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April 16, 2010
Trends and Reports
- HHS Releases 2008 Statistics on Child Abuse and Neglect
- Parenting Programs Improve Child Outcomes
OCDEL Corner
- PA Pre-K Counts Regulations re-submitted; hearing scheduled for May 13
- Budget Update
- Nominations Sought for Keystone STARS Advisory Committee
- Regulatory changes to Chapter 12 addressing student nutrition and physical activity
In the Community
- Retired Air Force General Norman R. Seip: Expanding High-Quality Pre-K is a Matter of National Security
- Casey: Pre-K expansion brings a hefty price tag
- DCDC Recognizes Visionary - Bloomsburg’s Dr. Bill Jones to be honored at annual event
- Franklin County hosts Children’s Fair
- Countdown to Kindergarten 2010 a success in Centre County
Into Action
- PACCA’s 2010 Award of Excellence and Educator of the Year Award - Nominate a Colleague!
Upcoming Events
- 2010 Events
- Applied Developmental Psychology Program Presents Perspectives on Parent-Professional Collaboration: Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education - April 30, Oakland, PA
- Success By 6 Early Care and Education Awards Dinner - May 12, Lancaster
Funding Opportunities
- Gate Opener Project releases RFP
- United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service - Child Care Health and Wellness Grant
- Dominion Educational Partnership
- CVS Caremark Charitable Trust
- Dollar General Literacy Foundation
- Autism Speaks Accepting Letters of Intent for Family Services Community Grants Program
- The Corning Incorporated Foundation - Program Grants
- The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation
Employment Opportunities
- Director, Program Specialist and Teachers
- Success By 6 Director - United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County
Resources
- A is for App
- Resources on the Pyramid Model for Promoting Children's Social and Emotional Development
- A Toolkit for Working With Children of Incarcerated Parents
Trends and Reports
HHS Releases 2008 Statistics on Child Abuse and Neglect
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released Child Maltreatment 2008, an annual report of data collected from the States' child protective services (CPS) agencies via the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. The report provides national and State statistics on topics that include reports of abuse and neglect, child characteristics, fatalities, perpetrators, and services provided to children and families.
According to the new report:
- An estimated 772,000 children were found to be victims of abuse or neglect during 2008, representing a rate of 10.3 per 1,000 children in the population. This number shows a continued decline from 2006, when 905,000 children were found to be victims of maltreatment.
- An estimated 3.3 million referrals were made to CPS agencies in 2008, involving the alleged maltreatment of approximately 6.0 million children.
- Children in the age group of birth to 1 year had the highest rate of victimization at 21.7 per 1,000 for children of the same age group in the national population.
- Approximately 80.1 percent of perpetrators were parents, and another 6.5 percent were other relatives.
To download the full report on national and State statistics, visit the Children's Bureau website.
Parenting Programs Improve Child Outcomes
Intended to provide caregivers with the information, skills, support, and services they need to address the developmental needs of their children and prepare them for adulthood, parenting programs play an important role in child well-being. In fact, according to a recent report from Partnership for America’s Economic Success (PAES), parenting education can potentially break the intergenerational transmission of negative social problems such as poverty, violence, and family instability. Effective parenting education has also shown promise for financial benefits to society by stemming child maltreatment, school failure, and criminal activity.
The PAES report, which seeks to understand the economic benefits to society of investing in effective parenting education programs, reviewed 10 rigorously evaluated programs shown to be effective in improving parenting and/or child outcomes. The programs showed that parenting education programs can affect parenting attitudes, knowledge, skills, and disciplinary practices, as well as children's health, safety, behavioral, and academic outcomes. Unfortunately, there was insufficient data on longer-term impacts and limited data on cost-effectiveness. However, the report does provide estimates for cost-effectiveness for the two programs that showed reductions in child maltreatment (Nurse Family Partnership and Parent Education Program for Teen Mothers). In the cases of these programs, reducing maltreatment among adolescents could lead to annual crime-related savings between $9.9 million and $16.2 million and an estimated cost savings of between $506 and $1.65 billion in lost future productivity.
The report's authors make recommendations about future research on parenting programs, focusing on the need to gather long-term impact data and cost savings data.
The PAES report, Developmental and Economic Effects of Parenting Programs for Expectant Parents and Parents of Preschool-age Children, by Sharon M. McGroder and Allison Hyra, is available online at the Partnership for Success website (pdf).
OCDEL Corner
PA Pre-K Counts Regulations re-submitted; hearing scheduled for May 13
On Wednesday April 7, the Pennsylvania Department of Education submitted the revised Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts regulatory package to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC). The regulations were revised during a "Tolling Period" which began March 8, 2010. Letters that were submitted before the tolling period are still valid - to date IRRC has received about 88 letters of support and three letters of concern which are posted on the IRRC website.
These regulations will give the full effect of law to many of the quality expectations and requirements set forth in the PA Pre-K Counts guidance.
The IRRC public hearing for the PA Pre-K Counts regulations is rescheduled for Thursday, May 13, 2010. IRRC public meetings begin at 10:00 a.m. An official agenda is not yet available for us to provide a better estimate of the time when our regulations will be discussed.
Budget Update
The Department of Public Welfare has begun issuing weekly messages highlighting ways in which its programs and services are protecting our most vulnerable citizens and helping them become more independent and have a high quality of life. The messages are posted each Friday on the DPW site and will be linked through Build.
Nominations Sought for Keystone STARS Advisory Committee
OCDEL is seeking members for the Keystone STARS Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to advise OCDEL about the Keystone STARS program including performance standards, operations, and program design. The Advisory Committee makes recommendations by providing feedback and representing Keystone STARS provider concerns and assists in the development of program protocols, tools and resources to strengthen the quality of learning programs in the Commonwealth. The Advisory Committee membership brings unique knowledge and skills, which complement those key individuals and departmental staff engaged in this work. The Advisory Committee does not have formal authority and cannot issue directives that must be followed. Members appointed to the Advisory Committee serve at the pleasure of OCDEL.
Individuals appointed to the STARS Advisory Committee serve a three-year term of service. Terms of service coincide with the start of the state fiscal year in July. Individuals, whose names are put forth for consideration to serve on the Committee, shall possess practical program content knowledge and skills that will strengthen and advance the Keystone STARS Initiative.
For those interested in being considered for appointment to this committee, please return the Keystone STARS Advisory Committee Application (pdf) to OCDEL by May 10, 2010.
Regulatory changes to Chapter 12 addressing student nutrition and physical activity
The State Board of Education has released a draft of its proposed regulatory changes to Chapter 12 (pdf) that address student nutrition and physical activity.
The changes proposed to Chapter 12 add new provisions that address nutritional content requirements of drinks and foods that are served in schools, physical activity practices during the school day, physical education curriculum, the safety and adequacy of facilities as they relate to physical education programs, and assessing students’ attainment of physical education learning objectives.
The Board’s Health and Wellness Committee held its first public roundtable on the proposed changes on April 6 in Fort Washington, and will continue to solicit public feedback during future roundtables on April 20 in Lancaster and on April 26 in Clarion. Click here for more information about the roundtable times and locations and how individuals can participate.
Into Action
PACCA’s 2010 Award of Excellence and Educator of the Year Award - Nominate a Colleague!
Help recognize those child care professionals who inspire the rest! Award of Excellence honors directors for outstanding service and accomplishments in the field of administration. Educator of the Year Award acknowledges outstanding direct care and education of young children.
To submit your nominee, please complete the official nominee form recently mailed to all PACCA members or visit the PACCA website for information and eligibility requirements. Nomination deadline has been extended until April 30, 2010.
All nominees and winners will be announced at the Early Childhood Action Day, June 8, 2010 in Harrisburg, PA. All nominees will be notified of the Awards Committee’s decision. For additional information, please call the Pennsylvania Child Care Association at 717-657-9000.
In the Community
Retired Air Force General Norman R. Seip: Expanding High-Quality Pre-K is a Matter of National Security
Over the years, the ranks of those advocating for expanding public pre-K have grown as economists and business leaders made the case that providing all kids with a high-quality early education is essential to America’s future competitiveness. Now a growing list of the nation’s top military leaders say doing so is also a matter of national security. Having served as a Lieutenant General in the Air Force, including a command of 46,000 airmen assigned to 12th Air Force, General Seip is intimately acquainted with what it takes to organize, train and equip our armed forces so they can defend against threats to our nation. He is also a leader of a relatively new organization, Mission: Readiness, which advocates for improving the quality of and access to preschool education.
General Siep reports, "While our military remains strong and prepared, there are concerned about the downward trajectory of readiness among our young people. There is a growing deficit of skills and fitness among our young people that threatens our military readiness, as well as our country’s ability to compete on other levels in the private sector as well. In fact, as we’ve reported in a series of research reports, 75 percent of 17 to 24 year-olds are ineligible for service in the Armed Forces. Those of us who have had the privilege of leading our military feel we have identified a serious problem, and we want to affirmatively address it in a serious way."
He continues, stating, "We have the experience to understand the problem and analyze solutions, and we believe that we can help forge a policy solution. So we have formed Mission: Readiness to bring our experience to bear on this troubling set of issues. “Readiness” refers both to our military’s capacity as well as the need for us to get the upcoming generations ready for our challenging world. In order to elevate this set of issues among policy-makers and the public, we need organizational capacity and staff to help us, and we are building our organization with the help from staff and important seed money from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Birth to Five Policy Alliance."
To view the entire article, please visit the Preschool Matters website.
Casey: Pre-K expansion brings a hefty price tag
The Pennsylvania senator was told by a panel the $9 billion cost would be money well spent.
The proposal has a $9 billion price tag. But the benefits of expanding childhood education nationally would outweigh the costs, panelists told U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., at a Senate hearing at Morrisville High School April 6, 2010.
Making pre-K programs available to all children is a hefty proposition in a budget year that's already cutting programs, said Casey, who has proposed a bill to provide federal funding for early childhood education.
"That makes it harder to fund a new commitment. But I think the commitment is there, and it's a bipartisan issue. We don't want to scale back or shortchange our vision," he said. He spoke to a room packed with community members and more than 20 students. Casey said he chose Morrisville for the hearing because it's had success with its state-funded Pre-K Counts program.
The legislation he has proposed would help many district families, said Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson, who spoke at the hearing. Nearly half the Morrisville School District children younger than age 5 are from families who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, she said. That's roughly $40,000 for a family of four, and it's precisely the population the bill aims to help with free pre-K. Panelists, including district educators, researchers and leaders in child development, urged Casey to work toward guaranteeing federal funding to expand access to high quality pre-kindergarten education for all American children.
The evidence shows that early childhood education improves not only academic performance and social aptitude in kindergarten, but also sets the tone for long-term success into adulthood. Yet, only one in five Pennsylvania children younger than 5 receives high-quality, publicly funded education, said Joan L. Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children.
Three studies of about 1,800 students in various American pre-K programs demonstrate the advantages, said Debra Ackerman, associate director for research at the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. Each program served disadvantaged children, used highly qualified teachers, and had staff-to-child ratios of 1 to 8.5 or better.
The key findings:
- Fewer students in the programs ended up needing special education. About 15 percent of students in a Michigan school's pre-K needed special education in higher grades, compared to 34 percent of students who weren't in the program.
- More students in such pre-K programs graduated from high school. About 66 percent of the Michigan students graduated from high school on time, versus 45 percent of children who weren't in the program.
- Children in pre-K programs experienced less grade repetition, greater enrollment in college and higher income and employment rates by age 40, compared to those who didn't attend pre-K.
The implications can't be ignored, said Ackerman. "The costs of a high-quality pre-k program are admittedly not cheap, but it can be more expensive in the long run to fund programs that have little chance of improving children's outcomes," she said. The basic elements that make a program successful are high teaching credentials, small class sizes, access to support professionals, high curriculum standards and ongoing support for teachers, she said.
Bucks County has been one of the testing grounds for government-funded early childhood education for the past three years. State-funded grants for Pre-K Counts support about 175 children in the Morrisville, Bristol Township and Neshaminy school districts and five United Way program sites. Students who are in the Morrisville district's pre-K have made great strides in reading, writing and math, Yonson said. Seventy-one percent of students in the program are above the standard level in reading. Many have already worked with the gifted teacher and are now being tested for the gifted program, said Yonson. Melissa Bowman, a Morrisville kindergarten teacher, said she can tell which of her students attended pre-k because they tend to be ahead academically and more comfortable in class.
Other panelists included Todd Klunk, acting deputy secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, under the state's departments of public welfare and education and Michelle Fina, branch director of the Morrisville YMCA, which applied for Pre-K Counts grants with the school district. Klunk talked about the need to develop talented educators. Fina, who has a master's degree in early childhood education, said independent evaluators have given Pre-K Counts at the YMCA excellent scores.
Casey first introduced legislation in 2007 to expand voluntary high quality pre-kindergarten, especially to low-income families. The Prepare all Kids Act would help states make voluntary high quality universal pre-k programs available to 3- to 5-year-olds for at least one year before kindergarten.
After being reintroduced, the bill has been read and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. "I hope the bill spurs some conversations on early learning at the federal level. It's good to have Casey involved and communicating with school districts," said Terry Casey, president of the Pennsylvania Childcare Association. She's not related to the senator.
Benso said the federal government must take some action but without pulling money away from existing education programs or skimping on program requirements. "If we're going to use taxpayer money, we should do what works. Quality matters. It may take 10 to 20 years for all children to get high quality early education, but getting lesser quality early education for all children sooner is not going to work," said Benso.
By Manasee Wagh, Bucks County Courier Times
DCDC Recognizes Visionary - Bloomsburg’s Dr. Bill Jones to be honored at annual event
In its second year, Danville Child Development Center’s Visionary Award will be presented to Dr. Bill Jones, Bloomsburg, at the Fourth Annual Celebrity Waiter Event. In 2009, DCDC’s Board of Directors established the new award to recognize people who, through their involvement in the field of early childhood, have shown exemplary vision and have made the community a better place for young children and families. This year’s award is sponsored by Montour County Advocates for Children and will be presented at DCDC’s Celebrity Waiter event on April 17 at the Danville Borough Ballroom.
Dr. Bill Jones, Faculty Emeritus of Bloomsburg University, has been involved with DCDC since its earliest days. Dr. Jones has dedicated his life to children, particularly those with different abilities, as well as teaching at BU’s Special Education Department since 1966. Dr. Jones, along with his family, has most recently established a non-profit foundation, The Jones Center for Special Education Excellence, to ensure all children with disabilities receive an appropriate education, by educating the professionals that work with them to recognize and foster these children’s talents to enable them to live fulfilling lives.
This year’s Visionary Award sponsor Montour County Advocates for Children was convened in October 2002 to study the county’s early care and education delivery system and to plan improvements for these services, as well as engage the community in promoting high quality early learning services for the children of Montour County. The group is comprised of Child Care Information Services representatives, social service agencies, parents, business leaders, public school administrators, early childhood educators, and government leaders.
For more information about the Visionary Award and the 2010 Celebrity Waiter event, call DCDC at 275-4047.
Franklin County hosts Children’s Fair
On March 20, 2010, the Franklin County Early Childhood and Education, Community Engagement Program, hosted its fifth annual, “Get Ready, Get Set, Learn” Children’s Fair. State Representative Todd Rock attended and read a book to the children. CCIS and the Franklin County CEG distributed PA Promise for Children brochures and had a large “Thank you” cards for families to sign, along with other early childhood initiative materials. There were 21 participating organizations with activities to share with the estimated 250 children who attended the event. Afterward, many of the organizations reported that they received very positive feedback from families and they felt this was the best fair yet.
For additional information about the Children’s Fair, or about the Community Engagement Group in Franklin County, please contact Tammy Barnhart at 717-263-7634 or c-tabarnha@state.pa.us.
Countdown to Kindergarten 2010 a success in Centre County
Smart Start-Centre County was pleased to organize a successful third annual event promoting good transition to Kindergarten for Centre County’s young children and their families held on March 13, 2010.
At least 450 people visited over 20 exhibitors including five school districts, private and charter schools, and support agencies who provided information and answered questions about Kindergarten programs and registration. Many exhibitors offered giveaways for families and crafts or activities for children.
Two volunteers provided entertainment for our visitors. Korby Smith, a local teenager, gave two performances of his magic show, and Colleen Mortimer, a Bennett Family Center teacher, read for two story-times. Four raffle prizes of children’s books, toys, and games (donated by Cen-Clear Child Services and St. Paul’s Christian Preschool) were given away during the event. We were delighted to receive a thank you note and photo of prize-winner Julia enjoying her new books!
Global Connections and Bennett Family Center provided fun, developmentally-appropriate, multicultural activities for children in our first ‘global village.’
Over 100 parents completed our survey, and 100 children were excited to receive a free backpack full of school supplies provided by the State College Area School District. 94% of respondents found the event very helpful or somewhat helpful. 91 participants signed up to receive our monthly e-newsletter.
A big “thank you” to all of the school, center, and agency volunteers who came out in the rain to make our event successful and also to our Penn State interns and many supporters who spread the word through posting on websites, emailing or posting the flyer, engaging the media, and personally inviting families to attend.
For additional information about Smart Start-Centre County, please contact Eileen Wise or Kelly Johnson at 814-238-0331.
Upcoming Events
2010
- April 17: Healthy Kids Day, Media, 610-627-9622
- April 20 & 27: Bucks County Month of the Young Child Family Open House, Bucks County
- April 22 & 29: Workshop for Early Intervention Families, Pittsburgh, 412-885-6000 x3136
- April 20: Wyoming County Community Education Fair - Tunkhannock
- April 24: 2010 Education Summit, California, PA, 724-225-9550 x404
- April 24: Literacy Festival, Lebanon, 717-450-1513
- May 6: 2010 Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, various locations
- May 7: Healthy Smiles, Happy Children: A Dentist for Every Child Oral Health Forum, New Castle
- May 14-15: 44th PAEYC Conference - Creativity: Where the Future Begins, Pittsburgh
- May 24-25: 3rd Annual Higher Education Institute, The Future is Here: Developing Responsive Pre-K to Grade 4 Educators & Learners, State College
- June 5: 2010 Spring Early Literacy Conference Creativity: Building Block to Early Literacy, Homestead, 412.361.8560
- June 8: The Washington Wild Things Present Early Intervention Families' Night, Washington, 724.250.9555
- July 12-15: Infant Massage Certification Four-Day Training, State College
If you are hosting an event, please submit it to the PA Promise for Children website to help spread the word. Your event will show up on the Early Education in my County page.
Find out how you can submit an event to the PA Promise for Children website (pdf)!
Applied Developmental Psychology Program Presents Perspectives on Parent-Professional Collaboration: Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education - April 30, Oakland, PA
Larry Edelman, University of Pittsburgh, B.S. and M.S. Child Development, Senior Instructor, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver will be the recipient of 2010 School of Education Alumni Award, to be resented on April 30, 2010, 9:00 am until 11:00 am at University Club-Gold Room, 123 University Place in Oakland, PA.
After graduating with a B.S. and M.S. from what is now the Applied Developmental Psychology Program, Larry Edelman has become a leader in the training and instruction of early care and education providers who work with young children with special needs. He is the author and producer of videos, articles, and extensive curricular material, and is nationally sought as a consultant. In his current position in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Denver, he is Director of Dissemination for JFK Partners and is one of the primary Instructors for the Interdisciplinary Training Program. As a team member of the Colorado Department of Education’s Results Matter Initiative and the California Department of Education’s Desired Results access Project he assists with the development of approaches to child outcome measurement, professional development, technical assistance, dissemination, and strategic communication.
A panel discussion will follow the presentation:
- Dr. Martha Mattingly (moderator), Professor Emeritus, Applied Developmental Psychology, U. Pitt.
- Dr. Steve Bagnato, Director, Early Childhood Partnerships, Professor Pediatrics/Education, U. Pitt.
- Nancy Hubley, Esq., Managing Attorney, Education Law Center
- Diana Knoll, M.Ed., EI Autism Specialization Project Coordinator, ABA Program Advisor EI Program, U. Pitt.
- Kurt A. Kondrich, M.Ed., PA SICC Chair, Director of Community Outreach, Early Intervention Specialists
For registration information, please contact Angie Cheyne @ 412.648.7036 or Cheyne@pitt.edu. This event has been approved for DPW Credit and Act 48. Please indicate when you register if you will be applying for either at the presentation. Presented in partnership with the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children.
Success By 6 Early Care and Education Awards Dinner - May 12, Lancaster
Come celebrate the importance of quality child care for the development of young children across Lancaster County on Wednesday, May 12th at 6 - 9 PM at Eden Resort Inn, Lancaster, PA. Success By 6 is pleased to award ONE complementary ticket to the 5th Annual Early Care and Education Awards Dinner to Lancaster County Child Care Providers currently in Keystone STARS (STARS 1 and above).
The featured speaker will be Helen Bank, Director of Leadership and Public Policy, National Women’s Law Center and Creator of the Child Care Now campaign.
One Complimentary Ticket per STAR provider (STAR 1 and above), $18 for each additional child care staff person, $28 per person for businesses other than child care.
Please RSVP by Friday, April 30, 2010. Space is limited – be sure to make reservations early by using the forms for either a child care center (pdf), or for a business other than child care center (pdf). All forms and payments should be sent to Judi Anderson, United Way of Lancaster County, 630 Janet Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601. For additional information, please contact Judi Anderson at anderson@uwlanc.org.
Funding Opportunities
Gate Opener Project releases RFP
Deadline: May 10, 2010
A request for proposals for the 2010-2011 Gate Opener project has been released to all ECE baccalaureate/post baccalaureate degree granting institutions on March 15, 2010. This will be year two of a three-year funded project. The Gate Opener initiative is a joint project of the Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Key and the Grable Foundation, the Heinz Endowments and the William Penn Foundation.
In 2009-2010, nine institutions of higher education received funding to work with early childhood professionals on various challenges these individuals face in accessing 4-year institutions, staying in school and obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development or ECE, with or without ECE Certification. Some of the barriers addressed in the first year of the project included PRAXIS review support, a need for non-traditional scheduling options, student teaching placement options, articulation issues among two and four year institutions, and limited ECE offerings, especially at the post baccalaureate level. Approximately 577 early childhood professionals have benefited from the project to date.
Please go to the “News and Notes” section of the PA Key website if you are a baccalaureate granting institution of higher education interested in working to address the variety of barriers that early care and education practitioners face upon returning to school for degree completion. Please direct any questions to Michele Black at micbla@berksiu.org. Proposals are due to the PA Key by May 10, 2010.
United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service - Child Care Health and Wellness Grant
Deadline: May 1, 2010
The purpose of the Child Care Health and Wellness Grant is to support projects that enhance the health and nutrition of children in child care settings. The Department will give priority to programs that achieve the following goals:
- reflect the recommendations of the most recent version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the most recent scientific knowledge;
- provide technical assistance and training to child care centers and day care homes in implementing state or local initiatives designed to improve the health and nutrition of children; perform outreach campaigns on the state and local level that are designed to increase access to the program in underserved areas and populations; and
- make innovative use of technology and education to promote the nutrition, physical activity, and health of children.
Approximately 15 grants totaling $8 million will be awarded. More information and downloadable forms are available online.
Dominion Educational Partnership
Deadline: May 1, 2010
The Dominion Educational Partnership provides elementary and secondary educators with the tools they need to invigorate their math and science programs. Support is provided in specific geographic areas of Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, and throughout the states of Virginia and West Virginia. The Partnership offers grants of up to $10,000 to encourage the development of new programs to strengthen math and science education through the study of energy or the environment. Public and private elementary and secondary schools and public school divisions that are registered with the National Center for Educational Statistics, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations are invited to apply. Visit the company’s website to submit an online application.
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust
Deadline: May 1-June 15, 2010
The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust was established with a goal of creating a positive impact on populations of people in the communities where CVS stores are located. The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust focuses primarily on supporting nonprofits that are making a difference in the lives of children with disabilities. Grants are also provided to organizations focused on providing health care to uninsured seniors, adults, youth, and children. The Trust’s funding priorities and an online application are available at the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust website.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Deadline: May 21, 2010
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and libraries that offer literacy programs in communities served by Dollar General in 35 states. Currently the Foundation is accepting grant requests for the following two programs. First, Back to School Literacy Grants will support school libraries and media centers in meeting some of the financial difficulties they face in implementing literacy programs. Youth Literacy Grants support schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations that work to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s website contains funding guidelines for each of the programs.
Autism Speaks Accepting Letters of Intent for Family Services Community Grants Program
Deadline: June 10, 2010 (Letters of Intent)
Autism Speaks is accepting grant applications for its Family Services Community Grants program for projects that promote services that help improve the lives of those affected by autism spectrum disorders. The focus of these grants will be on proposals that serve to build the field of services for individuals with autism and expand the capacity to effectively serve this growing community. Autism Speaks will accept family services community grant proposals that address one of three areas of need — education, recreation/community activities, and young adult/adults services. Successful applicants will apply grant funding to support new programs or the expansion of existing projects. No grants are made to individuals. Multi-year grants are not awarded. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $25,000 each. Visit the Autism Speaks Web site for detailed program information.
The Corning Incorporated Foundation - Program Grants
Deadline: Rolling
The Corning Incorporated Foundation provides funding for programs related to education, cultural endeavors, and community service efforts. The Foundation also supports national and even international organizations that work for the good of others including a match grant program. Organizations classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to submit a letter of inquiry. More information is available through the Corning Incorporated Foundation website.
The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation
Deadline: Rolling
The mission of The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation is to build strong and vibrant communities, improve the quality of life, and make a positive impact in locations served by the bank. Grants will be awarded to nonprofits in bank communities served by the bank as well as selected national organizations. The Foundation’s areas of interest include education, community development, health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and civic affairs. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the bank’s website to take the required eligibility quiz and submit an online application.
Employment Opportunities
Director, Program Specialist and Teachers
Hildebrandt Learning Centers is pleased to announce management at the Lafayette College Early Learning Center in Easton, PA. Please contact Karen Mazarki, Human Resources 570-675-8860 or send resumes to kmazarki@hildebrandtlc.com. Visit the Hildebrandt Learning Center website to learn more about this exciting career opportunity.
Success By 6 Director - United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County
Administer Success By 6 (the early childhood initiative of the United Way) and the early childhood community engagement grant and provide leadership and support to all of its committees. Develop and implement outreach plans to educate stakeholders about the benefits of early education for our children, families and communities. Ensure that policymakers are well informed regarding the benefits of quality early learning programs. Facilitate linkages between school districts, early learning practitioners, and other community stakeholders for the purpose of developing a community action plan that facilitates successful kindergarten transition experiences. Bachelor’s degree and at least two years working in a related position required. For additional information, please see the job description (pdf). Send resume to Jeff Conway, jeff@carlisleunitedway.org or UWCCC 145 S. Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 by April 19th.
Resources
A is for App
As smartphones and handheld computers move into classrooms worldwide, we may be witnessing the start of an educational revolution. In this article from Fast Company (pdf), read how technology could unleash childhood creativity — and transform the role of the teacher.
Resources on the Pyramid Model for Promoting Children's Social and Emotional Development
The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) and the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) recently announced the following new resources on implementing the Pyramid Model to help promote young children's social, emotional and behavioral competence.
The Pyramid Model for Promoting the Social and Emotional Development of Infants and Young Children Factsheet. TACSEI. (2009) is a 4-page fact sheet briefly describes the three tiers of intervention practice and outlines six key assumptions that were made during the design process about how the Pyramid Model would be implemented.
A Toolkit for Working With Children of Incarcerated Parents
Current research suggests that children and youth of incarcerated parents often experience trauma that may have long-term effects on their mental health and may put them at risk for experiencing other traumas, such as child maltreatment. Accordingly, to promote understanding among social service practitioners, the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) within the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Health and Recovery Services Administration, teamed with DSHS' Office of Planning, Performance and Accountability to create an online toolkit, which includes tools for professionals, information for youth and caregivers, and research on interventions.
This web-based training toolkit provides practitioners with the skills required to respond to the needs of children of parents who are in prison or have an incarceration history. Information includes:
- Helpful Hints for Practitioners
- The Children and Families of Incarcerated Parents Initiative in Washington State: Central Points
- Free Online Training Video for Social Service Practitioners: Summary
- Handouts for Practitioners, Families, and Caregivers
- Reading Lists and Videos for Children, Caregivers, and Providers
- Research and Information for Providers
- Children of Incarcerated Parents: Bill of Rights
- Beyond the Walls: A Guide to Services for Families Affected by Incarceration
- Visitation Procedures and Inmate Locators for Prisons and Jails
A Behavioral Health Toolkit for Providers Working With Children of the Incarcerated and Their Families (pdf) is available on the Washington State DSHS website.
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