Early Education Newsletter

Register for the Child Care Provider Fair now.

November 4

10am-12pm

St Mark's United Methodist Church

100 N St Rd 46, Bloomington, IN 47408

Whether you are just getting started or have an established child care business, CASY CCRR's Child Care Provider Fair is a great opportunity to connect with resources and state support agencies, that can help you through your licensing journey or support your established business.

Fingerprinting will be available onsite. Please be sure to note your interest in this service at the time of registration. Door prizes will be announced every 15 mins. Must be present to win. Come early to pick up a free book at the CCRR Network table (while supplies last) and stay to network and share ideas with other programs!

History

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association founded Baby Safety Month in 1983 as Expectant Mother’s Day. Over the years the celebration has grown into a full month of information, education, and focus on infant safety. Visit the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) website for more Baby Safety Tips.

How To Observe #BabySafetyMonth

Take the time to explore your home and car from a baby’s eye view. Crawl around on the floor and see what your baby sees.

Governor Holcomb on August 24 announced Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is expanding across the State of Indiana. The Imagination Library mails age-appropriate books to the homes of registered children ages birth to five each month.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Office of Kindergarten Readiness is offering a virtual learning session for families and child care providers.

• Families are invited to attend from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 20
• Providers are encouraged to attend from 4 to 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 27

During the information session, you will learn the importance of reading aloud and how to use the Imagination Library to support child development and a love of reading. To register, please create a free account through Indiana Learning Lab.

Your feedback is invaluable to the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) and SPARK Learning Lab when determining future training opportunities. Your input is vital to how SPARK plans next year's training opportunities. As a result of last year's feedback, SPARK adjusted the days, times, and lengths of session offerings to better meet the needs of providers like you.

Please complete this short, 10-15 minute survey by Friday, September 8th, to help us better understand your needs. Your feedback will help inform future training offered.

The pivotal years of early childhood form the cornerstone of a child's growth and future success. Pre-K education isn't just beneficial; it's the bedrock of a lifelong learning trajectory. These experiences imprint a child's cognitive, social, emotional and physical growth, laying the foundation for future learning, behavior and overall well-being. Get in touch with a coach from SPARK Learning Lab to receive assistance with setting up a learning environment that nurtures essential skills crucial for a child's readiness to start kindergarten confidently.

If you haven't already, secure your free premium access to the Calm app, courtesy of SPARK! Visit indianaspark.com to download the app on mobile or desktop. Next, go to your profile and enter 'Spark' in the group code field.

Prioritizing your well-being while at work can bring numerous advantages, such as fostering a harmonious work-life balance and allowing you more time to spend with your loved ones. SPARK Learning Lab is excited to partner with Calm, the world’s #1 app for mental health. Calm is open to individuals who own, work or volunteer in an Indiana-based early childhood education or out-of-school care program.

Fill out this short form to access a FREE Calm Premium subscription through February 2024.

September 15th is the National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This special day is to remember our Service Members that went off to battle and were either Captured (POW) or still Missing in Action (MIA).This day is also a day to remind the family members of those that are still missing that their loved one will not be forgotten.

Rolling Thunder® Indiana Chapter One is hosting an escort of our former POWs, and MIA Family members, from the Fort Harrison Veterans Center to the Indiana War Memorial for their POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony. The purpose of the escort is to show our former POWs and the Family members of those that are still Missing in Action, that we appreciate their sacrifices to our Nation and that their loved one will not be forgotten. The escort will end at the Indiana War Memorial where the POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony hosted by the Indianapolis POW-MIA Council, Inc. will take place. Everyone is welcome to join Rolling Thunder® on the escort and attend the POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony.

Please see attached flyer or go to www.indianarollingthunder.com for more details.

Event POC: Mike Clark, 317-999-7927, sgmclark1971@gmail.com

September 12

1-3PM ET

The Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee (ELAC) is scheduled to meet September 12th in Bloomington from 1-3PM ET. More information here.

September 14

9AM ET

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is scheduled to meet Thursday, September 14th at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany at 9AM ET. More information here.

Past Meetings

Did you miss the Interim Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services Study Committee on August 9th? View presentation slides and meeting video by selecting the Past Meetings tab here.

We are starting up and supporting

Family Child Care Networks and Director Roundtables

for child care businesses across our service delivery area.

Would you like to meet up with other child care providers or directors in your area?

Email Trisha Guinn, CASY's Family Engagement Specialist to learn more.

Do you already attend something similar?

Please invite me! I'd love to provide resources to your group!

-Trisha Guinn

Hi ECE Friends!

We wanted to let you know Madison County has started monthly director meetings. All In-Home, Ministries and Centers are welcome to join. This group will allow for collaborative, supportive networking by sharing challenges, experiences, and resources. We are working on bringing back the Pre-school Expo in the Spring of 2024. Our next meeting will be on October 24th at 10 a.m. at Panera Bread in Anderson, IN. If you want to join our group, please share your email, and we will add you to our group email thread. If you have questions, please reach out to Tammy Carney at 765-724-5555 or tammymcarney@gmail.com. We would love to have you :-)

Thank you!

We hope to see you there!

Madison County Directors Group

Saturday, May 20

9am - 10am

Hosted by VIP Kinder College East

Email Trisha Guinn to be added to the calendar invite.

Join Early Learning Indiana (ELI) for a series of professional development and teacher recognition events. This series is generously supported by PNC's Grow Up Great initiative.

There are 3 virtual professional development days in September open to all providers across the state. Plus, one more in-person at the Day Early Learning location at Purdue. You are invited to attend all of the sessions. It is suggested that you attend at least two events in this series. RSVPs are required and are limited to 50 participants per session, so please RSVP if you plan to attend. If you need to cancel any of your sessions, let us know as soon as possible so others may participate. Providers will be able to get professional development credit plus will receive gift cards for Lakeshore.

https://earlylearningin.org/growupgreat/

More than two-thirds of children report experiencing at least one traumatic event by age 16. The short-term affects of trauma can be seen in learning problems and behavioral reactivity. Long term, these children face the potential for increased involvement with child welfare and juvenile justice systems. They may also experience chronic health conditions.

Child care providers who are trained to apply trauma-informed care in out-of-school time (OST) programs can support healing and improve the overall outcomes for these children and their families. Join the Indiana Afterschool Network and host Calvalyn Day, for a virtual workshop at 11 a.m. ET on September 20. Expand your knowledge of trauma-informed best practices by working through the process of developing a trauma-informed action plan.

Participants will explore best practices for maintaining personal well-being while providing trauma-informed care. Learn additional skills to reduce distress, provide emotional support, and influence positive behavioral choices.

The upcoming Ask a Nurse series offers a chance for providers to ask questions and get answers from a trusted source. Chief Nurse Consultant, Nancy M. Ward, BSN, RN-BC, CDDN will answer your questions in real time during these live sessions. Register for one of the upcoming webinars below:

• September 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET | SPARK Live Resource "Ask A Nurse" (Meet the new nurse, Lacey Rivers, RN and discuss back-to-school safety)
• September 12 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET | SPARK Live Resource: Nutrition and Health Program Review for Licensed Centers
• September 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET | Universal Precautions
• September 14 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET | Communicable Disease: Prevention to Policy

Register through Indiana Learning Paths. Once logged in, search for the sessions using the date and a keyword.

INfancy Onward is a subsidiary organization of Indiana’s mental health association, Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI) and is committed to strengthening relationships between infants, toddlers, early childhood-aged children, parents, and other caregivers.

What is Infant (0-3) and Early Childhood (3-6) Mental Health?

Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health is the developing capacity of the child to:

• experience, regulate, and express emotions
• form close and secure interpersonal relationships
• explore the environment and learn

FIND INFANCY ONWARD COURSES:

1. Login to ILEAD
2. Go to “Start Your Indiana Learning Path”
3. Select “Courses”
4. Search for “INfancy Onward”

First and foremost, it’s important that you talk to him about your concerns in a calm, non-accusatory manner. If you think your child might be feeling suicidal, talk with them about it. Sometimes people are afraid that if they bring it up, it will make the child more likely to attempt suicide, but that’s not true. Showing your child that they have someone safe to talk to makes them feel understood.

Read or listen to the full article here.

Why a Child Needs a Library Card

A child's first library card is special. It opens the door to a world of reading. Studies show that children who use a library and are read to at home will do better in school. The library card starts your child off right. Don't wait for library card sign-up month in September. Get one today!

How to Prepare for the First Library Visit

Your first step is to call the local library nearest your home.

• Ask how old a child needs to be to get their first library card.
• Find out what identification the parent needs to bring with them.
• Ask what hours and days the library is open.
• Ask if you can take books home the first day or have to wait for the card to be issued.

Why not plan a Teddy Bear’s Picnic Party to celebrate Teddy Bear Day. A fun activity for children to get together outside with their favorite teddy and lots of fun picnic foods.

Teddy Bear Day - September 9

Email: tguinn@casyonline.org
Website: www.casyonline.org
Location: 1101 South 13th Street, Terre Haute, IN, USA
Phone: (800) 886-3952
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASYccrr