EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

Early Head Start Exchange A Newsletter for EWU Early Head Start Families

Page 2 EWU EARLY HEAD START EXCHANGE

Carolyn Sola EWU EHS Director

Policy Council Members Learn the Secret Sauce of Success (and more) at WSA Conference

Policy Council members Margot Casteel, Lindsey Lawson and I recently attended the Washington State Association of Head Starts and ECEAPs Conference.

The multi-day conference brought together parents, staff and community members from Early Head Start, Head Start and ECEAP programs from all across the State of Washington.

Margot, Lindsey and I attended a variety of sessions on different topics including:

Updates on the new Head Start Program Performance Standards

New data about school readiness outcomes for Head Start and ECEAP children

Strengths-based theory that looks at what is strong in families, not what is wrong, and

Updates on state and federal funding for these public school readiness programs.

Lindsey attended the conference on behalf of Rural Resources’ Northeast Washington Early Childhood Program with Nancy Williams and Kathleen Greene, which gave both programs a chance to get caught up on all the things we are doing in the Tri-Counties!

Margot attended a session about five protective factors that help a parent or child be less likely to experience a negative impact when experiencing hardships. A protective factor is like the flip side of a risk factor. Protective factors help children and families to thrive despite whatever risk factors they might face.

Margot will be leading an exercise with the EHS Policy Council to share more about those five protective factors (shown in the graphic here).

(Continued on next page) From the National Alliance of Children’s Trust & Prevention Funds

Page 3 Volume 15, Issue 6

(Continued from previous page)

The group that attended the Washington State Association of Head Starts and ECEAPs Conference also attended a presentation about the Head Start program’s Secret Sauce for Success.

Head Start has been funded since 1965 and it has had bi-partisan support for all that time. The reason for that support (i.e. the “secret sauce) is this:

Secret Sauce for Success

Staying united and grassroots-focused. This means that parents, communities and staff members are all working together all across the United States to help children be ready for Success in School.

Sharing Data + Stories. This means that the public learns not only about the advances and outcomes that children have when they attend Head Start but also that parents share the stories of how that makes their child’s life better.

Receiving parent and community support. This means that parents and community organizations work with Head Start to make it successful.

Remaining solutions-oriented. This means that Head Start is always looking for ways to be better and to make their program more beneficial for children, families and communities.

Being the best game in town. Head Start and Early Head Start constantly strives to be the best early childhood program in our country. And it is the deep involvement of parents that makes sure it stays the best, year in and year out.

Thank you to Margot, Lindsey and their families for making this trip possible.

Page 4 EWU EARLY HEAD START EXCHANGE

Children graduate and transition out of EWU Early Head Start once they turn 3 years old. Several EHS graduates were celebrated recently around the program including:

Aaden Evans pictured with Mom Rori Matthai (top right)

Gabriella Garrison, with mom Shannon and big sister Sarena (2nd down on right)

Rya Trousdell (3rd down on right )

Kaydin Swaim with mom Stacey and Jordon (bottom right )

Ilyzabeth Palmer with Mom Stormie, Dad C.J., and little sister Austin (bottom left)

Grace Uhden with her mom Stephanie (2nd up from bottom left)

James Sells with mom Amber, Dad Josh, and sister (EHS Graduate) Mallorie (3rd up from bottom left)

Payton Ward with Mom Kathleen, Dad John, and sister Kailia (top left)

Sawyer Peasley with mom Tara (top of page 5)

Congratulations, and best wishes to

Aaden, Gabriella, Rya,

Kaydin, Ilyzabeth, Grace, James, Payton, Sawyer

and each of their families from everyone at EWU

Early Head Start!

Page 5

EHS Families, Home-Visitor Margaret Kidwell and everyone at Early Head Start wish to congratulate

a family that recently welcomed a new member.

(at right with mom Koleen and big sister Shakira), was born November 4, 2017, at 8 lbs. 6 ounces to

Koleen Hunt

Volume 16, Issue 1

Congratulations to Sawyer, Lee and Tara Peasley and the rest of their family on the finalization of Sawyer’s adoption on December 27th!

The Peasleys recently celebrated Sawyer’s graduation from EHS as well!

Come and invite friends to enjoy the fun activities, learning experiences and great things happening around EWU Early Head Start! Here are some pictures from recent Play & Learns, Home Visits and other EHS activities. Make sure to check the EHS calendars for the times and locations and call: (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot at the Play & Learns in Colville and Newport!

Don’t miss out! At EWU EHS Play & Learns in February the Topic is “Language & Literacy” and the theme is “We Love Books”. Activities include Valentines, Hand/Footprints, Heart Stickers & more! EHS Families are invited to attend two Play & Learns per month. Ask your Home Visitor for details, including receiving Family Transportation Assistance cash to help cover some of your travel costs.

EWU Early Head Start Exchange Page 8

12 Things Policy Council Members Want You to Know About Being on Policy Council.

You get Reimbursed for Mileage traveled to & from meetings (the reimbursement rate is now $0.54½ per mile, and includes miles to child care providers before & after meetings when applicable)

There are reimbursements for Child Care (Up to $11.50 an hour per family with a maximum of $115 per day. Not to exceed the actual cost of care.).

On-Site Child Care is also provided

Lunch is always provided

Your input and decisions matter and are heard

It’s pretty laid back

You get to be an adult and talk with other adults/parents like you

It’s a great opportunity to meet other parents and develop new relationships

You can talk with other parents and get their perspectives and ideas

You get good experience being part of a decision making group

It’s something you can use on a résumé

There are opportunities to do things that you don’t usually get to do.

If you are a parent in Early Head Start, you are

invited to become a member of our Early Head

Start Policy Council!

We need your ideas to help run the program

and continue to improve it for children and

families. So please, Come and Have A Say!

EHS parents and community members are

elected to the Policy Council In May of each year

with nominations in April. That is not far off!

As an EHS parent, you have much to offer! Your

unique perspective and input would be a great

strength to the Policy Council and EHS.

EHS Policy Council Members:

Meet once a month

Keep our EHS program focused on what parents of infants and toddlers really want and need from EHS

Are on hiring teams that help interview potential home visitors, managers and other EHS staff, and must approve all EHS hires.

Share ideas about what EHS does well and how it can be better

Helps oversee the EHS Budget

Ask your Home Visitor for more information!

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Did you know that as an EHS parent, you and your child will receive Birthday Health Packets around their first and second birthdays?

Each Birthday Health Packet has several great health resources that your Home Visitor will share with you. And there’s also a new book, toothbrush and toothpaste for your child!

Did you know that tooth decay is the most common childhood disease? The good news is, it's preventable. Your Home Visitor and these packets will support you as you do the important work of caring for your child’s oral health, and their overall health.

You’ll receive helpful information on: how to brush, dental visits, checking for early signs and ways to prevent tooth decay, as well as the importance of Well Child Visits, why your child needs iron and foods that provide it, healthy drink choices and so much more!

ABCD Dental offers NO-COST Dental Care for children birth to 5!

ABCD is a great FREE program that helps you find specially trained ABCD Dentists for your child!

Who is eligible:

Children, birth through 5 years old

Children with a Medicaid coupon

Children Living in Stevens, Ferry or Pend Oreille Counties

What this program does:

Helps you find a child-friendly ABCD dentist, trained and certified by the University of Washington

Gives your children a great start in life by making sure baby teeth are healthy

Makes it easier to go to the dentist and make it a regular part of your child’s life

Gets children into a dentist by the recommended age of one year

Provides an easy dental visit with your child in your arms, not in a dental chair

Ask your Home Visitor for more information, or call the local ABCD Manager, Jill Carpenter at: (509) 685-6106 -or- toll free at:

(877) 219-5542 and ask to speak to the ABCD Manager.

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Colville Play & Learn

EHS Colville Center 10 —11:30 am

Newport Play & Learn 1600 1st St.

10 —11:30 am

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the February 23 Play & Learns!

FREE CPR CLASS Covers Infant, Child

and Adult CPR + AED

9 am-12 pm at Providence Mount

Carmel Hospital

Call: (509) 685-5451 for more info.

(Limit of 6 per class)

Professional Development Day

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the February 16 Play & Learns!

Policy Council

Meeting at the Colville Center

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

President’s Day Holiday

February is Children’s Dental Health Month.

Oral health is an important part of overall health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a

lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Ask your Home Visitor for more, and check out page 9 for information on the FREE ABCD Dental program. You can also learn more

about oral health for you and your child by visiting: www.mouthhealthy.org and www.abcd-dental.org.

Colville 2 Play & Learns

EHS Colville Center 10 —11:30 am & 1—2:30 pm

Newport Play & Learn 1600 1st St.

10 —11:30 am

Colville 2 Play & Learns

EHS Colville Center 10 —11:30 am & 1—2:30 pm

Newport Play & Learn 1600 1st St.

10 —11:30 am

Spring Forward

Daylight Savings

Time Begins

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St. Patrick’s Day

Colville Play & Learn

EHS Colville Center 10 —11:30 am

Newport Play & Learn 1600 1st St.

10 —11:30 am

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the March 23 Play & Learns!

FREE CPR CLASS Covers Infant, Child

and Adult CPR + AED

9 am-12 pm at Providence Mount

Carmel Hospital

Call: (509) 685-5451 for more info.

(Limit of 6 per class)

Professional Development Day

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the March 16 Play & Learns!

EHS is welcoming spring, and welcoming EHS parents

to become members of our Early Head Start Policy Council!

We begin the process of nominating and electing new

EHS Policy Council Representatives each spring!

Please consider getting involved with this great part of EHS.

Having a voice and sharing your input will make a difference!

202 E Spokane Falls Blvd.

Suite #202

Spokane, WA 99202

1-(800) 776-9136

http://access.ewu.edu/ehs

Like Us on Facebook as: EWU Early Head Start

From Mouth Healthy™ and the American Dental Association. Learn more at MouthHealthy.org.