[R2R-OR] Community Based Coordinators of Early Learning - UPDATE

Wed Feb 20 13:18:29 PST 2013

Hi All,
Salem Public Library has for many years participated in our area's
"Great Beginnings" group, coordinated by the Marion County Commission on
Children and Families, and meeting monthly with the goal of maximizing
the healthy social-emotional, intellectual, language, literacy and
physical development of young children, ages 0-8 in Marion County. 
Partners in this group share information and resources, provide
feedback, training and support for decision-makers, grant projects, etc.
 Members of this group have been actively interested in the Early
Learning Council. 

Currently, the committee serves as the advisory body to our Child Care
Resource & Referral and Healthy Start programs.  Library youth services
staff actively participate in meetings, providing information on Library
staff and material resources with an early literacy focus, including our
6 English language weekly story times, one bilingual and one Spanish
language story time, Brain Boosters and Art Starts parent/preschooler
programs; Boogie Woogie preschool concerts.  Staff also participate as
early literacy trainers for Teen Parent classes and other groups,
provides booklists, and more.  

The result of group participation is an increased community visibility
and appreciation for the value libraries provide for all families,
regardless of socio-economic status, mental or physical ability,
religion or culture.  The Salem Public Library has experienced increased
Head Start and Family Building Blocks group library visits, and
increased requests for youth services staff outreach to various
facilities for early literacy rich storytimes or trainings.  

The "Great Beginnings" partners include:
Childhood Health Associates of Salem, Chemeketa Community College,
Child Care Providers, DHS, Dist. 3, Easter Seals Children’s Therapy
Center, Family Building Blocks, Marion County Courts, Marion County
Children & Families, Marion County Health Department, MWVCAA Child Care
Resource & Referral, MWVCAA Head Start, Oregon Child Care Resource and
Referral, Oregon Child Development Coalition, Salem-Keizer Head Start,
Salem Public Library, Silverton Together, and Willamette Education
Service District.

Hope this helps!
Karen

Karen Fischer, 
Youth Services Manager
Salem Public Library
503-588-6039
kfischer at cityofsalem.net
>>> "Engelfried, Steven" <engelfried at wilsonvillelibrary.org> 2/20/2013
10:14 AM >>>

I just started attending the Clackamas County Early Childhood Committee
last fall, representing LINCC libraries.  The group has been around and
active for years and from what I’ve seen so far is well organized and
effective.  It’s facilitated by the Children, Youth and Families
Division.  Participants include folks from Healthy Start, Head Start,
ESD, and other groups whose roles and acronyms I’m afraid still trying
to sort out.  We got involved when a Healthy Start representative
invited library participation, and we appreciated the fact that the
group wanted us at the table.  

We’ve met just twice since I joined, and a good deal of the focus has
been on the Early Learning Council and Hubs, as Rick and Heather have
reported.  It’s a big topic, of course, but I’m equally interested in
the opportunities for partnerships and collaboration that will come up
just by meeting with so many people who share some of our goals and
serve many of our families.  It would be great for our library to have a
loud voice at the table (it looks like Deschutes and Washington Counties
have reached that)…we’re not there yet, but being at the table is the
big first step. 

Steven Engelfried, Youth Services Librarian
Wilsonville Public Library
8200 SW Wilsonville Road
Wilsonville, OR  97070
503-570-1592
engelfried at wilsonvillelibrary.org

From: r2r-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:r2r-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Rick
Samuelson
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 9:46 AM
To: r2r-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [R2R-OR] Community Based Coordinators of Early Learning -
UPDATE

Hi gang,

For some reason, I missed the email call for info… so this is kind of
late.

Washington County is blessed with a very active early childhood
committee that meets monthly (sometimes more often, when special
projects arise).  

The Childhood Care and Education Advisory Committee (CCEAC) is an
advisory committee of our Commission on Children and Families.  It has
been meeting regularly for about 15 years.  

Representation includes: Community Action Head Start, OCDC Head Start,
Child Care Resource & Referral, Morrison and Lifeworks Child Mental
Health, Healthy Start, DHS, County Health (WIC, etc.), OSU Extension
Services, Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education
(EI/ECSE), NW Regional ESD, Nike Corp. Preschool and our libraries.  We
have had semi-regular attendance from 211 Info and United Way in the
past.

Before the whole ELC changes bombarded us, our early childhood group
met once or twice a year with the Multnomah County and Clackamas County
early childhood counterparts.

In general, the CCEAC facilitates sharing of program updates and
operates to collectively to address local issues.  A countywide
Kindergarten Readiness assessment was done in the past and various
groups have utilized the committee in support of their accreditation
processes.  Currently, the committee serves as the advisory body to our
Child Care Resource & Referral and Healthy Start programs.

Many library partnerships have blossomed thanks to the CCEAC.  Our
distribution of Summer Reading materials, rhyme booklets and booklists
is simplified through the regular meetings.  In addition, we have
strengthened our bonds with our Head Starts, EI/ECSE and CCR&R.  We have
been able to provide early literacy trainings for childcare providers
and families because of these connections.  We are currently working
with our CCR&R to develop a book delivery program for in-home child care
providers.  Also, we are expanding our services to our local Early
Childhood Special Education Centers – I will be offering puppet shows in
support of Summer Reading promotion at each center.

In an hour, I’m meeting with a couple of folks from the CCEAC to plan
focus group and survey questions in preparation of our County Health &
Human Services’ application to be a Community Based Coordinator of Early
Learning.  How cool is that?  Our libraries have a loud voice at the
table as plans are taking shape.

Things have been difficult during the confusing transition phase… but
everyone continues to keep a positive perspective.  The one thing I can
say for our group: everyone is 100% behind any change as long as it is
best for the children and families in our community.  Petty program
funding fights simply don’t happen.

Best wishes!

Rick Samuelson, Youth Services Librarian
Washington County Cooperative Library Services
(503) 648-9785 x5#

From: r2r-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:r2r-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of heather
mcneil
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 8:06 AM
To: 'Katie Anderson'; 'r2r-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us'
Subject: Re: [R2R-OR] Community Based Coordinators of Early Learning -
UPDATE

In Deschutes County we have a group called Partnerships for Young
Children (PYC).  Representatives from all the social services
organizations that work with families, as well as educational
institutions, attend monthly meetings to share what’s going on, and look
for opportunities to partner.  Much of the conversation for the past 6
months has been about the Early Learning Council, so I’ve had a chance
to hear from the Commission and others their perceptions and concerns. 

PYC also organizes an event during Week of the Young Child.  Several
years ago we did an early literacy conference.  I get many opportunities
through them to connect with parent groups, as well as train care
providers and family resource workers.  They are wonderful about
distributing our early literacy calendars and booklets to the families
they work with, which are often non-library users.

Organizations that belong include NeighborImpact (Head Start), Healthy
Families of the High Desert (Healthy Start in other parts of the state),
Healthy Beginnings, Deschutes County Health, KIDS Center, Grandma’s
House, Nursery Relief Center, Central Oregon Community College,
OSU-Cascades, some preschools, Child Care Resources, the Children and
Families Commission, Family Resource Center, and the library.  They have
been complimented by the State for being a bit ahead of the game, and
getting their voices heard early on.  PYC has now added on quarterly
meetings with the representatives from Jefferson and Crook Counties.

Our Assistant Director has contacted the superintendent of our ESD,
letting them know the library wants to be “at the table” when the Hub
gets going.  The ESD has been an active part of the conversations, and
is a possibility for being the Hub organization.  There are other
possibilities as well.  Most likely I would be the one attending any
relevant meetings.

The PYC is, without a doubt, the most beneficial group I belong to
because of the many connections we make.  It has led to training
opportunities, parent groups coming to the library, wide distribution of
our early literacy promotional materials, the early literacy conference,
and more.  

I hope this was helpful.  Please contact me if you need any further
information.

From: r2r-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:r2r-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Katie
Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:40 AM
To: r2r-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [R2R-OR] Community Based Coordinators of Early Learning -
UPDATE

Hello! Below is an email from the State Librarian regarding the Early
Learning Council’s work on creating a plan for local communities/regions
to transition to early childhood hubs. Please read her email and the
Early Learning Council’s report:
http://www.oregon.gov/gov/docs/OEIB/HUBLeg.pdf.

I would like to take this opportunity to start a conversation around
libraries participation in early learning locally. A few libraries have
been trying, but struggling to get involved in their local early
childhood groups. Those of you experiencing success can help other
libraries by hitting “reply all” and sharing… 
·         How you connected with and got involved in your local early
childhood group,
·         What other organizations and/or agencies are part of your
group (i.e. who other libraries might contact in their communities),
·         What your library is or plans to contribute to your group,
and
·         What the benefits are of participating in your group.

Thank you,
Katie 

Katie Anderson, Library Development Services
* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
katie.anderson at state.or.us, 503-378-2528

From: al-directors-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:al-directors-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of
MaryKay Dahlgreen
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 2:01 PM
To: pl-directors at listsmart.osl.state.or.us;
al-directors at listsmart.osl.state.or.us;
tl-directors at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [AL-Directors] Community Based Coordinators of Early Learning
- UPDATE

Dear Library Directors: 

As most of you know, there is a lot going on in Oregon relating to
education, especially early learning. The Early Learning Council has
submitted a report ( http://www.oregon.gov/gov/docs/OEIB/HUBLeg.pdf ) to
the Legislature on the process, characteristics, timeline and general
roadmap for Hub Implementation.

While this is mostly targeted to public library directors I am sending
it to all directors because we all have an interest in the Governor’s
education initiative.

I believe now is the time that public libraries should be talking with
early learning providers in their communities to learn about the
activities that are taking place around developing early learning hubs.
Katie Anderson, our youth services consultant, and I are tracking this
process very closely and would be happy to talk with you about it. Katie
is very engaged with the early learning community at the state level and
can provide you with information about state level activities and how
they relate locally. 

Public libraries have been in the early learning business for a long
time and OSL has a history of promoting and providing early literacy
support for libraries, from the Ready to Read grant to the recently
completed Reading for Healthy Families project. For a brief history of
libraries and early literacy in Oregon I would direct you to my last
four blog posts Snippets From the State Librarian.

I am very excited about the Governor's education priorities and believe
that libraries will continue and improve on our current ability to be an
essential resource for all Oregon children and their families

MaryKay Dahlgreen
State Librarian
Oregon State Library
marykay.dahlgreen at state.or.us
503-378-4367

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW DISCLOSURE

This e-mail is a public record of the City of Beaverton and is subject
to public disclosure unless exempt from disclosure under Oregon Public
Records Law. This email is subject to the State Retention Schedule.
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