News from Idaho AEYC

Promoting Excellence in Early Care and Education

June 2011

Greetings!

Congratulations to our newly elected Governing Board members. We look forward to entering a new year of opportunities, ideas, and even challenges. At our board retreat in July, we will be working on developing a new strategic plan, which will incorporate various projects and programs to ensure the success of Idaho AEYC.

As an organization, we are continually working to ensure that we are creating opportunities and resources for child care providers to provide quality child care throughout the state of Idaho. Our newly elected board members, along with our current board members, will be instrumental in our success.

Thank you for all that you do for young children in Idaho!

Beth Oppenheimer

Executive Director

Idaho AEYC

Governing Board Election Results

Congratulations to Alicia Estey (Boise), newly elected Treasurer of the Idaho AEYC Board of Governors and to re-elected Members-at-Large Jill Bielenberg (Genesee) and Kathleen Miller Green (Plummer). Also joining the Board as Members-at-Large are Colleen Fellows (Boise), Cheryl Allen (Eagle), and John Wilson, Jr (Pocatello).

Newly elected board members will meet with the current board members and the Local Affiliate Council members July 11-12 in Boise to conduct the business of the Association. The group will engage in revising the Association by-laws, strategic planning, reviewing financial statements and approving the budget, discussing the fall conference and fund-raising event, strategizing for the membership campaign, and learning more about their roles and responsibilities.

Celebrating Success

diploma Idaho AEYC salutes the following scholarship recipients upon the completion of the Early Childhood studies.

A special thank you goes to the sponsoring centers and programs that employ the graduates. They are to be applauded for their vision of quality in the early childhood workforce. The young children and families they serve are truly fortunate. Sponsoring centers are listed following each graduate's name.

Boise State University

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree

- Chelsie Halliburton - Boise State Children's Center

- Maria Rauch - All My Friends

- Juanita Garza - Community Council of Idaho

College of Western Idaho

Associate of Arts (AA) Degree

- Kerri Vaughn - Kerri's Kids

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

- Tami Olsen - Small Spuds

- Dora Rodriguez - Giraffe Laugh

- Laurentina Hernandez - Giraffe Laugh

- Beverly Haugen - Giraffe Laugh

Treasure Valley Community College

Associate of Arts (AA) Degree

- Alejandra Ramirez - El Venadito Migrant Head Start

- Rebeca Arteaga - Emiliano Zapata Migrant Head Start

Idaho State University

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

- Kathy Reynolds - Funshine Home Away From Home

- Lucinda Mortensen - Reach for Rainbows

North Idaho College

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Renewal

- Christina Clifton - North Star Child Development Center

Grey Goose, Inc.

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

- Amanda Albright - Christ the King Child Development Center

- Kristine Brisson - Christ the King Child Development Center

- Courtney Myers - Christ the King Child Development Center

A hearty congratulations to all!

ICCP Parent Stakeholder Group Meeting Planned

One goal is improving the application, renewal, and reporting requirement process for families receiving an ICCP subsidy. In order to gain perspective on how to best make these improvements, DHW will be holding stakeholder group meetings this summer with families receiving ICCP.

A better understanding is desired of the parent's perspective on the appropriate balance between quality and affordable child care in the choices they make for their children. Determining the components of quality that are most important to parents will also be discussed.

DHW hopes to make some positive changes to the Child Care Program that will result in continuity of care, better outcomes in continuing payments to ICCP providers, and a secure work support that allows families to obtain and maintain employment and education.

ICCP Unit Asks for Your Help

The Department of Health and Welfare experiences peak call demands on the first of the month from people inquiring about their Food Stamps, Medicaid, and of course ICCP.

The ICCP Unit mails out letters on the 1^st of each month with payment information for ICCP Providers. Most of the ICCP Providers wait for this written communication, but many will call into the call center on the 1^st of the month and request a summary of their payment information. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the call center and the ICCP Unit.

Providers are encouraged to use e-mail as a primary means of communication and to allow a couple of days for payment information to be received at the beginning of each month.

Making Milagros (Miracles) Happen

Congratulations for celebrating young Americans

in Idaho.

Felicitaciones por su participación en el Día

de los Niños en Idaho

Our story last month about the 3rd Bilingual Mini-conference in Twin Falls described and pictured a conference activity called Milagros, miracles that were sent to the White House in care of the National Latino Child Institute.

In late May, Elena Rodriguez, Multicultural Community Liaison at Idaho AEYC/IdahoSTARS received confirmation that the Idaho Milagros (Miracles) were delivered to the President of the United States.

Every program that sent a pre-addressed envelope containing Milagros has been recognized by the White House and the National Latino Child Institute. IdahoSTARS will be providing a certificate of this recognition to the attendees of the mini-conference.

Congratulations for celebrating young Americans and making Milagros happen in Idaho for young children.

2011 Child Care Immunization Champion Recognized

At the Shot Smarts Conference in May, Daleen Nelson, IdahoSTARS Child Care Health Consultant Program Manager, was honored as the 2011 Child Care Immunization Champion. Nelson was recognized for her commitment to protecting Idaho's children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

It takes great effort to ensure that all children are meeting the requirements. Nelson was recognized for consistently going above and beyond to ensure that children attending child care facilities meet Idaho's minimum immunization requirements and that parents are provided with accurate and timely information.

Question:

What is Migrant and Seasonal Head Start?

Answer:

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start is an Early Childhood Education program for migrant and seasonal farm worker children and their families whose primary income comes from work related to agriculture.

Migrant families have moved within the last two years for the purpose of agricultural work, and seasonal families have maintained residency and continue to derive their primary income from agriculture.

Idaho has 12 of these types of early childhood centers and 9 of their teachers are receiving academic scholarships through IdahoSTARS. Congratulations!

Scholar and mentor at El Arco Iris in Mountain Home

Do you have something that is puzzling you? Send your question to Jane Zornik. One question will be selected for publication each month. Names will not be published.

Would you please clarify the difference between

Shining Stars

STAR ratings indicate that facilities have reached a standard of excellence.