| JOIN OUR LIST |
 |
|
Board Member Profile |
Name:
Rebecca L. Ardoline
Professional position:
Staff Attorney at MidPenn Legal Services since 1998. I currently work primarily in the areas of housing and custody.
Educational background:
BA in History from College Misericorda, Dallas, PA in 1993
JD from the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, MI in 1996
Admitted to the bar of PA in May, 1997
Why you are on the Smart Start Board:
Originally joined the board because of my connection through Child Development and Family Council. Also through that connection, I have learned and come to appreciate enormously the value of quality early care and education. In my practice, I always encourage families to take advantage of educational programs available for their children, and not to discount the value of a good pre-school experience. I have also worked with care providers, behavioral and play therapists, school personnel, and others in the context of children involved in custody cases I've had. Often, they are the best advocates for the needs of the child vs. what either party may necessarily want. I have also done some special education work, and I believe that the earlier intervention starts, the better the chances the child will catch up to their developmental level. I also know that sometimes parents and family don't necessarily know what is or isn't healthy development, and a child who has contact with quality, educated care providers is much more likely to get help if it is needed.
Your favorite Smart Start project/s:
Early childhood mental health series, Kindergarten readiness projects
Your goals while serving on the board for Smart Start for the future:
Increase knowledge of Smart Start in the community, and expand the participation in Smart Start projects. Help use the position of Smart Start to get out the word about the need for quality early care and education.
Where you live:
Reedsville, Mifflin County
Your family: I live with my two cats, Barnaby and Charlie. My parents live in West Pittston, PA, where I grew up, and I have an older and younger brother, the latter of which has graced me with an adorable soon-to-be-four-years-old niece who looks just like her aunt. :)
Your personal interests:
Volunteerism, reading, non-competitive exercise (swimming, walking), re-connecting with old friends, brain-building puzzles and crosswords, etc. |
| Disclaimer |
|
Acceptance of advertising, announcements, and postings does not represent Smart Start's endorsement of any product, program, or service, nor is Smart Start responsible for representations made by others. |
|
| |
|
Dear Smart Start Supporter,
It's a busy time of year for us with two major publications in revision, 13 transition booklets being created, Countdown to Kindergarten next Saturday, new State budget information to share, and preparations underway for April's "One Book, Every Young Child" project and Week of the Young Child activities. For details about any of these projects, visit our website, the committee reports below, or give us a call at 238-0331.
In our efforts to engage the community in support of young children, we are thankful for the many volunteers and sponsors who make all these projects and programs happen. If you'd like to help make any of these things happen, email info@smartstartcc.org.
While we all are hard at work on these projects to benefit children in our county, we keep in mind the fact that necessary funding for children's programs is once again at risk during State budget negotiations. A recent independent survey commissioned by the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children and two PennAEYC chapters polled 650 voters across the state, finding that support for funding quality early childhood education is high across party lines as well as in both urban and rural areas. The survey results can be a powerful tool when speaking or writing to your legislators. Click here to see the full report on PennAEYC's website.
And while you are at it, please check out the latest changes to the Smart Start website including a flyer for the rescheduled Countdown to Kindergarten, a county-wide kindergarten registration calendar, and e-newsletter archive.
Smart Start Staff
|
|
| Public Events and Meetings |
|
Smart Start Committee and Board meetings are listed under the 'Committee Activities" section below.
March
MARCH 13: Countdown to Kindergarten, JC Penney Court, Nittany Mall, 10 - 2. Visit our website at www.smartstartcc.org for details.
March 12 and 13: Central Regional Key Professional Development Conference, Ramada Inn, State College, deadline to register Feb. 24. Call 1-800-346-3020 for information.
March 16: Local Interagency Coordinating Council meeting. 9 - 10 a.m. at Child Development and Family Council Office, 2565 Park Center Blvd., Ste 100, State College. Parents can request funds to help pay for babysitting while they attend the meeting.
March 17: Local Children's Team meeting. 8 - 9 a.m. at Autoport Restaurant, State College.
Wednesdays, March 17 - April 21. Tuning In To Kids: Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children, 6-week free class for parents. Schlow Library, 12:00 noon - 1:30. Sponsored by State College Area School District Student Services & Community Education, 231-1070 for details.
March 19 and 20: Prom Attire Event - collecting donations of prom attire for those in need. Contact Catherine Lehman cdt13@scasd.org or Alyssa Schaffer asx973@psu.edu.
March 22: Bridges Out of Poverty seminar- Strategies for Professionals and Communities, Sponsored by Local Interagency Coordinating Council and Cen-Clear Child Services. 8:30 - 3:30, Mount Nittany Medical Center, $20 per person. Register by March 12 at 800-525-5437x2217.
March 25: Readers' Tea for Smart Start's One Book project volunteers, 6:30 p.m., Schlow Library Community Room (To volunteer, call us at 238-0331.)
April
Month of April: Children's Art Exhibit at the State College Borough Building. We would love to have artwork from more daycare and preschool programs, and we could use volunteers for picking up artwork and for setting up the display. For more information or to participate, email Gail Guss at gag10@psu.edu.
Month of April: Smart Start One Book Community Reading and Craft Project. We are seeking volunteers; if you can help, email Caitlin at caitlin@smartstartcc.org.
April 9: Give Kids a Smile and Vision for the Future Day, 428 Windmere Dr, State College. For information, contact Centre Volunteers in Medicine at 231-4043. Registration deadline March 19.
April 11-17: Week of the Young Child
|
| Member Article |
HOW TO HELP A CHILD WITH OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER
by Marolyn Morford 
Marolyn Morford, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in State College, PA. www.ccad-pa.com. She is a member of the Early Childhood Mental Health Committee.
Children with a Grown Up Disorder
Childhood obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety accompanied by unusual thoughts and actions. Although many are aware of obsessive compulsive disorder in adults from movies such as "The Aviator" or television programs such as "Monk", children with OCD can be misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Adults may mistakenly think a child's unusual behaviors are due to abusive experiences, oppositional defiant disorder, reactive attachment disorder, or even a type of autism. It has been called "the hidden epidemic" because it occurs more frequently than most people are aware.
The nature of many of these compulsions, such as licking, picking, washing, evening up, along with a related disorder, trichotillomania (hair/eyelash pulling), has led some to call OCD "grooming behavior gone awry." OCD can suddenly appear in children who have recently had strep throat. These are called PANDAS, or Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep.
OCD can be very serious in childhood, causing a great deal of distress for both the child and the family. Children don't realize that their thoughts or actions are unusual and refrain from telling their family. Parents who see their child repeating behaviors over and over may not realize it can be hard for the child to stop herself.
OCD is a Brain Disorder
Parents are not responsible for OCD. How do we know? Brain imaging studies suggest certain information pathways may look different in a person with OCD. We also know that it "runs in" families: a parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle may have similar behaviors and thoughts. It can respond well to certain kinds of medication that are given for depression or anxiety. However, not all children respond to medication and some children are too young to be put on the medications.
What does OCD look like in children?
OCD can look somewhat different in different people, but it always has two different components: Obsessions and Compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts or images that appear repetitively to the child. For example, worrying about germs or being dirty, worrying about harm coming to the child or the family, or needing actions to be the same. Compulsions are behaviors that the child feels s/he 'has' to do or that other people 'must' do. For example, needing things to be in order, avoiding certain things, seeking reassurance, or repeating certain behaviors are all possible kinds of compulsions. If these actions are not carried out, the child can become exceedingly distressed, sometimes crying, shrieking, and yelling, often at the parent. Families may become reluctant to take the child in public once these behaviors start to occur. Many children with OCD seem "jumpy", have excessive tantrums, and have sleep onset or maintenance problems. Parents often sleep with or in the room of the child since OCD can "travel with" other problems such as Separation Anxiety.
How common is OCD in children?
The rate of occurrence of OCD in children is estimated at .5-1% of the population, or 1-2 children per 200. That means that there may be 3-4 such children in an average elementary school and about 20 in middle to large high schools. A typical preschool teacher may only see 1 such child every few years due to small early care settings for younger children and also because OCD is not noticeable in children younger than 4 or 5.
OCD is treatable
We are lucky to live in a time when research into children's disorders is producing effective psychological treatments. A program that combines medication (when appropriate) and psychosocial activities that weave parents into the treatment with the child can be very effective. The goals of this method, a form of cognitive behavioral therapy, are to educate both the child and the parent about OCD and teach them numerous techniques to manage this sometimes lifelong disorder. Adults can help children step by step to see OCD as something that they can change, learn flexibility, tolerate their fear, and see that terrible things will not happen if their demands are not met. Early identification and treatment may prevent serious behavior limitations and reduce problems with peers and family that can affect later social development.
Childhood OCD can be distressing, overlooked, intrusive, and frightening. Fortunately, it is also treatable. For more information online, visit these sites:
|
| Advocacy This Month |
Businesses and Organizations:
--request a presentation on the current State budget situation and its impact on local children (email eileen@smartstartcc.org) --volunteer to display children's artwork in your business during the month of April (email kelly@smartstartcc.org)
Parents and Grandparents:
-- send us a message ( info@smartstartcc.org) telling what your child's early childhood program or provider means to your family; we will share it with local legislators
Early Childhood Programs:
--send paper flowers with children's hopes for the future with the message "Watch Us Grow" to a legislator (then
--collect children's original artwork for the Children's Art Show in State College (email Gail at gag10@psu.edu) |
| Committee Activities |
| **committee members, please remember to complete our online reporting forms for all your volunteer hours, advocacy efforts, and transition activities
Early Childhood Mental Health Action Committee
--Supporting community offerings of Tuning in to Kids, Mind in the Making, and Positive Behavioral Supports training.
--The committee is working on an application to Community Care Behavioral Health for a grant to fund Mental Health Consultation to Child Care. Mental Health Consultants would be able to visit child care and education programs to:
review the environment and offer suggestions for eliminating problem behaviors
offer technical assistance to the directors and early childhood educators for techniques and suggestions to help mitigate behavioral issues
meet with families to examine changes in the child's behavior between the school and the home
assess and offer recommendations for further consultation and treatment if needed
This is a program model that this committee believes would benefit the entire early childhood community-from children and families to the educators and directors of programs. Mental Health Consultants would be an ongoing source of support, education, and advice to help reduce caregiver stress while guiding families to receive appropriate care.
--To get involved in this committee, email Wendy Whitesell at wjw8@psu.edu.
The next regular committee meeting is March 18, 9:00 - 10:00 at the Center for Child and Adult Development, 1315 W. College, Ste. 303, State College.
Parenting & Literacy Action Committee
-- Pre-K Calendar is in the final planning stages and almost ready to go to print. Distribution should begin in May.
-- The latest revision of Babies Rock with Books is also soon going to print.--Collaboration is underway with The Fathering Initiative on a Parent Pledge template.
-- To get involved in this committee, email ces11@scasd.org.
The next regular committee meeting is April 5, 12 - 2 at Schlow Library.
Early Care & Education Action Committee
--Transition Teams are working on creating transition to kindergarten booklets for 13 Title I elementary schools.
--Will be developing a survey for Kindergarten and Preschool/ Daycare Teachers about kindergarten Readiness.
The next regular committee meeting is March 23, 8:30 - 10:00 at Child Development and Family Council, 2565 Park Centre Blvd, Ste 100, State College.
Communications & Outreach Action Committee
--Presented at the recent Board Meeting.
--Will be reviewing publications.
-- To get involved in this committee, email Nichol Sheridan at nsheridan@cdfc.org.
Other News and Meetings
--Smart Start has been asked to write a monthly column called "For the Children" for the CDT.
--The next PCC meeting will be held March 15 from 9 - 10:30 a.m. |
|
|
|
|
Smart Start-Centre County