Thursday, August 26, 2010

Washtenaw County ECDA


The Washtenaw County Early Childhood Directors Association brochure is available
! (click the link to view)

The Washtenaw County ECDA is a professional organization for the directors, administrators and leaders of early childhood programs. They provide support to directors, serve as advocates of children’s issues, and provide resource and networking opportunities for early childhood professionals.



The ECDA meetings are held at the Polo Fields Washtenaw which is located at 2955 Packard Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 and is near Washtenaw Community College and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital.

The first presentation is on September 22, 2010, register early!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Fair Fuels Funds for Nonprofits!

PARKING AT UNITED WAY CENTER RAISES OVER $6,000 FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

Jackson, Michigan, August 23, 2010 – Fair goers did the community a good deed by parking at the United Way Center during fair week, August 8 through the 14th. In spite of high temperatures and frequent cloudbursts, over $6,000 was collected by Jackson County nonprofits to help their efforts in the community.

“Times are tough, and nonprofits are counting each nickel and dime, trying to make ends meet,” said Bruce VanEyck, newly appointed Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sister of Jackson County. “We thank everyone who made a donation while visiting the Fair, and I especially thank our wonderful volunteers who collected all the contributions. Our kids will benefit from every penny we raised.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters was one of seven Jackson County nonprofits who collected donations by parking cars during fair week. “Bigs” collected over $1,400 on Wednesday, August 11, the night of the concert by the popular rock group, “Styx”. Other nonprofits that raised funds include Child Care Network, LifeSpan…A Community Service, Jackson County Genealogy Center, Marriage Matters Jackson, Nonprofit Network, and United Way of Jackson County. All are tenants at the United Way Center campus.

The United Way of Jackson County is in its 75th year of serving the Jackson community. It supports over forty different programs and initiatives that provide thousands of Jackson County residents the opportunity for a better life. It is locally governed by a volunteer board of directors, chaired by Dave Mengebier, Senior Vice President, Consumers Energy.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

QRIS Survey (Quality Rating and Improvement System)

A message from Jim Sinnamon at DHS...

Dear Child Care Professionals,


As you may know, the Great Start Early Learning Advisory Council (GS-ELAC) recently agreed to sponsor the development of a design for an early learning Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for Michigan. The national Build Initiative has made resources available to the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), which leads the Build work in Michigan, to fund the Great Start QRIS Design Project.

The QRIS Design Project is leading the development of a set of recommendations for a QRIS in Michigan that will provide:
• Easy access to information for families about the quality of early learning and care programs and the relationship between high quality programs and school readiness
• A quality development continuum (QDC) for enrolled, subsidized but unlicensed, child care providers (aide and relative providers)
• A quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for licensed centers and registered family and group homes, including Great Start School Readiness Programs and Head Start Programs
• Data that demonstrate the impact of the QRIS and the QDC on helping to prepare children for school
• Quality improvement supports for early learning and care programs

In the coming weeks, the QRIS Design Project will be convening a Team to focus on the review and revision of Quality Standards under the QRIS for regulated centers and homes. To help the Quality Standard Team design quality standards that work for Michigan’s early care and education field, we are asking you to take a look at the draft QRIS standards developed in 2007 (our starting point), and provide guidance on three things: Which standards remain important and effective? Which standards should be changed based on new information? What’s missing, or what else should ECIC and other stakeholders consider as they move forward in designing and implementing the Michigan QRIS?

You can provide your feedback by taking a few minutes to complete this on-line survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QRISStandardStakeholderFeedback and by forwarding this to your colleagues so they can do the same!

Thank you for taking the time to offer your feedback, and for forwarding this message to your colleagues in the field.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Sandbox Party!!!

Hello Everyone,
There is still time to make plans to attend the Sandbox Party! Contact your local Great Start Collaborative for more information!

Monday, August 9, 2010

20th Annual Community Sharing for Healthy Caring Conference

The 20th Annual Community Sharing for Healthy Caring Conference brochure is now available! Visit the Child Connect for Family Success website (formerly Livingston 4C) to view details and register online.