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

Hello EHS Parents!

I am writing to share very good news with all of you about EWU Early Head Start.

We are getting 5 more years of funding for this valuable program!

Perhaps you didn’t know that Early Head Start is funded with 5 year grants, but it is. EWU is receiving a new 5 year grant that will allow us to continue providing Early Head Start home visit services from July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2024. That is truly good news!

Recently we sent you an Annual Report about EWU Early Head Start. The report highlights some of the positive outcomes of Early Head Start. If you have not received a copy of the Annual Report, please ask your home visitor to give you one.

Here are a couple of highlights from the Annual Report:

68% of EHS children are typically developing in all 5 major developmental domains (language, motor, social-emotional, cognition and approaches to learning).

16% of EHS children are getting Early Head Start plus additional services (like speech therapy, physical therapy) to help them make progress in domains where they aren’t developing as expected

16% of EHS children are getting Early Head Start and are getting additional evaluation to see if they may need additional services. (Continued on next page)

Page 3 Volume 15, Issue 6

(Continued from previous page)

As you know, school lasts at least 13 years for each child and success in school can open doors of opportunity for children. At EWU EHS we want to do every single thing we can to help school be a positive and rewarding experience for children and their parents.

Working with parents to identify when children need additional services to learn and grow, and then getting the child to get those services before they start school really makes a difference in their school experiences.

We are thrilled to be able to work with each and every Early Head Start parent and child throughout the Tri-Counties, and we are thrilled to know that we have the funding to continue working with children and parents for another 5 years!

Everyone at Early Head Start wish to congratulate two families on their new additions!

Congratulations to Charlotte & Kevin Parazoo, and siblings Lavett, Zayven and Elisha, on the birth of

who arrived on February 23, 2018, at 6 lbs. 10 oz. and 20.5” long,

and is pictured at left with mom Charlotte.

Congratulations also to Jake Lotze & Serria Perryman, and big brother Buck on the birth of

pictured at right, who arrived on January 25, 2018 at 7 lbs. 8 oz.

Page 4 EWU EARLY HEAD START EXCHANGE

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

Lilliann Braun, pictured with her mom Glenda (top right)

Elliot Burt, with dad and mom, Billy & Emily Burt (middle right)

Nehemiah Martinez, with mom and dad, Catherine and Timothy Martinez (bottom right)

Teamo Castillo, (bottom center)

Amarylliz Ebert, with Grandma (Ma-Maw) Kim (bottom left)

Theodore Sigurdson, with mom Pearl (middle left)

Paul Seale, with his mom Elizabeth (top left)

Congratulations, and best wishes to Lilliann, Elliot, Nehemiah, Teamo,

Amarylliz, Theodore, Paul and each of their families from everyone at

EWU Early Head Start!

EWU EARLY HEAD START EXCHANGE

Volume 15, Issue 5 Page 5

Please join with Early Head Start in (re-)welcoming Jacqueline Pinkerton as our newest Parent Child Educator!

Jacqueline begin with EWU EHS for the second time in January of this year. Prior to this, she worked five years for the program as an Infant-Toddler teacher in Colville begin-ning in 2005 when the program had a classroom model. She resigned in 2010 to raise her beautiful set of twins.

When asked about being back at Early Head Start, Jacqueline says, “I am inspired to be a part of the EHS team once again because I am able to use my past experience of support within the community to partner with parents and give back. I feel the vision and mission of EHS truly supports parents as their child’s first and very best teacher. I really like the PAT curriculum that uses everyday household items to create learning experiences,” and smiles as she adds, “I hope you are saving those boxes and cans!”

“We are so lucky to have Jacqueline as part of our team, says EHS Services Manager Dani Cartledge. “She brings a wealth of child development information and knowledge that she is so excited to share. Jacqueline really meets families where they are in their journey and helps them grow. She works side by side with parents to bring activities that are best suited for each child. We are so thrilled that she has joined our amazing EHS team,” says Dani.

Jacqueline moved from Bend, Oregon to Onion Creek, Washington in 1992 when she was in her early 20s. “As a young mother of three children I received a lot of support from the community, she says. “I was inspired to further my education when I took a non-credit class at the Colville SFCC campus called Change Point—a class for mothers who wanted to get back into the work field,” adds Jacqueline.

“When my oldest daughter was in Kindergarten I worked as an Americorps Vista Volunteer at the Onion Creek School. I enjoyed helping children so much as a reading tutor, I decided to get my A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education,” notes Jacqueline.

When she returned to the work force after taking leave to raise her twins, Jacqueline worked as a Visitation Facilitator and with Head Start as an Assistant Teacher for 3 years. “I was grateful to support children in their first experience of school, and celebrating their accomplishments with their parents,” says Jaqueline of her time at Head Start.

For fun and hobbies, Jacqueline loves to be outdoors, collect rocks, and she volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity in her spare time.

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 April the Topic is Discipline and the theme is “Hopping Into Spring”. Activities include Making Funny Bunnies, Birdies, using Bunny Stickers and 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

Did you know that EHS children receive a Graduate Backpack from Early Head Start when they age out of the program?

As children turn 3 and transition from Early Head Start, their home-visitors provide them with a Ready for Preschool Backpack and a Bridge to Kindergarten calendar full of activities. These help with school readiness and will reinforce the basic skills preschoolers need to succeed!

In addition to the Bridge to Kindergarten calendar, the backpack has materials for completing activities including:

Colorful bears to sort and count

A language-building book of nursery rhymes

A 3 Month Ready for Preschool Activity Calendar

A ball for motor activities

16 slot-a-shape builders

3 jumbo crayons, and

Alphabet cards

“When their son recently graduated, (see page 4) Catherine and Tim opened up the backpack, their eyes lit up and said, ‘Wow!’” says their home visitor Jan Dowd.

“They looked through everything and said, ‘this will be great for giving Nehemiah some1 thing to do,’” added Jan.

“EHS parents say, ‘the backpacks are awesome,’” says EHS home visitor Lakoda Lindback.

“They open them up right away, and have their child look through it with them. They can’t wait to be able to use them,” said Lakoda.

Page 9 Volume 16, Issue 1

Parents are constantly looking after their child’s best interests. And EWU Early Head Start strongly believes that parents are the best advocates for their children.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are making decisions for your child.

You Have Rights! Parents have rights. You have the right to:

Make decisions about your child

Enough information to make a good decision for your child

Have those decisions respected

Have your concerns about services heard

Have confidential information kept private

You Make the Decision! As your child’s parent, you need to be comfortable about decisions you make for your child.

You should not feel pressured or forced into a decision that you do not agree with.

That is true when you deal with EWU EHS and with other community agencies or schools.

We Are Here to Help You! EWU Early Head Start is here to help you be a strong advocate for your child.

Please talk with your home visitor and let them know what you want for your child. The more we know about what you want, the more we can help!

Our staff can help you by:

Talking about your choices

Giving you information about community resources

Providing tips and advice about how to work with other agencies

Supporting you as you work with other agencies

Coordinating services with other agencies

It’s Confidential! EWU EHS keeps information about your child confidential. We can only discuss information with other agencies or groups if you sign a release of information form.

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)

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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29 30

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 Play & Learn

EHS Colville Center 10 —11:30 am

Newport Play & Learn 1600 1st St.

10 —11:30 am

Professional Development Day

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the April 20 Play & Learns!

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the April 27 Play & Learns!

Policy Council

Meeting at the Colville Center

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Last Days To Nominate Yourself for Policy Council! POLICY COUNCIL NOMINATIONS CLOSE APRIL 4th!

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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27 28 29 30 31

Memorial

Day Holiday

POLICY COUNCIL

ELECTIONS

Close May 16th!

Policy Council

Meeting at the Colville Center

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

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)

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 Play & Learn

EHS Colville Center 10 —11:30 am

Newport Play & Learn 1600 1st St.

10 —11:30 am

Professional Development Day

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the May 18 Play & Learns!

Call (509) 359-3157 to reserve your spot for the May 25 Play & Learns!

PARENTING IS HARD WORK… BUT YOU AREN’T ALONE…

LET EWU EARLY HEAD START HELP YOU TODAY!

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S BEHAVIOR?

TEMPER TANTRUMS - BITING - SLEEPING - TOILETING

DISCIPLINE - FEEDING CONCERNS - SEPARATION ANXIETY

WOULD YOU LIKE HELP WITH THESE, OR OTHER

CONCERNS YOU HAVE FOR YOU OR YOUR CHILD?

TALK TO YOUR HOME VISITOR AND THEY CAN CONNECT YOU WITH ERIN AND MOLLY

Erin Miller, R.N. EHS Assistant Director, Comprehensive Health Services

Molly Phillips, LICSW, LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Professional Specializing in Family Therapy and Infant/Toddler Behaviors

202 E Spokane Falls Blvd.

Suite #202

Spokane, WA 99202

1-(800) 776-9136

http://access.ewu.edu/ehs

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