PDG Newsletter August 3, 2022 LCEY Meeting Tomorrow The Governor’s Leadership Council on Early Years (LCEY) will meet onThursday, August 4. Council members will hear updates from DCF's Division of Early Care and Education; the Department of Health Services on the Birth to 3 Program; and the Department of Public Instruction on Early Childhood Special Education. Finally, they will gain perspective from hearing the experiences of a member of the Parent/Caregiver Equity Advisory Cabinet. The meeting will close with a discussion about connecting the dots across state and local agencies for children with disabilities. You can observe the meeting live or watch afterwards on the DCF YouTube Channel. Visit the LCEY web page to find the council’s mission, its members, and meeting details. Business Child Care Advocate (BCCA) in the Spotlight Business Child Care Advocates (BCCAs) are ready to assist! They work in regions across Wisconsin conducting outreach to businesses for Project Growth. BCCAs also connect businesses and regulated child care providers and provide technical assistance to businesses and providers participating in Partner Up! Learn more about BCCAs and who to contact on the Project Growth website. Spotlight: Mallory Hackel Family Connections Counties Served Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Fond du Lac Contact Information malloryh@familyconnectionscc.org | 920-457-1999 About I graduated from UW-Madison in 2019 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. I have thoroughly enjoyed working within different sectors of the early childhood field the past three years and love the people and work involved! The Most Exciting Part of Being a BCCA Connecting with local businesses, families, and child care providers is the best part (so far!) of being a BCCA. Forming those connections is beneficial throughout all the work our agency operates. Goal for the Next Year My goal is to connect with even more businesses, families, and providers and grow within my roles at Family Connections. View Mallory Hackel’s spotlight. Featured Community Innovation Grant Awardee: Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health Community Innovation Grants (CIG) were awarded in early 2021 to support young children, ages birth to 5, and their families in our communities. Awardees used the funds for early care and education (ECE) programs/projects that address the issues of equity, workforce, access, affordability, quality, kindergarten readiness, and local collaboration. We’ll continue featuring one awardee and their grant activities over the coming newsletters. Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) strives to promote infant mental health through building awareness, promoting professional capacity, fostering partnerships and supporting policies which are in the best interest of infants, young children and their families. WI-AIMH’s community innovation project will provide intentional, thoughtful, and choice-driven professional development and concrete support directly to ECE providers as they act as essential workers during a pandemic. WI-AIMH is partnering with Reach Dane, UW Office of Campus Child Care and Resources (OCCFR), and Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) to implement their community innovation project. Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health used Community Innovation Gant funds to increase the skills of Early Care Educators by: Collaborating with county partners to identify and provide outreach and assess the needs of Early Care Educators in their area. Recruiting Early Care Educators to participate in pilot cohorts. 114 of the 139 (82%) participants completed their cohort. Implementing five active cohorts in the areas of Mindful Movement, IMH-Endorsement, Reflective Practice, Pyramid Model E-Modules (three groups), and Developing Leadership. Completing follow up interviews with cohort participants to work towards developing a plant to replicate this project on a wider scale. Providing waivers for cohort participants for IMH Association memberships Congratulations to WI-AIMH for completing their grant activities in 2021 and best wishes in sustaining your important community work into the future!
