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!