DECEMBER 2015 | ISSUE 15
This Early Childhood-LINC newsletter connects communities across the country as they build and strengthen systems to help children and families thrive. Click the box below and enter your email address in the Stay Informed box to sign up. 
 
 
        

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COMMUNITY NEWS
Celebrating Milestones at Children and Families Commission of Orange County

As year's end approaches, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County (CFCOC) has been busy counting. Specifically, this EC-LINC member community is counting how many children and families have been positively impacted by the programs CFCOC supports and how many kindergartners are ready for school.

In 2014, CFCOC reports, 13,030 mothers were screened using the Bridges for Newborns screening tool and referred to services for their children and families. This screening tool was developed by the CFCOC to screen new mothers for risk and connect them to services. It measures three domains of maternal and infant risk: medical, psychosocial and demographic/basic needs.
In addition, 2014 saw 23,140 children receiving developmental screenings through CFCOC-supported programs, using tools recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Early intervention through developmental screenings is a well-documented strategy for prevention as well as maximizing a child's developmental trajectory, promoting school readiness and healthy development," said CFCOC Executive Director Christina Altmayer. 

In a third milestone, CFCOC achieved comprehensive implementation of a countywide kindergarten readiness assessment tool, called the Early Development Instrument (EDI) in 2015. EDI evaluates the readiness of children when they enter kindergarten. As of July 2015, CFCOC now has valid data on 100 percent of the public elementary schools in Orange County. 

Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County Comes to TV

Children's Services Council recently launched the third season of Growing Up Strongits 30-minute public television program. The show spotlights issues that affect the health, safety and school readiness of young children. It also features local health and children's services providers discussing child-related topics. 

The first episode of the third season focused on the surprising benefits of quality afterschool programming. It explored how children's afterschool activities can have a strong impact on academic success, and it offered parents expert tips on how to choose a quality afterschool program.

The Council began producing Growing Up Strong in 2013 as a part of its mission to ensure all of the county's children have the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe and strong. The partnership with a local public television station, WXEL, offers the Council a low-cost way to reach a broader audience and spread awareness about the services its community of providers offers Palm Beach County's children.

"It gives us a chance to share what we do and explain how it makes a difference not only for our county's children but for the community as a whole," said Lisa Williams-Taylor, the Council's CEO. The organization has received positive feedback from community members who have seen the series.


NATIONAL NEWS
RFA for Pay for Success Technical Assistance Grants

The Institute for Child Success (ICS), a leader in Pay for Success (PFS) financing for early childhood programs nationally, has announced an Request For Applications for technical assistance to help jurisdictions move from interest in PFS to implementation. Three to five jurisdictions will be selected to receive technical assistance from ICS over 9-12 months. Service providers in one or more of those jurisdictions will also receive capacity-building training and assistance from the Nonprofit Finance Fund. Details on the competition can be found here.

RESOURCES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM-BUILDING: FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-WIDE ACTION
New Article
Building Community Health
 
Where we live, what job we have, our diet, our housing - these all affect our health and our lifespans, writes Co.Exist. To highlight the interconnectedness of community health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has highlighted the strengths and strategies of eight communities actively building an ecosystem that supports the health of its citizens - including young children and their families. 

New Blog
Strengths of Rural Communities

In this blog post, family support coordinator Jennifer St. Cyr of WithinReach reports on a bright example of rural community system-building in Central Washington. "The tight knit network of community members and service providers...facilitates a feeling of no wrong door. Whether you are at the library, school, pediatrician, caf�, and yes, even on the bus, the chances are good that someone knows how to get you connected to support," she writes.

EXPLORE MORE RESOURCES                        
 
Early Childhood-LINC is a learning and innovation network developed by and for communities. Our mission is to support families and improve results for young children in communities across the country with a focus on accelerating the development of effective, integrated, local early childhood systems. We are currently made up of nine member communities across the country. Learn more about the innovative work of our communities.