• Investing  in early childhood  makes solid economic sense.  A study by the Federal Reserve Bank reports that every $1 we spend on quality early learning education pays returns of $7-$17.   
  • 85% of the human brain is developed by age 5. 
  • 20% of today’s workers are functionally illiterate.  Early childhood development programs prepare our children to become adults who are literate, employable, and productive citizens. 
  • Virginia spends approximately $90 million annually on children who repeat grades K-3.
  • 1 in 4 children in the Shenandoah Valley enter school not ready to learn.

2009 Action Teams and Priorities

If you would like to be involved in one of the action teams, please contact the chairperson listed below or Stacie Jackson, Coalition Coordinator, at 540-568-8968 or jacks2sc@jmu.edu.

ACTION TEAMS

PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR 2009

 

 

Early Care and Education
Chairperson:
Reagan Eshleman, Child Care Connection
540-433-4531
reshlema@rhcc.com

Based on the results of the 2008 survey of childcare programs and professionals, an interest in additional professional development opportunities was made clear in the areas of infant/toddler and school-age children:

  1. Provide a ½ day Saturday training centered on topics for infant/toddler providers/teachers using a modified Celebrating Teaching format.
  2. Provide a ½ day morning session for school-age teachers/providers on a Friday to facilitate increased attendance using a modified Celebrating Teaching format. 
  3. Provide follow-up sessions to these two professional development opportunities at the 2009 Celebrating Teaching Conference.

Public Awareness
Chairperson:
Pat Kennedy, Dir. Of Early Childhood Literacy Initiatives, JMU, IIHHS
540-568-2557
kennedpa@jmu.edu
  1. Extend the public awareness campaign through print and on-air highlighting childcare issues, including:
    • What is quality childcare?
    • Why is quality childcare important?
  1. Develop a plan to promote childcare professionals in our region, especially during the Week of the Young Child.

 Early Childhood Health
Chairperson:
Cheryl Burke, Consultant
540-421-1049
cburkeedc@aol.com
  1. Survey needs and services for mental health especially as related to children 0-6 and their parents
  2. Create an Essential Guide (Toolkit) to mental health resources

Parent Education and Support
Chairperson:
Sylvia Whitney-Beitzel, Family Academies
540-271-4488
Sb6whitney@gmail.com
  1. Provide Parent Education for Preschoolers by continuing with the existing model for Celebrating Families
  2. Provide Parent Education for Infants and Toddlers by creating a similar event to Celebrating Families, only targeting the specific needs and interest of that youngest population
  3. Provide Parent Support through:
    • Connecting families with resources
    • Continued support of the Academy for Parents (in its role as resource-connector)
    • Looking for solutions for prominent barriers such as lack of transportation, English proficiency and foreign language, affordable and quality childcare by facilitating support groups, focus groups and parent-cooperatives
  4. Increase outreach and distribution of the available Infant-Pre-school resource guides, for parents and for professionals. 

Governance
Chairperson:
Betsy Hay, Director, United Way Harrisonburg Rockingham
540-434-6639
Betsy.hay@uwhr.org
  1. Fully implement the new Steering Committee by April 2009
  2. Describe and approve the roles & responsibilities of the Steering Committee
  3. Describe and approve the responsibilities & terms of the Coalition Co-chairs; hold elections if necessary
  4. Enhance the Coalition website to include meeting dates and information on action teams and localities
  5. Create a Legislative Action Team (separate from the Governance Action Team)
  6. Fund and hire an Executive Director for the Coalition