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HMG Spotlight: Ashley Wagner

Ashley was hired in January 2016 to be the North Alabama Help Me Grow Care Coordinator for 2-1-1 at Crisis Services of North Alabama (CSNA). She earned her Bachelors in Sociology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and has been involved with 2-1-1 Information and Referral for two years with CSNA. She’s enthusiastic about the goals of the Help Me Grow program and is looking forward to helping the HMG team achieve them!

National Parent Survey Blog Series Part 2: Do You Believe Parenting Can Be Learned?

A parent’s interaction with their child in the first 5 years of life is a strong indicator of how the child’s brain will develop. So, for parents, the pressure is on. Are all people born with the knowledge of how to be a parent or is this something that can be learned? According to the National Parent Survey, 83% of parents agree that good parenting can most definitely be learned. Watch this short video to hear from a few parents about their outlooks on how they have learned to be a better parent for their child.

Zero to Three Video 

HMG Spotlight: Patricia Locker

Patricia is thrilled to be a part of the Help Me Grow Alabama team as the Northwest Alabama Care Coordinator! Her unique qualifications for this position include a B.A. in Psychology, experience as a preschool teacher, and years of working with individuals with disabilities. Patricia has served her community as an active volunteer in many different capacities, and she has also served on a local school board for several years. Through these experiences, she has seen the tremendous impact of early intervention in a young child’s life, and for her, there is no greater purpose than to help a child reach his/her optimal development. She wholeheartedly believes Frederick Douglass’s words to be true: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." Help Me Grow improves lives, and she is grateful to be a part of this process.

HMG Spotlight: Chandler Barrett

Chandler is excited to be part of the HMG team as the Regional Care Coordinator for East Alabama. She received a B.A. in Religion at Birmingham Southern College and a Master’s of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Colorado. She previously worked for the Alabama Law Foundation and Alabama Access to Justice Commission. Chandler is currently a member of the staff at United Way of Lee County where she is responsible for community initiatives and direct service programs.

Parents of Young Children Tell What They Think, Know, and Need

A child’s experiences in the first three years of life shape a child forever. Help Me Grow cares about babies and toddlers, therefore we care about, listen to, and meet the needs of parents too. ZERO TO THREE, with support from the Bezos Family Foundation, undertook a comprehensive research effort to go directly to parents of young children to gain a clear and in-depth understanding about different challenges they face, the help they seek, and how satisfied they are with the support and information they receive. Any effort to set young children up for success in the long term is strengthened by helping their parents put valuable brain science into action.

There are many important findings from the National Parent Survey. Our first highlight is a video showing how parents answered the questions, "How Do Your Children Learn From You?"

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Alabama: 46th in Nation for Child Well-being

Mike Cason from AL.com reports, "Alabama's national ranking on well-being of children fell to 46th in the latest annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

It was the second straight year for Alabama to drop in the Kids Count Data Book, which lists 16 indicators of child well-being in four areas: economic, educational, health and family and community.

Alabama had ranked 44th in 2014 and 45th in 2015."

Read more about this here and find more information in the 2016 Kids Count Data Book.

Starting Ahead is Better than Catching Up

Checkout the newest video from the Heckman Equation. More information is available at heckmanequation.org.

Help Me Grow and Strengthening Families

The following comes from the Center for the Study of Social Policy and is available in PDF.

Help Me Grow (HMG) connects families with young children to community-based services and support. Through the HMG system, statewide partners and communities are mobilized to build collaboration across service sectors, including child health care, early care and education and family support. Ongoing data collection and analysis helps HMG state affiliates identify gaps in and barriers to services. The HMG philosophy and model align well with the Strengthening Families mission and protective factors.

Parental Resilience: HMG fosters parental resilience and family strengths by meeting families where they are and partnering with them in identifying and prioritizing issues. Families are helped to recognize early signs of developmental/behavioral risks and to successfully find needed programs and services. Parents become better equipped to respond effectively to family crisis situations.

Social Connections: Through HMG care coordination, families are linked to a wide array of formal and informal services and supports such as family events, children’s play groups, parent/family networks and educational programs. These experiences all help to facilitate mutual support, friendships and partnerships.

Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: HMG supports families as their children’s first observers, teachers and advocates for optimal healthy development. Through a variety of informational materials and community resources, families acquire knowledge and skills related to child development, behaviors and milestones. Families are further assisted in using observational tools and effective parenting strategies to best support their children.

Concrete Support in Times of Need: The HMG system connects families to services, programs and opportunities where they live. Care coordinators build relationships with families, helping them understand available resources, how to access them, specific questions to ask and, if needed, assistance with completing service application packages. HMG further acts as a care coordination service for child health care, early care and education and family support providers, thus promoting an ongoing cycle of concrete support.

Social and Emotional Competence of Children: HMG care coordination and service referrals are provided for children and families at every level of need: developmental, behavioral or social-emotional problems, Birth to Three, Title V special health care needs and special education. By linking families to community-based programs such as child care, Head Start and family resource centers, HMG supports positive early learning and peer socialization experiences that strengthen children’s social-emotional abilities, school readiness and school success.

Project LAUNCH Summit

Registration is open for the Alabama Project LAUNCH Summit!

The Alabama Project LAUNCH Early Childhood Summit will be held on May 3-4 at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Summit will focus on strengthening adult capacities to ensure children’s optimal development and is open to all early childhood professionals, mental health practitioners, physicians, educators, home visitors, or any other professionals across the state working directly with children birth to eight years old.

Project LAUNCH, which stands for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health, promotes the wellness of young children from birth to eight years by addressing the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of their development. The Alabama Partnership for Children partners with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, the Alabama Department of Public Health, and Child Development Resources of The University of Alabama for Project LAUNCH’s local implementation in Tuscaloosa.

The May 4th Project LAUNCH Summit includes keynote addresses from David Willis, M.D., FAAP, the director of the Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems Maternal and Child Heath Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Nancy Fishman, the deputy director of the Ready Nation/Council for a Strong America, and Jessica Richards, MS, MSW, LCSW, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in early childhood mental health.

Registration is available online at http://training.ua.edu/launch. Registration costs $30 for the Professional Development Institute, $35 for the Project LAUNCH Summit, and $60 for both days. CEU certificates are also available.

For more information about Alabama Project LAUNCH at the state level, please contact Marguerite Johnson by calling toll-free 1-866-711-4025 or by emailing mjohnson@smartstartalabama.org. For information about Alabama Project LAUNCH in Tuscaloosa, please contact Amy Crosby by calling 205-348-4036 or by emailing acrosby@ches.ua.edu.

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month and the Autism Society of Alabama has plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, including a Walk for Autism near you! If you are in Alabama and have questions or concerns about autism, call 2-1-1 and ask for Help Me Grow.

Help Me Grow passionately supports early identification of developmental or behavioral concerns, so that a family can get connected to the best resources available to fully support a child’s opportunities for success in life. The following links share stories regarding autism diagnosis from a first-person perspective.

Families Describe How They Felt Hearing About An Autism Diagnosis
After The Diagnosis: How Families Experience Autism
When An Autism Diagnosis Comes In Adulthood

Joining Hands for Week of the Young Child

You are invited to attend the Alabama Partnership for Children’s annual Joining Hands for Week of the Young Child event on Tuesday, April 12th. This event brings together child advocates to illuminate the needs of young children in Alabama. More information can be found at http://smartstartalabama.org/get-involved/, including Instructions for Making and Returning Handprints.

Joining Hands for Week of the Young Child

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Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Location: Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education
Alabama Center for Postsecondary Education Building
135 South Union Street
2nd Floor Conference Room
Montgomery, Alabama

Agenda
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. General information
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon Deliver handprints!

Don't forget to RSVP! Please contact Bailey McKell (BMcKell@SmartStartAlabama.org) by April 5th to let her know if you plan to attend.

National Nutrition Month

http://www.eatright.org/resources/national-nutrition-month

March is National Nutrition Month, an annual observance that encourages Americans to adopt a healthy eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods. Nutrition professionals and health and child care providers often celebrate this special month by providing educational and fun resources and treats to promote healthy eating at work and at home. This year’s theme, “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” encourages food traditions and the appreciation of eating flavorful foods with friends and family.

Children learn by example and it's important for you to demonstrate healthy habits that will set them up for success. Check out the following resources for more information and ideas:

Healthy From the Start by ZERO TO THREE (PDF)

Especially for Moms by USDA

National Nutrition Month by EatRight

The Benefits of Reading to Children

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Parents are often told to read aloud to their young children, and most people would say that they understand that children benefit from being routinely read to. 

While parents are often recommended to do certain things to benefit their children, not many people can explain how reading benefits them. Now, for the first time, a study has revealed hard evidence that reading aloud to kids has a significant impact on literacy and language readiness.  

In this study, researchers looked at the brains of nineteen 3-5-year-olds using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. Researchers scanned the children's brains while they listened to recordings of a woman reading stores, as well as while they listened to background noise, in order to see how their brains responded when faced with different types of stimulation. The team also found out how stimulating their home reading environments were by asking the children questions about how often they were read to and if they were exposed to a variety of books.

The MRIs revealed that children from the more stimulating home reading environments had more activity in the parts of the brain that help with narrative comprehension and visual imagery. The brains showed greater activity in those specific areas while they listened to stories. 

Dr. Thomas Dewitt, Director of the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, said "This is a small and very early study, but the exciting thing is that it was able to demonstrate that early reading does have an impact on the parts of the brain that are fundamental for developing literacy early on," Dewitt said. "It is biological evidence that transcends empirical studies."

 We can now help explain the "why" to parents when they are recommended to read aloud to their children. Reading to babies and children is important and can help the development of their young brains. 

New Bill Intends to Expand and Improve Child Care

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Members of congress have joined toddler and infant advocates on the importance of the investment in high-quality early child care. Senator Casey and Representatives Crowley and Frankel have just introduced The Child Care Access to Resources for Early-learning Act (Child C.A.R.E. Act), a bill that will ensure that all low-income families with infants and toddlers will have access to high quality child care by 2021.

Matthew Melmed, Executive Director of ZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit committed to promoting the health and development of infants and toddlers, said in a recent statement, “Babies learn and develop at an astonishing rate during the first three years, with their brains forming 700 new neural connections each second. This learning happens through experiences with their caregivers, whether at home or at child care. For the millions of babies who spend part of their days in child care, the quality of that environment is crucial to their healthy development and our country’s future success.”

This bill could be an exciting breakthrough for the children and families here in Alabama. Congress is proposing a bold investment in our early child care system, which will generate substantial benefits in our communities.  National studies have found that most infant-toddler child care is low quality-a very small percentage is of the high quality care that children need to succeed. The Child C.A.R.E. Act could change the odds for many low-income children so that when they start school they are healthy and ready to learn.

This bill will focus on:

·         Expanding the Child Care and Development Block Grant so that all families with children under the age of four who are living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level will have access to quality child care.

·         Ensuring that the Child Care and Development Block Grant provider payment rates are set at a level high enough to provide quality child care and fair wages for child care workers.

·         Assisting infant and toddler child care providers in improving their programs and strengthening their skills.

We are excited to see Congress invest in our children and demonstrate their understanding of how critical the first few years of a child’s life really is.  To learn more about The Child Care Access to Resources For Early-learning Act (Child C.A.R.E Act) go to 

http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/press-release-presidents-budget-proposal-1.html or visit http://usa.childcareaware.org/2016/02/congress-to-introduce-new-child-care-legislation/.

How to Spot and Stop Bullying

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According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is unwanted or aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. When a child is being bullied, it normally means peers are intentionally causing harm. 160,000 children skip school every day because they fear being attacked or intimidated by other students. Bullying can start at a very young age and can be more frequent and aggressive than parents may anticipate. Cruel behavior often increases with age and could be damaging to a child’s psyche. Being bullied multiple times could cause a child emotional and mental distress, and could lower his or her self-esteem. Both boys and girls report high levels of emotional distress as well as lower self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. In some situations, the outcome is tragic and the child may take his or her own life. Many children never report being bullied, so it’s important for adults to be able to recognize the nonverbal signs. Check out this list from Character.org to learn how to stop bullying at the first sign of distress. You can also visit stopbullying.gov for a variety of resources and information, including stopbullying.gov/kids for young children to learn more.

Alabama Quality STARS Rolling Out Statewide

The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) has begun implementation of the Alabama Quality STARS Rating and Improvement System for child care. The Alabama Quality STARS is a five star building block system which rates the quality of child care centers that are above the minimum licensing requirements. The University of Alabama and DHR uses a national systematic approach that assesses, improves, and communicates the different levels of quality in early child care and education programs. The new Quality STARS rating system allows child care centers to demonstrate the top quality care they serve to children. DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said, “It also provides a simple, but effective way for parents to choose a child care center that rises above the minimum standards that licensing requires.” The centers that participate in the voluntary STARS program will receive between one and five stars based on: Staff Qualifications and Professional Development, Management and Administrative Practices, Learning Environment and Curriculum, and Family Involvement and Community Partnerships. Programs that are eligible will be invited to register for an upcoming orientation session that must be attended if a center plans to apply and participate in Alabama Quality STARS. To learn more about Alabama Quality STARS, visit alabamaqualitystars.org. If you have any questions concerning the Alabama Quality STARS Program click here.

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HMG Staff Spotlight: Jackie Navidad

Jackie Navidad joined the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) in January as Help Me Grow Alabama Professional Development Coordinator. She is a native of Peru and she is fluent in Spanish. She and her family immigrated to the United States in 1976 and resided in New Jersey. Her husband is a native of El Salvador and was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1986, which began their journey living in the south. She and her husband have been married for 25 years and have two daughters, ages 10 and 13. Her background is in counseling, teaching and social services. She is also involved in empowering and supporting the Hispanic families and children living in the community. In her new position with the APC, she will focus on coordinating the developmental screening component of Help Me Grow Alabama. Her intention is to reach out to families with young children and offer them the support and referrals needed to live a successful life.

AL Baby Facts

Have you ever wondered how Alabama's early learning compares to other states? Here is ZERO TO THREE's Alabama Baby Facts for children ages 0 – 5 years old. Alabama is below the nationwide average for parents or family who read to their child each day, but above the nationwide average for parents or family members who sing and tell stories to their children. Our state is below the nationwide average for developmental screenings to detect developmental and behavioral problems. One in four Alabama children are at a moderate or high risk for developmental behavioral problems.

According to ZERO TO THREE, infants and toddlers are always learning whether it's in "the home, child care centers, Early Head Start, family child care homes, and family, friend, and neighbor care. High-quality care that promotes positive early learning can have lasting effects into adulthood, particularly for children who are at risk for starting school behind their peers. For more information on these programs, go to www.zerotothree.org/earlylearning."

Family New Year Resolutions

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Happy New Year! We at Help Me Grow Alabama have big plans for 2016 and we’re excited you’re along for the journey! At the start of the year, many families are considering making positive changes and we have a few resources to help get you started. First, this article from PBS provides recommendations for what you should consider when it comes to planning new resolutions for you and your child. Making New Year’s resolutions can be a beneficial time of reflection and critical thinking; children can learn about self-discipline and the value of setting goals. Here are some things to consider:

1. Make it a family activity. The best way to teach your child the importance of a New Year’s resolutions is by getting the family together and everyone being involved. You can take time to remember the past year’s goals and accomplishments.
2. Make different resolutions for different ages. Resolutions for preschoolers may focus on cleaning up toys, brushing teeth, washing hands and being kind to pets, as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP also recommends that children ages 5 to 12 commit to drinking more milk and water on a daily basis, always wearing a seat belt, and being friendly to all children However, some parents may already expect these behaviors and may choose to focus more on attitudes than behaviors. Check out these suggestions for teaching gratitude.
3. Lead by example. Just as with everything else you do, your child is watching. No matter what age your child is, he or she is more likely to understand the value of goal setting if you serve as a role model.
4. Celebrate accomplishments. We all know the feeling of meeting a goal and children also relish that thrill, especially when parents acknowledge it. However your family decides to handle New Year’s resolutions, the best part is that you are doing it together and learning how to manage your role in the family and in the world.