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 Danbury Children First Updates
Parent Leadership / Parent Engagement
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| March 2010 |
Volume 3, Number 2
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Spring is such a busy time here at Danbury Children First!
Our parent leadership programs, the Parent Leadership Training Institute and People Empowering People, are in full swing. We just conducted a Family Fun Night and a Transition Workshop for families who have children with special needs. A new session of our early literacy program, Lee y serás, began on March16. And we're planning a workshop on the "Nuts and Bolts of How Your Child's School is Funded" on March 30. Whew!
At the same time, we've been working hard to advocate on family and children's issues and to prevent budget cuts that will hurt Connecticut's youngest citizens. On March 3, Danbury Children First and others traveled to the Capitol as part of Early Childhood Advocacy Day. Parents met with Danbury legislators to voice their concerns, and one parent even appeared that night on the evening news! Find out more below.
Caroline LaFleur
Communications Coordinator
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Join Us For...
The Nuts & Bolts of How Our Schools 
Are Funded
Danbury Children First is partnering with Connecticut Appleseed to present a workshop for parents and others who are interested in finding out more about how Danbury's schools are funded and how citizens can make a difference in the process. The workshop will be held:Tuesday, March 30, 2010Pilgrim Hall at the First Congregational Church164 Deer Hill Avenue, DanburyLight Dinner at 6 pmWorkshop 6:30 pm to 8 pm
Spanish interpretation available.
On-site childcare is available. You must RSVP if you need childcare.
Topics covered include:
- The Danbury City School Budget Process
- State Funding and the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) Formula
- Federal Funding
- How YOU can impact the local and state budget process and advocate for school funding
For an English/Spanish flyer with directions, click here. To RSVP call Caroline LaFleur at 203-797-8088 or email carolinel@danburychildrenfirst.org.
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Danbury Parents Travel to Capitol to Voice Their Concerns About Budget Cuts
About 70 people attended a meeting with the Danbury legislative delegation held at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on March 3, 2010. The meeting was coordinated by Danbury Children First as part of Early Childhood Advocacy Day, sponsored by Connecticut's Early Childhood Alliance.
Parents and Danbury Children First staff
Danbury parents and their children traveled to the Capitol in Hartford to meet with legislators on Early Childhood Advocacy Day on March 3.  | joined representatives from Education Connection, the Danbury School Readiness Council, and Action Early Learning Center to discuss their concerns about budget issues that affect children and families.
The focus was on preventing cuts to programs such as the School Readiness and Care4Kids programs, which enable parents and childcare providers to offer quality preschool experiences for young children. These programs help to close Connecticut's achievement gap (the largest in the nation) and give all children the tools they need to succeed in school.
State Representatives Bob Taborsak, Jason Bartlett, and Bob Godfrey were able to attend, as well as State Senator Mike McLachlan. To view the testimony of Danbury parents and and early childhood professionals, go to this link on Ameriborn News.
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Children With Special Needs and Their Parents Enjoy a Fun Night Created Just for Them
On the evening of Wednesday, March 10, about 50 families who have children with special needs gathered at Park Avenue School for the sixth annual Family Fun Night. Families were able to relax, have fun, enjoy a meal together, and learn about local resources.
Zooky the Clown jumps for joy while entertaining the kids at the Family Fun Night.  | The kids had fun making balloon animals and delighting in the entertainment provided by Zooky the Clown, while their parents met and mingled with other parents and found out about valuable community resources for their children. And the delicious pizza and salad meant that no one had to worry about cooking that night!
Crafts and games conducted by the Rogers Park Gals' Club and face painting by the teens from Escape to the Arts contributed to the festivities. The Connecticut Family Support Network, WeCAHR, Special Olympics, and others offered parents the information they need to provide their children with quality educational and recreational opportunities
The Family Fun Night is conducted each year by the Greater Danbury Child and Family Network (A Birth to Three Interagency Coordinating Council) in partnership with Danbury Children First. Our thanks to the The Marerich Corporation and The Connecticut Family Support Network for providing financial support.
To read more about the Family Fun Night, click here and scroll down to read the blog posted by Brian Koonz of the Danbury News Times.
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