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SKNetworkExpansion Coverage of The Special Kids Network 

to Better Serve Families 


 

The Special Kids Network (SKN) serves families of children and youth with special health care needs, helping them get the services and support needed to thrive in the community and develop to their full potential.


The Special Kids Network operates in partnership between the PA Department of Health and PA Elks Major Projects, Inc. 

  • The Special Kids Network program offers three components:
  • a toll free helpline for resources;
  • in-home service coordination provided by trained nurses at no cost to families; and
  • and a system of community and regional support provided by Regional Coordinators, all of whom are parents of children or youth with special needs.

Due to the success of the program across the Commonwealth, the Special Kids Network has expanded from six to eight designated SKN regions and Regional Coordinators. This expansion will allow the Regional Coordinators to provide more comprehensive statewide coverage. The Regional Coordinators respond to issues that are systemic in nature, for example, transportation to medical appointments.

To learn more about the services the Special Kids Network provides, call toll-free 1-800-986-4550.  

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HealthyandGreenNew Opportunities through ECE Healthy and Green

Two new opportunities are available through the ECE Healthy and Green initiative. 

Early Childhood Healthy and Green Mini-Grants. Thanks to funding by the Heinz Endowments' Children, Youth and Families program, Pennsylvania's licensed child care programs who participate in Keystone STARS are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in mini-grants to support environmental health and environment and ecology education improvements in their programs. This is a competitive mini-grant program; the mini-grants provide a wonderful way for programs to purchase equipment, supplies, maintenance, professional maintenance services, and educational materials that will enhance the environmental health of their facilities and programs. Applications will be available soon. Look for additional information in the next edition of the BUILD ECE News and on the Healthy and Green page of the PA Keys website.

Environmental assessment for prospective child care sites. For the past year, OCDEL and agencies within the PA Department of Health (PADOH) have been collaborating in a voluntary evaluation program. This program allows individuals who wish to open a new child care facility to have the property history evaluated by the PADOH. The history of the property would inform the owners if hazardous materials are present that could negatively impact children and caregivers. Over the past year, 24 locations were assessed, with eight of them receiving follow-up guidance and recommendations. If you or someone you know are interested in participating in this program, please contact the PA Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Health Assessment Program at 717-787-3350 or email Barbara Allerton at [email protected].
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GiveawayCelebrate early literacy with a Book-A-Day Giveaway


Pennsylvania's Promise for Children is celebrating early literacy and the PA One Book by hosting a Book-A-Day Giveaway. Each day during April, a random entrant will be selected to receive a copy of the 2015 PA One Book selection, Number One Sam by Pennsylvania author, Greg Pizzoli. 

 

Click here to enter, and share with families friends, and early learning partners. This giveaway drawing runs April 1-April 30, 2015. One entry per person. 

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Survey to collect housing info throughout the state

Deadline April 6

Pennsylvania residents and organizations are invited to take a survey from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) to identify obstacles to fair housing in Pennsylvania. These surveys are designed to collect information from community residents, stakeholder organizations, and jurisdictions for DCED's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. Click here to take the survey.

The deadline to complete the survey is April 6, 2015. All residents of the commonwealth are encouraged to participate. Please feel free to provide the hyperlink to the survey to anyone who may be interested in assisting. The link can also be found on PA DCED's website www.newPA.com.

For questions, please contact Project Manager Jennifer Alpha, TDA at 202.669.8778 or Megan Snyder, DCED, at 717.720.7404 or [email protected].  

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New Name, Same Great Information

 

Starting April 15, the Build ECE News will become the Pennsylvania Early Education News. The new name reflects the expanding audience and interest of readers, while still maintaining a focus on early education in Pennsylvania. There will still be great early education information, research, opportunities and resources. Check your email in-box for the new release of Pennsylvania Early Education News.

   
New tool helps families plan for their young children's success

 

Families want what's best for their children, but don't often know where to start. Based on family focus groups, many families aren't aware that children follow the same developmental milestones, or ways to help children meet those milestones, for example. 

 

The new Early Learning GPS is a great tool for all families who want to learn what they need to know and can do to help their young child learn and grow. It is a great way for families to learn on their own, with a professional one-on-one, or as part of a parenting class. The Early Learning GPS helps families get reliable answers to questions like: 

  • When does my baby start "learning?" 
  • What do I do if my friend's child (whose the same age as mine) can do things my child can't? 
  • How do I know if my child will be safe with others when I'm not there?

After a family answers a question, they receive a simple video tip and links to reliable resources. Families can save their favorite tips and resources to their child's map as well as: 

  • Follow their child's milestones; 
  • Find fun family activities based on Pennsylvania's Early Learning Standards; 
  • Compare child care/ early learning programs;
  • Create to-dos and notes; 
  • Upload photos of your child and family; and 
  • Search for local organizations that can provide additional help.  

The child's map will grow with him until kindergarten! 

 

All of the information is from reliable sources like Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Professionals do not need experience or education in child development to use the resource. "I have found that not only can this help me spark family goals for Family Partnership Agreements but it can also help during parent meetings, where in which I can showcase the site to answer some Kindergarten Readiness questions and get the answers and resources on the spot for the parents and this could work as a start to them using the website themselves." 

 

Some professionals are interested in using the Early Learning GPS to educate their staff as well. 

 

Visit www.earlylearninggps.com to get started. Professionals can access tips, ways to share the GPS with families, and professional development at www.papromiseforchildren.com/gps. 


 

The Early Learning GPS is developed by Pennsylvania's Promise for Children in partnership with Pennsylvania's Office of Child Development and Early Learning. This initiative is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the Department of Education website 

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Grantee Spotlight: The Foundation for Enhancing Communities 


The Foundation for Enhancing Communities is using the Community Innovation Zone grant to further develop their Parents & Partners initiative and has successfully partnered with the Harrisburg School District at Downey and Foose Elementary Schools.

Parents & Partners meet families where they are to establish helping relationships and expand support to focus on the learning needs of their children. They host Make-It, Take-It events, block parties, and kindergarten registration events. 

A new initiative is the distribution of "Homework Toolkits." The toolkits are designed to equip children with supplies needed to practice readiness skills and/or to complete homework. Each Toolkit includes crayons, scissors, glue sticks, markers, pencils, erasers, pens and a ruler. These toolkits are kept at home or move with the child from shelter to shelter. To date, 75 toolkits have been distributed.

Family outreach events recently conducted were information sessions on registration for both kindergarten and Head Start. Two resources are also being developed for Parents & Partners: a county-specific school readiness calendar, and a "welcome to school book" that contains teachers' pictures, a daily schedule a kindergarten sight words.

Parents & Partners also has an initiative called "Quality Time With Me" (QT With Me), with the goal to reduce the academic achievement gap by focusing on supporting parents as a child's first teacher and engaging them as an active partner. Parents & Partners will host the Reddy Freddy Transition Program for children entering kindergarten who are not currently in a quality early learning program this spring. The six-session program is for both parent and child, designed to focus on ensuring the family transitions into school successfully while engaging the parents as active participants in their child's education.

Parents & Partners also focuses on facilitating the relationships between kindergarten teachers and pre-school teachers so they have a better understanding of the challenges they face and how those problems might be best addressed. The Early Childhood Engagement Group facilities communication through its member of school district administrators and teachers, early learning providers, Head Start, Early Intervention, WITF, United Way, and the Dauphin County Library System.

A final initiative of Parents & Partners is to engage the business community to increase sustainability for programs, and educating businesses on the importance of early education and how it will impact the workforce. At a recent Business Leaders & Legislators Breakfast, local business leaders and legislators were invited to discuss the necessity of readiness programs for children and parents and the positive impact these programs have on workforce development.

 

This initiative is part of Pennsylvania's Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant. For more information on other initiatives funded by this grant, visit the Department of Education website

 

transitionFour Important Things Research Tells Us About the Transition to School

A recent release by the Harvard Family Research Project, Four Important Things Research Tells Us About the Transition to School, highlights four important things that research tells about the transition to school. The report highlights transition as a process-not just a one-time event-that begins during children's preschool years and continues into and through 3rd grade. Transition is also a time when children begin to take part in an increasing number of learning settings, both in and out of school.

Highlighted in the report is that:
  • Transition is a matter of equity
  • A smooth transition to school makes a difference for children's outcomes
  • Families play an important role in the transition to school
  • Relationships among families, early childhood programs, schools, and communities are the foundation of effective transition practice
For more information, please see the report, Four Important Things Research Tells Us About the Transition to School. Resources for schools, providers, families and communities are available within the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning Transition to Formal Schooling Toolkit. In addition, families and staff can sign up for the Kindergarten, Here I Come monthly enews.


More Trends and Reports
 
Early Learning GPSThe Early Learning GPS can help families guide their children's growth so they are safe, happy and learning! The new Early Learning GPS offers easy to watch video tips and a new option to create a personal map for each child. 

USDA Check Out My Plate: The USDA is hosting a video contest to encourage healthy eating habits. Kids 2-18 are eligible to enter the contest with the help of an adult. Entering is easy! Make a video of 60 seconds or less and include: an image from MyPlate, a healthy eating tip, and a favorite way to be active.

Engaging Families in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Project-Based Learning: A Harvard Family Research Project article shares ways to engage families in STEM learning. In addition, PA's Promise for Children has STEM resources on their STEM Pinterest board.

Math at Play: Videos, tips for parents and math games for children birth to age five can be found on the Math at Play website.

School Gardening Resources: Programs and families interested in combining science, nature, food, and fitness should check out the USDA's School Gardening Resources with ways to make gardening a fun learning experience for children of all ages.

Energy Kids: Find energy related stories, hands-on activities, and research articles from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to use in classrooms.


Every Kid Healthy: CSX Transportation's How Tomorrow Moves Campaign, Every Kid Healthy Grants are available. Every Kid Healthy Grants provide physical activity grants with an optional nutrition component to support becoming recognized as a health-promoting school. Application deadline May 1.

April 1, 2015
In the News

 

Wolf, advocates pushing for big ticket high-quality preschool in PA (Newsworks)

 

In Philadelphia, Gov. Tom Wolf Urges Better Funding For Early Education Across Pennsylvania  (CBSLocal) 

 

Casey proposes expanded child care tax credit (Times Leader)

 

Investment in early education yields priceless returns (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) 

 

The Numbers Add Up to This: Less and Less Opportunity for Poor Kids (NPR)

Phila. School District implements new plan aimed at improving early childhood education (CBS Philly)

 

Paying for high-quality pre-K is cast as investment in Pa.'s future (The Notebook) 

Quality pre-K an investment worth making (Philly.com) 

 

Quakertown Community SD full-day kindergarten pilot program results favorable (WFMZ) 

 

Sen. Alloway is lobbied to spend more on pre-k education  (Public Opinion) 

Community Events 

 

Find Kindergarten Registration Information for your school! 

 

 

Month of the Young Child Events

 

Through April: Celebrating MOYC in Bucks County

April 8: Shadow a Kindergarten Buddy Day, Morrisville 

April 10: Family Night at the Children's Museum, Bloomsburg

April 10: Meet Children's Author Lindsay Barrett George, Harrisburg 

April 10-12: Children's Book Festival, Johnstown 

April 12: Phillies celebrate Pennsylvania's Promise for Children Day, Philadelphia

April 12: Fun in the Sun event, Clarion 

April 14: Montour Co. Commissioners WOYC Proclamation, Danville

April 14: 9th Annual Grove City Early Childhood Community Celebration

April 14: HOP into LEARNING, Arnold
April 15: Columbia Co. Commissioners PA One Book event, Bloomsburg 

April 16:Butler WOYC Celebration, Butler 

April 18: Family Fun Day, Gettysburg

April 18: Week of the Young Child Event at Penn State Altoona's Adler Gym, Altoona 

April 18: Pottstown Celebrates Young Children Community Event 

April 25: Children's Festival 2015, Lock Haven 

April 26: BCAEYC Annual Family Event, New Hope
 

 

 

April 24-25: Competence and Confidence: Partners in Policymaking Early Intervention, Pittsburgh 

October 14: Family Engagement Conference, Supporting Strong Partnerships for Children's School Readiness and Achievement, Harrisburg 

Professional Events

 

  
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Email information to Mary Hall, [email protected]