April – May 2010 ACTION News from
the NYS Infancy Leadership Circles
A project of NYZTT
Dear Friends,
Please visit our newly revised web page at www.nyztt.org/infancyPolicy.
There you will find our new Infancy Leadership Circle brochure and Infant-Toddler Issues for New York State, a compilation of the ideas gathered at Infancy Circle meetings across the state last year. We thank all the leaders who offered their suggestions on the drafts of these documents and hope you find them useful as you raise your voices for babies.
- Our goals for 2010 include:
- Create and mentor more regional Infancy Leadership Circles
- Co-sponsor Infancy Summits on Using Data for Advocacy
- Hold collaborative regional policy and advocacy trainings
- Work with existing coalitions such as Winning Beginning NY, Home Visiting Coalition, and others to put infancy policy goals on their statewide legislative agendas
- Increase regular communications and opportunities for dialogue
Please join us in this work as we face challenging times for infant and toddler programs.
Some good news, federal funding is coming to support twice as many Early Head Start programs in the state, and more attention is being paid to infant mental health.
However, the EI program is still undergoing big changes that will impact high risk families. A new set of proposed regulations was released on April 7, and the opportunity to comment on those regulations ends on May 7, 2010. The proposals include having paraprofessionals deliver ABA, making parents refer their children themselves from EI to CPSE, and making more stringent eligibility requirements for children with delays in the area of communication only.
To make comments and see the full list of proposed regulations, go to: http://www.health.state.ny.us/community/infants_children/early_intervention/
We hope to greet some of you at the annual Infant-Toddler Leadership Forum at the NY AEYC Conference Thursday, April 29, from 1 – 4:30, in Verona, NY.
We are co-sponsoring this event with the Early Care and Learning Council — IT Resource Network, the NYS Council on Children and Families, and the NYS Head Start TA Network, with funding from the NYS Office of Child and Family Services
Below is information about activities you may want to participate in from April to July.
Sincerely,
Carole and Jackie
coshinsky@nyztt.org
jjjones6@verizon.net
EVENTS
Wednesay, April 28 – Friday, April 30, 2010:
Auburn, NY: NYSCAA’s Finance and Human Resources Conference, special track on Head Start programs
Join the Schuyler Center for Advocacy and Analysis’ Finance and Human Resources Conference April 28–30, 2010 in Auburn, NY. This year it features a special track dedicated to Head Start programs.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010:
Albany/Rensselaer: Geographic Information Systems-GIS and Public Health Conference featuring KWIC—NYS Kids’ Well-being Indicator Clearinghouse, 9 AM – 4 PM
Connecting Data and Kids: The power and simplicity of the Kids’ Well-being Indicator Clearinghouse (KWIC) will be highlighted at the SIXTH ANNUAL GIS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE.
Location: University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer
Presenters: Cate Bohn and Robin Miller, New York State Council on Children and Families; Paul Marano, Cogent Technologies
Cost is $30, includes conference on day one, plus continental breakfast and lunch.
Register at http://www.ualbanycphp.org/ For information e-mail: cate.bohn@ccf.state.ny.us
Tuesday, May 4, 2010:
Webinar: How Children Fared in the Federal Health Care Reform Law, 3 – 4:30 PM
New York Can/Voices for America’s Children presents: Children in Health Care Reform: A Webinar. The Schuler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA) is partnering with Voices for America’s Children to present this webinar on how children fared in the federal health care reform law. Staff from Voices for American’s Children and several of their colleague organizations in Washington will make presentations. The program will cover elements of the law that pertain to public and private health insurance, prevention, public health and home visiting.
Reserve your slot by e-mail: gszymanowski@scaany.org.
Thursday, May 6, 2010:
NYC: Community Conference on Learning Differences, 9 AM – 4 PM
For professionals, parents and advocates, sponsored by the Mel and Phyllis Zachter OHEL Institute for Training, this all day event focuses on “Meeting the Needs of Every Learner,” featuring world-renowned experts Richard D. Lavoie, M.A., M.Ed. and Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D. They will provide strategies for supporting the individual needs of all learners, from preschool through adolescence, including those with learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, cognitive, sensory, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Location: Baruch College Conference Center (55 Lexington Avenue @ 24th Street, NYC). Pre-registration required.
Further information and registration go to: www.ohelfamily.org
Thursday, May 6, 2010:
White Plains: Child Care Council of Westchester Early Care and Education Conference, 9 AM – 3 PM
This 24th annual professional development day features Susan Linn talking on “Fostering Creative Play and Self—Expression in a Commercialized World”.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Albany: Trauma-informed care and ACE response. 2 – 5 PM
This ACE Think Tank and Action Team Meeting features Bill McLaughlin, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Development, Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). He will share various approaches to trauma-informed care identified in New York State, discussing views of ACE response strategies.
Location: Milne Hall Room 200 on the Downtown Campus of the University at Albany.
For more information, contact Heather Larkin at: hlarkin@uamail.albany.edu
Note: “A Taste of Albany” will be held that same evening to benefit Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless! Make a whole day of exciting Albany events — the ACE Think Tank and Action Team Meeting followed by a great dinner event to support services helping homeless people.
Monday, May 10 – Wednesday, May 1, 2010:
Rochester, Albany, NYC: Forums on upcoming RFP for Community Demonstration Projects on Social Emotional Consultation in Infant/Toddler Child Care Settings, 10 AM – 2 PM
The Early Care and Learning Council is sponsoring this series of community forums to educate participants about infant mental health activities around the country to support teachers, families and children with challenging behaviors and announce a new funding opportunity for community demonstration projects on Social Emotional Consultation in Infant/Toddler Child Care settings. Interested communities can send a team of potential collaborators – Representatives from child care and Early Head Start, the CCRR, the Regional IT Resource Center, a mental health provider, and early intervention or just one representative.
Rochester: May 10, 10AM – 2PM
Child Care Council Inc., Drake-Lok Training Center (enter under blue awning), 595 Blossom Road Rochester, NY 14601, (585) 654-4720
Albany: May 11, 10AM – 2PM
Early Care and Learning Council, 230 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12203, 518 690-4217
NYC: May 12, 10AM – 2PM
Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, 110 William Street , 18th Floor, Suite 1802, NY, NY 10038, 212 206-1090
* will need an ID to enter building
Morning presentation – What is Infant Mental Health? A public health approach
Current mental health status of babies and toddlers in NYS
Promising practices for prevention, identification and intervention; Review relevant NYS systems that can be employed
Light Lunch and mingling with resource materials, participants and presenters
Afternoon – Explanation of community demonstration funding process – pass out the RFP
Letters of community readiness/interest will be due – June 7
Selected communities will be invited to submit a full proposal by June 25
Questions and answers on the RFP process and the intent of the community demonstrations
For more information or to receive the Community Demonstrations RFP contact: Evelyn Efinger, 518 690-4217, eefinger@earlycareandlearning.org;
For a registration form, please contact: Janice Moses Aondona JMosesAondona@earlycareandlearning.org;
Please RSVP for the location of your choice by contacting: Melissa Dobbs 518 690-4217, mdobbs@earlycareandlearning.org
Tuesday, May 11, 2010:
NYC: Infant-Parent Study Center Open House 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Presentation: Supporting Both Child & Family: Integrating the Holding of Physical Therapy with Infant Mental Health, with Harold Rosenthal, P.T., graduate of the Institute for Infants, Children and Families, JBFCS 2006, and 20 years of experience as a physical therapist. He will include in his approach to physical therapy the biological needs of the child & the needs of the family. Case study video clips of an infant with torticolis will be discussed to illustrate this approach.
Discussant: Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok, LCSW, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Infants, Children & Families
Location: Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
120 West 57th Street, Room 306/307, RSVP, via e-mail to Eula M. Guest at emyoung@jbfcs.org
Wednesday, May 12, 2010:
Webinar: Parent Partnerships to Support Early Child Health and Development: Lessons for the ABCD Initiative, 2 – 3:30 PM
This NASHP webinar will focus on building and supporting parent partnerships with states to support programs and services for young children. Participants will learn about a three-part framework for building parent partnerships, why each level of engagement is critical to efforts to improve care coordination and services for young children, and how states engaged in these initiatives can incorporate parent partnerships into their work. This webinar is part of NASHP’s Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) program sponsored by The Commonwealth Fund.
Friday, May 14, 2010, NYC:
NYZTT Conference on Trauma and Resilience, 8:30 AM – 3 PM
The annual NYZTT conference — this year on Trauma and Resilience in Young Children and their Families — will feature plenary sessions by Daniel Schechter and Gilbert Foley and the Therapists of the Primary Prevention Project for Mothers, Infants and Young Children of 9/11. The annual Emily Fenishel Leadership Award will be presented to Dr. Andrew Racine at the conference and a dinner will be held the previous evening honoring the speakers.
Conference Location: New York’s Hotel Pennsyvlania, Penntop South/Skytop Room
401 7th Avenue at 33rd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001
Friday, May 14, 2010:
Garden City, LI: Parenting Institute Workshop 9 AM – 4 PM
Sean McDevitt, Ph.D. will be the featured speaker on The High Maintenance Child, Self-Regulation and Parenting: The Temperament Perspective
Location: Alumni House, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
Monday, May 17 – Tuesday, May 18, 2010:
Uniondale, NY: Parent-Child Home Program, Annual Conference, 8AM – 4 PM; 8AM – 2PM
This two-day conference features workshops for home visiting staff, other professionals and the general public who are concerned with young children and vulnerable families. The first day features the Phyllis Levenstein Memorial
Lecture given by Amy Hatkoff, Child and Family Advocate, Parenting Educator, Author, and Filmmaker on the topic: “You Rock My World: Inside the Hearts and Minds of Toddlers”
Cost: $250.00 – First person from program site
$225.00 – Each additional person from program site
$125.00 – One-day attendance
Location: Long Island Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Uniondale, NY
Wednesday, May 19, 2010:
Albany: Poverty Simulation, 8:30 – 11:30 AM or 1 – 4 PM
Participate in a Poverty Simulation, an experience designed to help participants understand what it might be like to be part of a low-income family trying to survive from month to month. The Simulation is an effective tool for many audiences including professionals who provide services for low-income families and people who are developing policies for providing services to low-income individuals and/or families.
The Simulation is being offered as part of a larger conference; however, LIFE is opening participation in the Simulation to the broader community to include nonprofits, education groups, policy makers and others. It is a low-cost training opportunity for staff, board members, and volunteers of organizations that serve low-income communities.
Cost is $10 per person but pre-registration is REQUIRED
Location: Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf Road, Albany, NY
To learn more, go to Poverty Simulation PDF
To learn more about the overall conference, go to www.getenergysmart.org/LowIncome/StateConference.aspx.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010:
Albany: Strengthening the Pre-K Investment and Building an Early Childhood Agenda, 9:30 AM – 12 PM
A panel of early care and education professionals, foundation leaders, and state education officials will participate in this working forum: Building an Early Childhood Agenda. Recommendations to Expand and Improve Early Learning Opportunities while Strengthening the Pre-K Investment.
Location: Albany Institute of History and Art, 125 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York
RSVP: To Betty Holcomb via e-mail at: bholcomb@centerforchildrensinitiatives.org
Thursday, July 8, 2010:
NYC: Registration open for 4th Annual Infant Toddler Conference
This year’s theme is: “Weaving a Tapestry: Connecting Communities of Practice for Infants, Toddlers and Families.”
This annual conference is sponsored by the NYC Child Care Resource and Referral Consortium, the NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute at CUNY, and the CUNY Graduate Center. Keynote speaker is Dr. Virginia Casper, developmental psychologist and teacher educator specializing in early intervention and research on children and families. Conference will be at The Graduate Center of CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY.
“Early Bird” Special $40 (including continental breakfast, lunch and materials)
Pre-registration starts on April 15th and ends on May 14th.
JOBS AVAILABLE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Early Care and Learning Council
a membership organization that has been working to make quality, affordable child care available to New York families since 1985.
Deadline: April 30, 2010
JOB SUMMARY
The Executive Director is responsible for the supervision, direction, and development of all aspects of the Early Care & Learning Council’s programs, including identification of funding sources, preparation of proposals and the implementation of policies established by the Board and Membership. S/he works under the direct supervision of the Board of Directors and is the official public spokesperson for leadership in early care and education for the organization. Interested candidates should send a resume and a letter of interest to the president of the Board of Directors of the Early Care and Learning Council:
REPLY TO: Jane Brown, Executive Director, Child Care Resources of Rockland, Inc., 235 North Main Street, Suite 11, Spring Valley, NY 10977, E-mail: janeb@rocklandchildcare.org, Phone: 845 425-0009 x417; Fax: 845 425-5312
RESOURCES
Report on Economic benefits from Early Learning investments:
Strengthening New York Businesses Through Investments in Early Care and Education: How Investments in Early Learning Increase Sales from Local Businesses, Create Jobs and Grow the Economy. From America’s Edge, a group of Business Leaders.
The report documents that investments in early care and education would save New York businesses by reducing absenteeism and turnover and improve productivity by helping to attract better trained workers to the state. The report confirms the long-term
economic impact highlighting research that shows high-quality early education can deliver a return of $16 for every $1 invested.
See: www.americasedge.org
Data Tool to Inform State Policies
Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care: A CLASP Child Care and Early Education Project, has released a new tool for advocates and policymakers which guides them through questions designed to help understand the context and conditions of infants and toddlers in the state. Questions include data on demographics and program participation (such as health and nutrition programs), as well as the details of child care and early education settings in the state. Where possible, links to online data sources are provided, including both original sources and organizations that have analyzed multiple datasets.
See: www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/tools
Three volume video and book on Child Development
Families and Work Institute released: Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs on April 20th. In addition, the Mind in the Making Vook (video book with about 50 videos) and the three volumes (for computer, iPhone or iPad) can be ordered at the links below. Families and Work Institute interviewed and filmed more than 85 eminent child development researchers and neuroscientists who opened their labs and shared their research as it was being conducted.
See: vook.com and “Marshmallow Test”” for samples.
Discuss these ideas online at www.mindinthemaking.org. To plan an in-person presentation and discussion in your company or community, please contact shuang@familiesandwork.org.
The Heckman Equation
James Heckman, a Professor of Economics at The University of Chicago, a Nobel Memorial Prize winner in Economics, and an expert in the economics of human development, presents his case for investing in early childhood — the Heckman Equation. The Heckman Equation offers a formula for understanding the great gains to be had by investing in early and equal development of human potential.
INVEST in educational and developmental resources for disadvantaged families to provide equal access to successful early human development +DEVELOP cognitive skills, social skills, and physical well-being in children early—from birth to age five when it matters most +SUSTAIN early development with effective education through adulthood =GAIN more capable, productive and valuable citizens that pay dividends to America for generations to come.1
See the Heckman Equation web site for short videos and tools that policymakers and advocates can use to communicate effectively about the economic evidence for early investment.
1 James Heckman, “Learn How Early Childhood Development Affects Society.” James Heckman, 2009, www.heckmanequation.org/heckman-equation.
State Early Childhood Policy Profiles
The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) has updated its state Early Childhood Profiles. These state profiles provide a comprehensive view of state policies that affect the health and well-being of the youngest low-income children. The policies are
related to health and nutrition, early care and education, and parenting and economic support.
Report on Economic Recovery Funds in States
Supporting State Child Care Efforts with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds provides comprehensive state-by-state information on how economic recovery funds are being used by states for child care and early education. The report shows how these funds are making a difference for children and families by providing greater access to child care assistance and investments in the quality of care.
State and District Eligibility for WIC
WIC Income Eligible Children by Congressional District and State, from the Urban institute, shows a breakdown of the number of children in each state and congressional district who are eligible for the WIC program based on income, and a count of the number of infants and toddlers growing up in low-income families. These data offer members of Congress and their staff an idea of how many children in their districts are potentially affected by the reauthorization of the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Mission Readiness: Military Leaders for Kids calls obesity a national security issue in new report
Read the report: Too Fat to Fight PDF
Read the press release: cdn.missionreadiness.org/PressRelease04202010.pdf
See the press conference: Video
Registration open for Infant-Parent Study Center, The Institute for Infants, Children & Families, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
Program is one to two years of study, one afternoon or evening per week, and offers state of the art, trans-disciplinary faculty and coursework on Observationally Based Infant Assessment and Interventon, Parent Development, Outreach, Assessment and Intervention, Social-Emotional and Physiological Sensory Development, Leadership, Consultative and program design skills, and Intensive, Reflective Supervision, infant and parent psychotherapy, Intervention with PDD, Autistic Spectrum Children, Trauma Identification and Treatment. All have relationship as a Unit of Study.
Actively Seeking Ethnically & Professionally Diverse Applicants
APPLY NOW for FALL ENTRY
NEW LOCATION: After July 2010
34 West 139th Street, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10037 tel: 212 632-4497 | fax: 212 632-4534
www.jbfcs.org
Contact: Dorothy Henderson, LCSW, Associate Director, dhenderson@jbfcs.org
Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok, LCSW, PhD, Director