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 PennAEYC
Newsletter
March 2010
Our vision is that every child in Pennsylvania has the equal opportunity to be a successful, responsible, and productive member of society as a result of early childhood experiences. |
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Greetings!
Health care proposed, health care passed, health care signed into law; so what does that mean for our children and families?
I am no expert in the world of health care but thanks to MomsRising and their research partners, I can give you some highlights about what this new law might mean to you or those you serve.
� This year, insurance companies will no longer be able to refuse to pay for treatment of children's pre-existing conditions.
� This year, health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy until their 26th birthday.
� This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage.
� This year, people who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
� This year, a new independent appeals process will be created that ensures consumers in new private plans will have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.
� Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don't meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.
For more information on what is in the health care bill you can go to http://action.momsrising.org/go/how/48?akid=1835.206098.461D61&t=11 . While there are still many questions and some things we will just have to "wait and see", it is exciting to know that people will have the health coverage they need. If you have a story to share on what this means to you, check out our Facebook page - we would love to hear from you!
Jodi Askins
Executive Director |
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 PennAEYC News
"Thank you" to everyone who has sent their Week of the Young Children activities to be shared in four weekly PennAEYC e-newsletters throughout the month of April. There's still time to share your plans by emailing them to [email protected].
The Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, the Pennsylvania Key, and PennAEYC invite you to the 3rd Annual Higher Education Institute on Diversity.
The purpose of the institute is to provide faculty, administrators, and other professional development providers with methods, research, and instructional strategies associated with meeting the unique educational needs of all learners in Pre-K through Grade 4. A specific focus will be on racially, ethnically, linguistically, ability, and socio-economically diverse learners and their families.
Registration deadline is April 30, 2010. Institute registration is limited. Please register early. Please include email address, as we will confirm registration by email in the beginning of May. $100 per day or $150 for both days.
For questions or more information please e-mail Amy Lerner at the PA Key [email protected]. |
 Upcoming Activities
For PennAEYC's DAP workshop schedule, see Professional Development below.
To submit an event, email [email protected].
April 8-10: 2010 Delaware Valley AEYC Conference; "Delight in Discovery;" Philadelphia; www.dvaeyc.org
April 10: Central Susquehanna AEYC Conference; "Keeping the Balance"; Williamsport; [email protected]
April 12: East Penn AEYC progressive dinner. For more information contact [email protected]. See more details in the Chapter News Section below.
April 16: Lancaster Area AEYC Directors' Roundtable. See Chapter News below for details.
April 17: Lehigh Carbon Community College
Week of the Young Child Saturday Seminar 8AM to 1:00 PM
For more information contact: Deb Wanamaker [email protected]
May 14-15 : 2010 Pittsburgh AEYC Conference; "Creativity: Where the Future Begins" www.pghaeyc.org
May 24-25: Higher Education Diversity Institute co-sponsored by PennAEYC, Penn Stater, State College
June 6-9: NAEYC Professional Development Institute; Pheonix, AZ
June 7: Early Childhood Public Policy Forum, Harrisburg
June 8: Early Childhood Action Day, Harrisburg |
Professional Development
PennAEYC's DAP Spring Training Series
Session Descriptions: NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Infants and Toddlers This session is focused specifically on working with infants and toddlers. Participants will learn the most current information from NAEYCs New 3rd edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practices, from Birth through Age 8 and how to apply that information in day-to-day classroom operations and interactions with infants and toddlers. K2C214 NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Preschool Children This session is focused specifically on working with preschool age children. Participants will learn the most current information from NAEYCs New 3rd edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practices, from Birth through Age 8 and how to apply that information in day-to-day classroom operations and interactions with preschool children. K2C214 NAEYC Updates and Helping Your Staff Understand Developmentally Appropriate Practice Using the NAEYC's New 3rd edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practices, from Birth through Age 8 participants will gain an understanding of how to work with their classroom staff to better understand developmentally appropriate practice and how it translates into their day-to-day activities and interactions K2C214 Session Dates and Locations:
April 8: NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Infants and Toddlers , Lancaster - Park City Community Room
April 17: NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Preschool Children, Camp Hill - Giant Community Room
April 21: NAEYC Updates and Helping Your Staff Understand Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Harrisburg - Capitol Area Early Childhood Training Institute
April 22-- NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Infants and Toddlers, Park City Mall, Community Room, Lancaster, 6-8 pm April 22-- NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Infants and Toddlers, United Way, Erie, PA, 6-8 pm April 23-- NAEYC Updates and Helping Your Staff Understand Developmentally Appropriate Practice, United Way, Erie, PA, 1-4 pm April 24-- NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Preschool Children, Giant Foods, Camp Hill, PA, 2-4 pm May 6-- NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Infants and Toddlers, Days Inn, Clearfield, PA, 6-8 pm May 7-- NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Preschool Children, United Way, Erie, PA, 1-3 pm May 8-- NAEYC Updates - Developmentally Appropriate Practices working with Preschool Children, Days Inn, Clearfield, PA, 10-12 am May 21-- NAEYC Updates and Helping Your Staff Understand Developmentally Appropriate Practice, CAECTI, Harrisburg, PA, 12:30 - 3:30 pm Register on-line at www.pakeys.org, or contact Amber Ruch at [email protected] or 717-599-0026. |
 AEYC Chapter News
To submit your chapter news, email [email protected].
East Penn AEYC Progressive Dinner Monday, April 12 6:30 - 9:00 PM.
Join us for an evening of food, fun, networking, idea-sharing and inspiration. Receive tours and details on the operations of 2 different centers, participate in guided discussions and question and answer sessions during meals, hear our motivational keynote speaker and get a chance at some wonderful door prizes! For more information contact Anita Powell at [email protected].
Lehigh and Northampton AEYC has a new website! Visit them at www.lanaeyc.com.
Participants Sought for the 22nd Annual Fall Bucks County AEYC Conference, Saturday, October 2, 2010 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA.
This annual event attracts more than 575 early childhood educators who work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners and schoolagers. It is co-sponsored by the Bucks County Association for the Education of Young Children and BucksCountyCommunity College. We are seeking the broadest possible participation. If you or someone you know is interested in making a presentation, send a proposal no longer than two pages with the following information:
--Name, professional role or title, address, day and evening phone numbers, e-mail address.
--Suggested title of the proposed presentation with Core Body of Knowledge (CBK) code and level of competency.
--Trainer Quality Assurance System (PQAS) #, if attained.
--Purpose of the presentation - telling how it would be beneficial to early childhood educators.
--Target audience (e.g. infant caregivers, directors, preschool teachers, etc.)
--Comfort level in presenting to audience size: 20-25, 25-50, 50-75, 75-100, 100+
--Summary of content and format.
--Time constraints on Conference Day, if any.
We are hoping to include professional development for a "double" session, after lunch, of 2.5 hours. Please note if your workshop would be suitable for this.
Send letter to BCAEYC Conference 2010, c/o Alison Sheridan, 7300 New Falls Rd, Levittown, PA 19055. Proposals must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2010. Those submitting proposals will be notified by June 15, 2009 about the conference program plans. In case of questions, contact Conference Co-chairpersons Angie Somogyi (267-697-9981) or Alison Sheridan (215-833-1376).
Lancaster Area AEYC: DIRECTORS ROUNDTABLE: Advocacy in Action: Preparing for Action Day (K6C2TC64), April 16, 2010. Lunch Provided by LAAEYC at 11:30am, Round Table 12:00-2:00pm. United Way of Lancaster County, Blair Room, 630 Janet Avenue, Lancaster, PA. Cost: $5.
Panelists & Past Action Day participants include: � Jodi Askins, PennAEYC Executive Director � Cheryl Gahring, YWCA Childcare Services Director � Ruby Martin, Director of Child Care, YWCA of York � Mayanne O'Neill, Advocacy Leadership participant, QUEST/PennAEYC � Rhea Starr, Child Care and Advocacy Consultant Moderator: Carolyn Griess, Early Childhood Educator Registration information: Register by Sunday, April 11, 2010 online at the PA Key Calendar ( www.pakeys.org). Search the calendar using Knowledge Area 6 for 4/16/10 in Lancaster County. Questions? Email [email protected].
"Delight in Discovery" at the Delaware Valley AEYC Annual Conference, April 8 - 10, PA Convention Center, Philadelphia. Visit www.dvaeyc.org for details or to register.
"Creativity: Where the Future Begins" May 14 - 15, 44th Pittsburgh AEYC Conference
Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. ~Fred Rogers
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 State Public Policy News
The House passed the Governor's proposed budget, HB 2279, sending it to the Senate.
Senator Corman, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, indicated that his chamber would not be taking up a budget bill until the state's revenues were clearer, probably not until May.
So, now is the time to contact your Senator and urge them to reinstate the cuts made to Pre-K Counts and Head Start and pass a budget that supports our children!
Join our push to get more individuals to sign the PA Promise for Children declaration this month so that we can present the signatures to legislators and Governor Rendell during the Week of the Young Child (April 11-17).
We have more than 12,000 signatures but think we can gather a lot more. We'd also like to see if we can get some legislators to sign the declaration as well. It's a quick and easy way to show that you think early education important for our young children and let our state leaders know this should be a priority of theirs as well.
Please share this link, where supporters can sign electronically:
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 Federal Public Policy News
Unfortunately, The Early Learning Challenge Fund was eliminated from the Budget Reconciliation bill that included health care and student loan reform.
The Early Learning Challenge Fund is an initiative that we have written about in previous PennAEYC E-news which is a new competitive grant program to states to improve their systems of early childhood education for children birth to five, with the goal of increasing the number of low income and disadvantaged infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in high quality programs.
There is work already being done to determine a new route to include this important initiative and as we learn more about next steps we will let you know what you can do to help! |
 Early Childhood News
Dear Make-A-Wish� Friends:
We're looking for qualified children to experience the magic of a wish. And you can help.
We've noticed a decrease in referrals for children living in our territory. Do you know a child, aged 2 � to 18, with a life-threatening medical condition? Please contact us today to learn more about how a child can be referred:
1. Call us directly - Dana can be reached at 800.676.9474.
2. Email us at [email protected].
3. Go online - a referral form is available on our website. Please click here.
4. We can even provide you with small cards to hand out.
We know there are lots of kids out there we haven't met yet. Please help us.
Your friends at the Make-A-Wish Foundation� of Greater PA and Southern WV |
 Resources
Children and the Census
The census data is used as the basis for distributing more than $400 billion in federal funds each year. Children, especially children under age six, are more likely than any other group to be under-counted. According to the Census Bureau's analysis, young children are missed at a higher rate than any other age group. In the 2000 census, more than one million children under the age of 10 were not counted including more than three-quarters of a million children under the age of five. This amounts to four percent of this population group.
Minority children and children in hard-to-count neighborhoods are most frequently undercounted. Because approximately 20 percent of children live in hard-to-count areas, this results in reduced funding for needy families.
The Census Bureau has partnered with Nickelodeon in an effort to use Dora, the Explorer, to help spread the word and explain the importance of counting each child. The Census Bureau flyer is available in English (http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_Dora.pdf) and Spanish (http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_Dora_sp.pdf).
What Can the Early Childhood Community and Other Groups Working With Families Do? --- GET THE WORD OUT!
Each of you has a network. You can get the word out to child care providers and others who come into contact with young children, who in turn can share the importance of the census to families, especially those with children under age six.
--Send the link to the Dora flyer! Urge that they hand the flyer out to parents, post it on their bulletin board, post it on the bulletin board at their local grocery store - you get the idea.
--Include information on the census in your newsletter, training sessions, on your web site and in any blogs. Stress the importance of participating in the census. Post the Dora web button on your home page with a link to the Dora flyer or the census bureau 2010 Census campaign at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/.
--Reach out to immigrant communities and stress the need to respond to the census survey.
--Post links to the Dora flyer on Facebook, create a Facebook campaign to "Count Every Child!" or use other social networking strategies.
Work with your local media and the business community to stress the importance of ensuring an accurate count of young children. Federal funding depends on an accurate count!
Resources to help you spread the word:
NACCRRA website: http://www.naccrra.org/policy/census-outreach.php
Census Bureau Information and Resources: To add Dora, the Explorer, on your organization's web site or blog to help raise awareness about the importance of counting infants and young children in the 2010 Census, click here: http://2010.census.gov/partners/toolkits/toolkits-dora.php.
Dora, the Explorer, Census Outreach for Children Under Age 6: http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_Dora.pdf (English version)
http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_Dora_sp.pdf (Spanish version)
Census Explanation for Kids: http://www.census.gov/schools/census_for_kids/
To see the Census outreach road tour: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/roadtour/ |
NAEYC News
The Results of the 2009/2010 Governing Board Election are Official! http://www.naeyc.org/about/gb/candidates This was the third year that we offered the option of voting electronically. Members were able to choose between two voting options, mail-in or internet. Congratulations to the following new Board members effective June 1, 2010:
Vice President - Roberta Schomburg, Associate Dean, School of Education, Carlow University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Secretary - Susan DeVenny, State Director, South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness, Columbia, South Carolina,
Governing Board Affiliate Liaison - Anna Mercer-McLean, Director, Community School for People under Six, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Governing Board At Large: Sharon Ritchie, Senior Scientist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Dennis Sykes, Director, Center for Special Needs Populations, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio | |
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Disclaimer: PennAEYC provides a forum for discussion of major issues and ideas in our field. We hope to provoke thought and promote professional growth.
The views expressed or implied are not necessarily those of the Association. Acceptance of advertising, announcements, and postings does not represent PennAEYC's endorsement of any product or service, nor is PennAEYC responsible for representations made by advertisers. | |
Your Membership Status
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If you are a PennAEYC member, your membership information is as follows:
Member ID #:
Member category:
Expiration Date:
Local Chapter/s:
To become a member or renew your membership, go to www.naeyc.org/membership or call NAEYC at 1-800-424-2460.
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