IT IS IN THE STARS!!!!

Alexander County Partnership for Children announces the first group of STAR providers of the month. This is a new initiative through the Alexander County Partnership for Children to reward early childhood teachers throughout the county for excellence in child care. The criterion to receive this award includes positive engagement, meaningful interactions, intentionality in lesson planning and encouragement with and for young children.

Mrs. Sharpe, a teacher at Head Start, was seen allowing the children to select the units of learning. The children are asked what they wish to study on a regular basis. Mrs. Sharpe has taken an interest in sign language and uses this throughout her classroom. This classroom is well organized with a focus on child engagement. When told she had received this award said, “Really?? Thank you so much.” In her free time she enjoys being with her family and being a Tarheel fan!

Mrs. Laws is a busy teacher of two year olds at Lulu’s Child Enrichment Center. During several visits to Lulu’s she was seen consistently playing indoors on rainy days trying to get some energy out of some very active two year olds. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her two kids but loves having some down time to read a good book.

Mrs. Herman runs her own child care, Sandy’s Daycare, out of her home. She was seen on the floor teaching the children to successfully complete a somersault on a rainy day. Mrs. Herman was explaining to the children that they must look around them before they somersault to keep everyone safe from getting kicked. In her free time she enjoys stamping and sewing projects. We are so excited to see physical activity happening despite the weather.

These child care providers are from two child care centers and one family child care home. Alexander County is currently home to eleven child care centers and eight family child care homes. These nineteen facilities care for 593 children in Alexander County.

Reach Out and Read To Start!

Getting books from the doctor will soon be a routine part of regular pediatric checkups at Alexander County Health Department and Family Care medical practices in Alexander County. Alexander County Partnership for Children is working with Reach Out and Read® to make books and literacy guidance a reality for children and families in Alexander County. The new Reach Out and Read clinical locations join more than 4,779 programs nationwide that are preparing America’s youngest children to succeed in school.

Susan Cogdill, Executive Director for the Alexander County Partnership for Children (ACPC), expressed excitement for the expansion of literacy efforts in the county. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Alexander County and our children. Reach Out and Read will assist in the partnership’s focus to bring books to more families and children in our county. The ACPC Board of Directors has embraced literacy as means to ensure children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.” The Partnership hopes to expand Reach Out and Read to other medical practices in the county.

Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read's evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children.

The program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and better prepared to achieve their potential.

During the 2011 legislative session, The North Carolina General Assembly added a requirement for Smart Start to implement an evidence-based pilot literacy program. The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc, the organization that oversees Smart Start, chose Reach Out Read because it builds upon Smart Start’s success in working with pediatricians. Smart Start currently works with pediatric offices to provide developmental screenings during well-child visits. Smart Start has always included a focus on developing early literacy skills and has been implementing the evidence-based program, Raising a Reader since 2007.

Alexander County Partnership for Children is one of 14 Smart Start partnerships selected to implement Reach Out and Read. The others include Anson County Partnership for Children, Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County, Inc., Smart Start of Davie County, Inc., Down East Partnership for Children, Duplin County Partnership for Children, Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start, Madison County Partnership for Children and Families, Inc., Randolph County Partnership for Children, Region A Partnership for Children, Rockingham County Partnership for Children, Inc., Smart Start Rowan, Inc., Children’s Council of Watauga, Inc., and Wilkes Community Partnership for Children.

Festival of Cultures

ACPC attended the Festival of Cultures held on Saturday, October 29th. Children and families attended the event at Alexander Central High School. ACPC provided books for children along with a painting activity.

Not Too Early to Think about the Holidays!

Preschool children and their families run, run fast as you can so you can get to the Alexander County Partnership for Children on Saturday December 3rd ,before the Taylorsville parade, or on Monday December 5th to participate in our 1st annual community Gingerbread House Making Party. Come join the fun to create and take home your very own gingerbread house. Hear the story about the gingerbread man that inspired this seasonal tradition.

When: Saturday December 3rd or Monday December 5th
Where: Alexander County Partnership for Children office
Time:10 am- 12 noon

Call 632-3799 or email andrea@alexanderchildren.org to register. Space is limited so don’t miss this wonderful chance to make some family memories while sharing in a tradition that has been part of children’s lives for generations.

ACPC Receives Shape NC Grant

Alexander County Partnership for Children has been selected to implement Shape NC: Healthy Starts for Young Children. Shape NC is a groundbreaking initiative that tackles the childhood obesity epidemic by focusing on young children, from birth through age five, in child care and community settings. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation has partnered with The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. (NCPC), the organization that oversees Smart Start, to invest $3 million for 30 Smart Start partnerships to administer Shape NC over three years. In this second phase, the program expands to10 Smart Start local partnerships serving Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Carteret, Chatham, Iredell, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell-Yancey, and Wayne counties.

Last year, eight child care programs in Buncombe, Guilford, Onslow, Orange, Randolph, and New Hanover counties as well at the Nash-Edgecombe area and the state’s Western-most counties, launched the program. After the first year, 120 early childhood and other related professionals are more effective at engaging children in physical activities indoors and outdoors, improving activity levels for 600 children birth through 5. Through Shape NC, Alexander County Partnership for Children will provide nutrition and physical activity programs to over 500 children in Alexander County.

Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of the Alexander County Partnership for Children, shared “Alexander County young children will be the recipients of this wonderful opportunity. Shape NC gives Alexander County the initiative to focus on keeping our children fit and healthy as we work to prevent childhood obesity. Alexander County cares about young children and Shape NC will give us a chance to collaborate with community partners to make a deep impact at the local level”.

North Carolina has the 11th highest childhood obesity rate (18.6%) in the nation, according to a 2011 report by the Trust for America’s Health. Shape NC seeks to create a replicable, sustainable statewide early childhood model to reduce obesity rates among young children by improving their daily nutrition and physical activity as well as their outdoor environments in child care and the community in general.

“From Cherokee County to Edgecombe County, local child care programs will become the centers to help bring the benefits of nutritious foods, physical activity and healthy living to children, their families and teachers,” said Kathy Higgins, BCBSNC Foundation president. “The expansion to include these ten communities continues our progress at addressing the childhood obesity epidemic.”

For more information about Shape NC or other Smart Start programs, visit www.smartstart.org or contact your local Smart Start partnership. Alexander County Partnership for Children is funded by Smart Start and United Way of Alexander County.

Birth to Four Screening is Planned

On October 31, 2011 Alexander County Schools in conjunction with the Children's Developmental Services Agency and the Alexander County Partnership for Children is sponsoring a FREE screening event for children birth to four years age. Any child age zero to four years of age is invited to participate in this event. Services available include developmental, hearing and vision screenings, fingerprinting, car seat inspections, plus much more. Call the partnership at 632-3799 to get started with the registration process!

Maggie Breden Taylor Joins ACPC Staff

Maggie Breden Taylor, RNC has joined Alexander County Partnership for Children as the Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC). Maggie has over 20+ years of successful experience in various health care settings including working in pediatric care, occupational health, and nursing instruction. Maggie was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf by the governor of North Carolina for initiating an “Action for Children” program in Charlotte.

The CCHC is a vital link between the children in child care and preschools, parents, providers, and community resources. Maggie will be working with child care facilities in addressing health and safety environmental needs as well as specific health needs of young children. Services will include: on-site consultations, immunization record reviews, and health and safety related educational opportunities for child care providers. Assistance with referrals to the children’s medical home and other services including Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) or Exceptional Children’s Program may occur as needed.

Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of Alexander County Partnership for Children, commented, “Maggie brings a high level of enthusiasm and experience to the Partnership For Children. Her commitment to Alexander County and to children is contagious!

The PreK Roundup is Coming

The Pre-K Roundup is returning on Tuesday, October 18th from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Varsity Gym-Alexander Central High School. Children who will be entering Kindergarten in August 2012 and their families are invited to attend. This is a drop-in event. The Pre-K Roundup is an opportunity for children and families to become acquainted with representatives from their school including teachers and other staff and make connections that will make an easier transition to Kindergarten for children.
Also participating in the Pre-K Roundup will be representatives from after-school care, the Exceptional Children’s Department, and other school programs. Children will have the opportunity to ride a school bus. The first seventy-five children in attendance will receive a Kindergarten Transition backpack. Each child attending will receive a book from the Ready Schools Committee. You will not want to miss this exciting opportunity being hosted by the Ready Schools Committee along with the Alexander County Schools and the Alexander County Partnership for Children.

Play to Learn Returns!!!

Back by popular demand is the Alexander County Partnership for Children’s Play to Learn group for parents and children. Play to Learn will begin October 13th and will be held at Alexander County Partnership for Children. The parent and child playgroup will meet the second Thursday of each month from 10am to 11:30am and is designed for children ages two, three, and four. Registration is currently being conducted for this FREE program. Interested parents are asked to register by calling the 828-632-3799 to receive a registration form or by emailing info@alexanderchildren.org.

Activities will be based on the Creative Curriculum for the children and help parents/caregivers by providing age appropriate adult/child interactions through play. Children will be introduced to visual arts, creative drama, creative movement, and music with a literacy enhancement component. Sessions will include themes that allow children to receive take home materials to extend the session into their home with parental support.

Participants will also have the opportunity to check out for take home use educational toys and learning materials from the Lending Library. The Lending Library contains thousands of exciting materials for children including puzzles, books, manipulatives, blocks, musical instruments, puppets, CDs to name a few.

You will not want to miss this exciting learning opportunity for children! Space is limited so sign up today. Children must be accompanied by an adult (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and caregiver).

ACPC Is Fueling Good!

ACPC has entered the Fueling Good contest by CITGO. Help support Alexander County Partnership for Children (ACPC). Participate in this campaign which would allow ACPC to receive up to $5,000 in gas for participants of The Nurturing Program- a 16 week program that helps adults learn to parent with empathy and positive discipline. Fueling Good will assist parents with the cost of getting to and from class which can often be a barrier to participation.

Voting begins September 29th and ends on October 27th! Please vote daily for ACPC and The Nurturing Program. Voting may take place from one email account daily. Show you support of our Alexander County families and ACPC by voting. Share this information with all your friends and families to help us make this funding a reality!!!
www.fuelinggood.com/rewardinggood?id=838492