Disclaimer: The ECE Committee does not endorse or directly support any information, issue, agency, or event provided through the What's New updates. The information provided is intended to inform and guide issues associated with agencies providing high quality early childhood education services that focus on ensuring that all children in Long Beach grow up healthy, safe, and educated.
ECE NEWS
*NEW* Gov. Brown Vetoes Family Child Care Provider Unionization Bill
Today,Governor Jerry Brown vetoed AB 101 (Assembly Speaker Perez and Senate Pro Tem Steinberg), the last-minute measure which would have allowed the organization of and collective bargaining for licensed and license-exempt family child care home providers. Read More
*NEW* Have you applied for a child care license and are still waiting for a decision from the Community Care Licensing Division? If you answered yes to this question and want help to speed up the process, contact Public Counsel for free legal help. Read More.
*NEW* California Association for the Education of Young Children is pleased to announce that the Awards & Grants applications are now available. Awards & Grants are open to all current members of CAEYC and are designed to promote professional growth and educational support. This year CAEYC is offering 3 (three) types of Awards and Grants that will assist up to 8 (eight) recipients who will have the opportunity to attend conferences, purchase resources for program development and/or pay for their education.
*NEW* Ready. Set.Grow. Is a campaign created by First 5 LA to support Los Angeles County parents as they raise their children to be healthy, safe and ready to learn. From tips and resources, to free events and discount coupons. Check their website for more information http://www.readysetgrowla.org/
KidsData.orgis your gateway to comprehensive data about the health and well being of children across California. The site offers data for every city, county, and school district in the state, making it easy to monitor trends and pinpoint disparities. See Long Beach data.
OUT OF THE BOX TRAINING KITS AVAILABLE FOR ECE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
A new library of Out of the Box Training kits has been developed for use by ECE Committee members. Each kit is a comprehensive training packet that includes target audience, teacher skill level, children’s age level, time line, expected outcomes, preparation, strategy for training, implementation, follow-up activities for teachers and administrators/directors, learning assessment, evaluation/further needs assessment and next steps. Read More
Engaging the Business Community in Advocacy
When you think of people who would be natural allies in advocating for the well-being of very young children, who do you think of? Almost certainly you think of other professionals in the early childhood field. But do you ever think about business people? Probably not, and yet members of the business community can be among the most influential and supportive allies of the early childhood field. So how can we get business leaders involved in our advocacy efforts on behalf of infants and toddlers? The Pew Center on the States created a variety ofresourcesto help advocates engage the business community, includingMobilizing Business Champions for Children: A Guide for Advocates, and areport on business leaders making a difference for children across the country. For additional ideas on partnering with the business community, you can also checkout thisarticlefrom the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network.
One of the greatest resources available to you as an advocate is other advocates. Connecting with like-minded professionals, parents and policymakers in your community will allow you to draw on each individual's skills and strengths and to create a strong, united and clear message on behalf of infants and toddlers. This month's advocacy challenge is to invite a speaker from a local early childhood advocacy organization to speak at your workplace.Download October's Developmenta lMilestone Advocacy Calendar Now!
Federal Policy Update Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System: Congress Answers the Call Back in May, a group of concerned children’s organizations issuedA Call to Action on Behalf ofMaltreated Infants and Toddlers, urging policymakers and practitioners at all levels to adopt a developmental approach to caring for babies in the child welfare system. Last week, Congress answered the call. Both House and Senate passed and sent to the President the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (H.R. 2883, S. 1542), reauthorizing federal child welfare programs. One provision requires states to describe in their child welfare plans how they address the developmental needs of young children in their care—a first for federal legislation. It is important that states view this new provision as a prime opportunity to reexamine the care they provide to the youngest, most vulnerable children. We urge states to use the Call to Action as a resource to think through the steps of a developmental approach to child welfare services. For ideas on getting started, please read ourFederal Policy Baby Blog.
Best Start Central Long Beach Comes to Consensus: The Best Start Central Long Beach Community met on Thursday, September 22, 2011, at the First Congregational Church. Each goal area workgroup reported on their accomplishments to date and participants had the opportunity to provide feedback. The Levels of Engagement for Best Start were discussed in more detail including the framework for the Partnership and Leadership Groups. The majority of the meeting focused on a training on group decision-making methods. At the end of the training, the group chose “consensus” as the preferred decision-making method. A complete summary of the Community Partnership Meeting will be available on the website soon and copies will be available at the next meeting. An Ad Hoc Committee was developed to help build the framework for the Partnership and Leadership Groups. The first Ad Hoc Committee meeting is Thursday, October 6th from1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. If you are interested in joining the committee, please RSVP no later than Monday, October 3rd. Goal area workgroups will resume after this committee has completed its work. We will continue our work on formalizing the partnership. To ensure your space, please RSVP by Monday, October 24th online at CLB1.eventbrite.com or by calling(213) 482-9426. www.beststartla.org
ECHO Parenting and Education - Parent Educator Certification Program Now Accepting Applications: This program is designed for people who are interested in teaching Echo Parenting and Education published Nonviolent Parenting curriculum. Part one is the Nonviolent Parenting Educator Training, part two is the Parenting Educator Certification Program. Read More FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
School-Age Child Development Training: Funding is provided to establish state leveltraining institutes to train trainers in order to increase quality inschool-age child development programs. After completing the institutes,trainers will train local school-age child care providers in theircommunities. Read More
Child Care Facilities Revolving Fund General Facilities Application FY 2011-12 The Child Care Facilities Revolving Fund(CCFRF) provides funding for the purchase of new relocatable child care facilities for lease to school districts and contracting agencies that provide child care and development services. Applicant agencies receiving funds under the CCFRF must repay the CDE over a ten-year period, interest free. The CCFRF is not a grant program. Read More
ASPIRE is a new statewide First 5 CA professional development program for early childhood educators, also known as CARES Plus. Participants will complete a free on-line training regarding the CLASS observation tool, academic and career advisement,and 3-6 semester units of coursework. By doing so, they can earn a stipend of at least $1,000 in August 2012. Read More
ECE EVENTS
FREE Pajama party movie night every 3rd Wednesday Ages 10 and under at Long Beach Town Center Food Court See Flyer October 22 and 29, 2011: Edu-Play Basic Training $50.00 for the 2 day workshop Topics include Introduction to EDU-Play theory, Typical vs Atypical Development, Relationship and Play based interventions, Families, Behavior, Social emotional development,Communication development and Sensory Integration and regulation Register here
November 8, 2011: The California Federation of Teachers isco-sponsoring the Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Summit will discuss how transitional kindergarten gives California an unparalleled opportunity to ensure our state's young learners are better prepared to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Don't miss this chance to hear how transitional kindergarten, one of the most significant education reforms in our state's recent history, fits into the broader K-12 landscape, and learn about exciting and innovative local models.Register Here
November 19,2011: Saving Childhood: Through Meaningful, Age-Appropriate Curriculum. Come learn how to provide supportive and meaningful curriculum that address children’s multiple needs, and advocate for a more balanced approach. Presentation topics include block play, group or circle times, science, music and movement, and process based creative art. Attendees will be able to attend two (90 minute) workshops of their choice.Read More
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The Growing Place Marine Park in Santa Monica, seeks a full time Infant Lead Teacher beginning November 1st. Read More
OUR MISSION To ensure that all children in Long Beach grow up healthy, safe and educated by:
Increasing the quality of and accessibility to affordable early childhood education (ECE) services;
Expanding ECE resources to meet the needs of families; and
Increasing public support of the positive economic, social and educational impacts of ECE through advocacy and education.
OUR VISION The Long Beach community envisions a future in which all children in Long Beach will be healthy, safe and educated.
WHO WE ARE The Long Beach Early Childhood Education Committee is an evolution of the Long Beach Early Care and Education Master Plan Task Force, which guided and informed the development of the early care and education plan, Preparing Long Beach Children for the Future: A Community Plan for Shaping the early Care and Education System. The Committee is charged with crafting and carrying out implementation strategies directly related to the goals, objectives, and categories outline in the Community Plan. The motto that appears on this fact sheet - Our Children, Our Community - was created and adopted by the original task Force to represent their vision for the children of our community and out community's dusty to our children. The Committee operates under the mission of: Children in Long Beach will be healthy, safe, and educated.
Committee members represent a broad base of early childhood educators, advocates, and caregivers of young children ages 0-5. All Committee members are volunteers, and the Committee receives no funding for operational support outside of funds raised for each of its projects. The Executive Board is comprised of recognized leaders in the early childhood education community and provides oversight for the Committee's activities and progress toward the goals and objectives of the Community Plan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS/COLLABORATING PARTNERS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Over the past few years, the ECE Committee has made tremendous gains in advancing its mission and vision. The following are key highlights of the committee's major accomplishments:
Created an Early Childhood Seamless Education Task Force in partnership with the LBUSD.
Coordinated and conducted annual Citywide Kindergarten Festivals since 2004.
Annually distributed more than 1,000 backpacks containing books and school supplies to incoming kindergartners a the Kindergarten Festivals.
Created and presented "An Economic Model of Quality Early Childhood Education: What Does Quality Cost?"
Coordinated and held annual symposia for ECE professionals, other key stakeholders and advocated since 2004 in collaboration with A Voice for Long Beach Children.
Created a Business Advisory Council to link the ECE Committee and the business community.
