Join
Your Colleagues at the
Early
Childhood Directors Group
Thursday,
November 13th - 10:00 am – noon
Think
Small - 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls
55413
Discussion Topics:
- How you can make the most of the new DEVELOP Tools
for Data-Informed Decision-Making
- Do you train your staff? Can your trainings be MNCPD approved? What are your next steps?
Child Care Aware MN
- NEW resources for centers at the Rhoda Redleaf Library at Think Small
Early Childhood Directors Group meetings
are free and open to all.
RSVP to Nancy Johnson – njohnson@thinksmall.org
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Forum on Toxic Stress Effects on Young Children
Wednesday, November 19th at 7:00 p.m. Children's Hospitals and Clinics and MPR will host an event on Toxic Stress in early childhood at MPR's UBS Forum in St. Paul. The event is free but registration is required. Click here to register now!
New scientific research is discovering that children who experience high levels of environmental stress in infancy and early childhood may suffer enduring problems in learning, physical wellbeing, and social development. The research into “toxic stress” is helping us understand when stressors like poverty, abuse, and unstable home environments seriously undermine children’s long-term health. It’s also helping communities develop tools for addressing toxic stress and create interventions that put children on a better path to wellbeing.
The event will feature presentations from Dr. Megan Gunnar of the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, a national leader in this field of study, Sondra Samuels, President and CEO of Northside Achievement Zone, MayKao Y. Hang, President and CEO of the Wilder Foundation, and Dr. Michael Troy, Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
The event is free but registration is required. Click here to register now!
MinneMinds advocacy training - December 10th, 10-11:30 a.m.
With the legislative session starting early in the new year, MinneMinds will be hosting an advocacy training on December 10th from 10-11:30 a.m. at Think Small in Minneapolis. The training will cover how to engage directly with legislators on behalf of MinneMinds as well as show members how to leverage social media to amplify the coalition's voice. The training will also be available via webinar. Contact Kat Kempe at Think Small: kkempe@thinksmall.org
How is Parent Aware doing?
Parent Aware by the numbers
As of July 15, 2014, 1,638 early learning
programs in Minnesota have Parent Aware Ratings, which is 16 percent of
eligible programs. We are growing! The number of rated non-accredited child
care programs increased by 85 percent from December 31, 2013 to July 15, 2014.
In addition, we can celebrate the fact that these high-quality early learning
services are reaching children with high needs. At the end of 2013, 28 percent of Minnesota children (age 0 to 5)
served by the Child Care Assistance Program attended a 3- or 4-Star Parent
Aware Rated program.
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What's new in Parent Aware?
Parent Aware Applications Now Available
Online
Centers and Family Child Care Providers can
now apply for Parent Aware online. Programs that wish to use the online
option can get ready by registering their organization at www.developtoolmn.org. This same online data system now houses the Minnesota
Professional Development Registry.
ParentAware.org Helps Parents Searching for
Child Care and Early Education Programs
The new website, parentaware.org,
connects parents to an expanded database of more than 12,000 child care and
early education programs. Search results feature programs with Parent Aware
Ratings.
How much does a
Parent Aware Rating cost?
There is no cost to sign up for Parent
Aware. In fact there are many benefits:
Improvement-support dollars
FREE coaching and assistance
Increased access to scholarships
Marketing support
Higher Child Care Assistance Program rates
As of March 3, 2014, programs with a 3-Star
Parent Aware Rating can receive up to 15 percent higher CCAP rates. Programs with a 4-Star Rating can
receive up to 20 percent higher rates.
Programs might choose to make investments
to increase quality prior to or after receiving a Parent Aware Rating with
improvement-support dollars designed to defray some of these costs. Costs
incurred might include 1) training, 2) staff time to meet with coach and/or
prepare documentation or 3) purchase of curriculum and assessment tools. Each
program is unique and will choose investments that build on its own
strengths. Therefore, the cost of building quality varies by program.
Parent Aware Rating Renewal Process
Ø Parent Aware Ratings are valid for two years. Twin Cities Metro area
programs with a Star Rating expiring this year should contact Carol Stromme
at Think Small, cstromme@thinksmall.org
Ø Accredited child care programs should contact Valerie Peterson
at Child Care Aware of Minnesota at valeriep@childcareawaremn.org or (651) 290-9704 *107
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