Thursday, July 26, 2012
Car Seat Clinic Announced
Outgoing Board Members Recognized
Alexander County Partnership for Children recently
recognized outgoing board members Dale Clary, Maria Southers, and Paula Daniels. Susan Cogdill, Executive Director, thanked
outgoing board members for their service and dedication to the young children
of Alexander County. Collectively the
outgoing board members provided sixteen years of service. The
Alexander County Partnership for Children is a local Smart Start initiative
that works to ensure children enter school health and ready to succeed. For more information visit the partnership
website: www.alexanderchildren.org. Alexander County Partnership for Children is a
United Way agency.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The Stars Just keep Shining in June
Ms. Dara Grinton is the assistant teacher in the infant classroom
at Lulu’s Child Enrichment Center. She
has been observed consistently performing an appropriate diaper change and
hand-washing procedure. Dara is aware of the developmentally appropriate
milestones for all of the children she provides primary care giving for on a
daily basis. It is obvious to outside
observers that Dara enjoys her position and that the children she cares for are
greatly loved! 
Mrs. Sheri Hamrick is the
owner of All God’s Children Family Child Care Home. She has been observed being
consistently loving of all the children in her family child care home. Sheri consistently utilizes the proper
hand-washing technique. She ensures that
children get beyond the allotted one- hour time frame of outside/ active play
daily. The active play time ensures that
all children learn from an early age the importance of a healthy and active
lifestyle.
Star Providers Named for May
Mrs. Barbara Hildebran is the lead teacher in the one year old
classroom at First Baptist Child Development Center. Mrs. Hildebran was seen
patiently, lovingly and quietly entertaining a child who was unable to sleep
during rest time. This was a wonderful
reminder that all children do not sleep and Mrs. Hildebran was happy to play
with him instead of insisting that it was rest time. This was an inspiration to see!!
Mrs. Dawn Burns is the lead teacher in the infant classroom at
Lulu’s Child Enrichment Center. Mrs. Dawn has taken many changes in her
classroom in stride. The classroom is
full of babies who enjoy individualized care and developmentally appropriate
centers. Mrs. Dawn, we applaud you for
the progress you have already made and look forward to seeing what the future
holds.
Alexander Leaders Travel to Raleigh
On Tuesday, June
18, 2012 child care professionals, parents and business leaders from Alexander County
traveled to the North Carolina General Assembly as part of Smart Start’s statewide
“Tuesdays for Tots” initiative. The
constituents met with the Alexander County legislative delegation and asked
members to restore $18.8 million to Smart Start. In 2011, Smart Start
funding was reduced by 20% ($37.6 million), disproportionately more than any
other component of the education system. As a result thousands of children are
no longer benefiting from much-needed early childhood programs.
“There are only 2,000 days
between the time a baby is born and when that child shows up in for the first
day of kindergarten,” said Alexander County delegation member Dale Clary who is
board chairman of the Alexander County Partnership for Children. “We’re meeting with legislators to discuss
the needs of children in our community, the science that supports programs like
Smart Start, and why investing in our youngest citizens is a wise investment
for families, the economy and our society as a whole.”
State funding for Smart Start
has been cut by $80 million over the last decade. These cuts are
occurring at the same time that economists, military leaders, law enforcement
and business leaders are advocating that investments in young children are one
of the strongest investments for sustained growth and job creation, protecting
our national security, and providing children with the opportunity to reach
their potential.
Created by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1993,
Smart Start is a network of 77 nonprofit local partnerships led by a
state-level organization, The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.
working together measurably to measurably increase the health and well-being of
young children, building the foundation for all future learning, by:
·
Improving
children’s early care and education programs so that they are safe, healthy and
provide opportunities for children to learn skills they need for success in
school.
·
Providing
parents with tools that support them in raising healthy, happy, successful
children.
·
Ensuring
that children have access to preventive health care.
Local residents traveling to the North Carolina
General Assembly today included: Dale
Clary, Reverend Tim Marsh, Natasha Beckner, Melissa Summers, and Susan Cogdill The residents met with Senator Dan Soucek of
the Alexander County legislative delegation and visited with Representative
Mark Hollo’s legislative assistant.
Representative Hollow was unavailable due to a change in a committee
meeting schedule.
Reach Out and Read Adds to Literacy Focus!
Medical providers are giving a prescription for reading to
their young patients at Alexander County Health Department and Family Care
Center PA. An age appropriate book is
given as part of regular pediatric checkups at these two medical practices. Joining
more than 4,779 programs nationwide, these
medical practices are preparing America’s youngest children to succeed in
school through participation in Reach Out and Read.
Reach Out and Read's evidence-based model is included in
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. Families served by Reach Out and Read program read
together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger
vocabularies, stronger language skills, and better prepared to achieve their
potential.
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