Stay Tuned: Projects in Progress
New Initiative
Community Café
Parenting can be the most rewarding and challenging job we undertake. In Clinton County, parents/guardians can take advantage of programs at the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country to learn from peers and professionals about everything from soothing a crying infant to choosing day care. In Saranac Lake, Danielle Carr of Adirondack Community Counseling will be piloting what promises to be a wonderful Parent 2 Parent group with free child care at Pendragon Theatre starting in September.
Birth to Three wants to know what additional resources are needed in Essex and Franklin Counties. To that end, the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country and Birth to Three are planning a community café in Saranac Lake to discuss the need for additional parenting resources in the area. The event will bring together parents and professionals for a lively discussion – and food, of course! Stay tuned for more information.
Updates
Public Relations and Advocacy
Birth to Three is gearing up to spread the word about the economic and social benefits of investing in the first 1,000 days. We are working with Ken Aaron of Great Range Communications to hone our message and develop an outreach and engagement campaign. We are working with our grant writer, Ann Ruzow Holland, to look for ways to fund the campaign.
New Parent Kit
Birth to Three has been chosen to participate in a pilot test of the New Parent Kit, a resource developed by the NYS Parenting Education Partnership for pregnant and newly parenting families. The Kit includes the New Parent Guide, What to Do When Your Child Gets Sick, and a picture book to read with the baby. We have received preview editions of the books and are currently waiting for the materials to be published in quantity.
Access to Technology
Birth to Three's Access to High Quality Services Work Group identified lack of access to technology for early childhood educators as a problem they wished to solve. The group has begun work on a survey to determine if educators have the equipment they need, and if they are taking advantage of technology to gain access to professional development, network, and run their businesses. After the information is gathered, the group will work to address gaps by looking for funding for technology and holding workshops to teach educators how to use it effectively.
