head Start National Resource Center
Available at: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/ehsnrc/btt/archive_2014.html
7/17/2014
Around the country, Head Start and Early Head Start programs are building partnerships in their communities in order to make their services more accessible for children experiencing homelessness.
ACF just released Building Partnerships to Address Family Homelessness, a resource paper that highlights efforts by local Head Start and Early Head Start programs to connect with public housing associations, emergency shelter providers, local education agencies, and other community service providers. It also provides recommendations and resources to facilitate collaborations in other communities.
Children experiencing homelessness are disproportionally at-risk for a host of negative developmental and educational outcomes. They also face many barriers to accessing early care and learning programs that could provide foundational supports to overcome the negative impacts of homelessness. The partnerships highlighted are vital to help children experiencing homelessness connect with high quality early care and learning opportunities, as well as to help Head Start and Early Head Start families connect with other services. Head Start and Early Head Start program staff, housing providers, and state and local leaders can learn from these practices to develop mutually beneficial partnerships that expand access to services for families experiencing homelessness.
Source: Administration for Children and Families
Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/news/building-partnerships-to-address-family-homelessness
7/22/2014
The KIDS COUNT Data Book is an annual publication that assesses child well-being nationally and across the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Using an index of 16 indicators, the 2014 report ranks states on overall child well-being and in four domains: 1 economic well-being, 2 education, 3 health, and 4 family and community. For 2014, the three highest-ranked states for child well-being were Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa; the three lowest-ranked were Nevada, New Mexico and Mississippi. The report also provides national trends, comparing the latest data with mid-decade statistics. The 2014 Data Book is the 25th edition of the Casey Foundations signature publication. As such, the report also examines trends in child well-being since 1990, the year of the first report. It highlights positive policies and practices that have improved child health and development and features stories from several states on advocacy efforts that have improved outcomes for kids and families.
Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Available at: http://www.aecf.org/resources/the-2014-kids-count-data-book/
2014
This paper explores the alignment between the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s (CSSP’s) Strengthening Families approach and the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework so that leaders in states, agencies and early childhood programs, including Head Start programs, can understand the contributions of these frameworks and make informed decisions about implementation strategies to promote parent, family and community engagement to support children’s healthy development and improved outcomes.
Introduction
As the growing understanding of the importance of children’s early years drives increasing attention to early childhood programs, more state systems and local programs are seeking tools to effectively engage parents as partners in supporting young children’s learning and development. The Strengthening Families approach and the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework were each designed with this in mind. As states and programs use these frameworks to guide their family engagement efforts, it is helpful to understand more about the intended uses and areas of emphasis of each framework.
At the heart of both Strengthening Families and the Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement framework is the understanding that partnering with parents is essential to promoting children’s learning and development. Each provides useful platforms for building community partnerships and coordinated systems that put the needs of families at the center.
6/2013
Watch the Best Practices in Family and Community Engagement Video Series to support your program’s efforts toward systemic and integrated engagement. It is rooted in the Office of Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework. The videos highlight examples of innovative approaches to engagement that foster strong relationships and lead to positive outcomes for children and families.
Source: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
Available at: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family/for-families/video-series/video-series.html
7/31/2013 2 – 3:30 EDT
Please join the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement NCPFCE for a lively webinar! Find out how program leadership can connect PFCE practices to support family outcomes and childrens school readiness. These practices are rooted in the Office of Head Start PFCE Framework.
This is the second webinar in a new series from NCPFCE, Understanding How Program Foundations Work Together to Strengthen Parent, Family, and Community Engagement.
Learn how to:
Presenters
The webinar will be moderated by Christine Patton, Senior Research Analyst at Harvard Family Research Project.
Who Should Participate?
This webinar will benefit an array of audience members, including: Head Start and Early Head Start directors, managers, and parent leaders; T/TA providers; and early childhood leaders who are trying to improve family and child outcomes.
How to Register
Select the link to register for the webinar: https://ncpfce.ilinc.com/register/wvjjmtw
Questions?
If you have questions or concerns, contact NCPFCE by email at ncpfce@childrens.harvard.edu or call 1-855-208-0909 toll-free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.
Source: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center
Available at: http://hsicc.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/j/30F0175E522C598E/2ABD24CF6E74000C0F8C96E86323F7F9
Open Meadows Foundation is a grant-making organization seeking projects that promote gender/racial/economic justice. The projects must be led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities.
Open Meadows Foundation funds projects that do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and expression, age or ability. It offers grants up to $2000 to projects that:
All of the above guidelines are applied in considering funding.
*Organizational budget should not exceed $150,000.*
Small and start-up organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.
Proposals from organizations not previously funded have priority.
The deadlines for proposals are FEBUARY 15 and AUGUST 15 of each year. The next DEADLINE for submitting proposals is: Thursday, August 15, 2013.
Please e-mail questions or comments to openmeadows@igc.org
Open Meadows Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 1363
Bronx, NY 10475
718-320-0701
Early Childhood News Update 