Ingham Great Start Collaborative, Birth to Five Vision Statement:
Every Ingham County child ready to succeed in school and life"

AGENDA - Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 549 E. Mt. Hope in Lansing

*PLEASE NOTE: New start time of 1pm

1:00pm - Part I Opening (Chairperson: Fran Jozefowicz, Timekeeper: Lucy McClintic)

- Introductions - All
          - Approval of GSC Previous Meeting Minutes (2/13/08)
          - ECIC updates
          - GSC Coordinator Report (Michelle)
- Advisory Groups: Early On, Jump Start, Great Parents Great Start

1:30 pm - Part II Action Agenda (~15 minutes each of six Goal areas)
          1) Goal VI - Infrastructure (Operations Committee, Public Awareness)

          2) Goal V - Family Support (Sharlina - Parent Coalition; Beany - Early Literacy)

          3) Goal IV - Basic Needs (Michelle - Ad Hoc Transpo, Ken - Lead Coalition)

          4) Goal III - Early Care & Ed (Marcia - QI, Tom - Kindergarten Transition) 

          5) Goal II - Social-Emotional Health (Fran & Barry - KEEP)

          6) Goal I - Physical Health (Lisa - Infant Mortality; Carol - Safe Sleep)

For each Goal Area:
     - Reports on Progress with Action Agenda Strategies & Objectives
     - Discussion of related workgroup and agency upcoming activities and ideas
     - Discussion on next steps, additional resources needed, etc

 3:00pm - Part III – Action Agenda, Building Links – featured Agency/Programs
          CACS Head Start Dental and Oral Health, “Miles for Smiles” 5k Walk 4/19/08

 
3:30pm - Reminder next GSC Meeting 4/15/08.   Meeting officially ends.

Due to School Districts Spring Break, the next Ingham GSC Meeting will be on April 15, 2008 from 1pm-3:30pm at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church,  549 E. Mt. Hope in Lansing (1 block East of Cedar).  Child Care will be available by Reservation Only - Call 371-1347.

 Ingham Great Start Collaborative, Birth to Five

Minutes - Wednesday March 12, 2008

Present:  Laura Anderson - MSU Extension, Lori Brasic - OYC, Carol Buzzitta - EPO, Lisa Chambers – ICHD/Jump Start/MIOP, Tiffany Doolittle - ICHD PHN, Shera Emmons - Parent, Fran Jozefowicz – CMH, Keri Keck - ICHD Teen Parenting, Sergio Keck - Lansing School District, Laurie Linscott- MSU Child Development Lab, Mary Makowitz - EPO, Lucy McClintic - CACS Head Start, Joann McFall - MSU Soc Wk, Amy Moore - ICHD, Tom Mumby - Lansing School District, Michelle Nicholson - Ingham ISD, Stephanie Peters - Ingham ISD Early On, Yvonne Phillips - Mayor’s Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives, Millie Powe-Ericson - Social Worker, Sharlina Pye-Mack - GSC Parent Coordinator, Tina Rathbun Ingham ISD, Peggy Roberts - Power of We Consortium, MC Rothhorn - Parent, Marcia Rysztak - LCC, Ken Sperber - Ingham GSC, Beany Tomber - WKAR, Nicole Welz - CAD Library, Kellye Wood - MSU Child Dev Lab, Jamie Yeomans - Parent (GPGS)
 

Introductions

Ingham GSC meeting called to order at 1:06pm.  Operations Committee members continue to chair the GSC meetings.  Fran chaired the meeting, and Lucy acted as the timekeeper.  Members proceeded with introductions and new participants Laura Anderson, Tiffany Doolittle, Mary Makowitz, Millie Powe-Ericson and Joann McFall were introduced and welcomed by all.
 

Approval of 2/13/08 Minutes

The Minutes from the previous Ingham GSC meeting were approved without correction.  The meeting Minutes will be posted to the Ingham GSC website www.cacvoices.org/birthtofive .

ECIC updates & GSC Coordinator Report

Michelle reported that the ECIC has set the date for the Star Power Rally for 5/21/08.  The ECIC is developing a new re-combined logo.  The Ingham GSC 2008 Workplan and budget were submitted to the ECIC, but were sent back to make minor revisions.  The necessary revisions were re-submitted to the ECIC, and the 8-month budget for $163,330 has now been approved.

The Ingham GSC has received notification from the CAUW and the Capital Regional Community Foundation that they want to fund a Birth to Five Youth Initiative.  This grant will require Ingham GSC to respond to a sole-source RFP.  We are seeking clarification on the time-line and the grant award process. This will be discussed in the next GSC Operations Committee meeting.  Once clarifications are received about the process, discussions about funding will be held in each of the GSC Workgroups, and the GSC meeting.

Michelle also reported on the most recent communications about the MSU/Power of We proposal to the Kellogg Foundation.  The grant application is in the final stages of revision, and probably will be submitted to the Kellogg Foundation in April.

Advisory Groups: Early On, Jump Start, Great Parents Great Start

Stephanie reported that Early On, in the year from December 2006 - December 2007, served 958 children ages birth to 3 (about the same number as last year).  More child outcome reporting is being required.  Ingham Early On will start with collecting baseline data in July 2008.  Training for Early On service coordinators on outcome reporting is now beginning.

Lisa shared that Jump Start did not receive the Fatherhood grant, and there is no news yet on the Healthy Start grant.
The Great Parents, Great Start grant application was submitted to the Michigan Dept of Ed, after approval by GSC and the Power of We Consortium.

ACTION AGENDA (Goal Area Progress)

In order to share discussion time more evenly, the Goal Area progress reports were addressed in reverse numerical order, beginning with Goal VI and ending with Goal I.

 Goal VI - Infrastructure (Operations Committee, Public Awareness)

            Ken and Michelle have met with three groups of MSU students that are developing media projects related to Birth to Five.  These students in WRA135 for class projects will be creating PSAs for child abuse prevention, smoking cessation, digital video for You Tube content with parenting messages, and suggesting additional content for the website and GSC materials.
            The Operations Committee endorsed the idea of holding quarterly Orientation luncheon meetings for new GSC members.  The first Orientation was held this morning before the GSC meeting today, and 12 new members attended.  The next quarterly Orientation meetings are scheduled for 11:30am - 12:30pm, before the monthly GSC meetings on June 11, September 10, and December 10, 2008.
            Michelle explained that it is time to have the required organizations (from the original GSC application) renew their Letters of Commitment.  Michelle has developed a template for the agencies, with a copy of their original letter.  It was suggested that the Letters should also include specific references to items in the Action Agenda.
            The Operations Committee has reviewed some of the other Action Agenda Infrastructure items for Year One that the GSC has already made progress in.  These include the development of an outreach database, alignment of the Workgroups, and beginning the development of a Speakers Bureau.
            At the Operations Committee meeting in March, Sharlina announced that she is moving to Tennessee in the near future.  OYC has also declined to renew the business initiative contract.  The Operations Committee recommended that GSC approve a performance contract with MC Rothhorn to serve as an outreach liaison, working with parents and the business community.  MC stepped out of the room while there was discussion of this proposed contract.  MC’s background includes experience in accounting, community organizing, and working with businesses. The Ingham GSC voted to approve a $5,000 performance contract for MC Rothhorn, to serve as the GSC liaison working with parents and the business community.

Goal V - Parent Ed & Family Support

            Sharlina reported that the Ingham Parent Coalition has been working on an Annual Plan.  She hopes to share the Plan at the April GSC meeting.  The Plan focuses on strengthening access and knowledge of the  resources and helping build connections.  There are 14 active members in the Parent Coalition.
            Beany reported that the Early Childhood Literacy Coalition has decided to sponsor two Literacy kick-off events in October 2008.  They will be held on 10/18/08 in the Lansing Mall, and on 10/19/08 in the Meridian Mall.  Arrangements are being discussed to bring in Gordon (of Sesame Street fame).
            Beany shared a recommendation from the Early Childhood Literacy Coalition for the formation of a Parent Education workgroup.  GSC members, parents, and other agency staff would be invited to come together to discuss non-traditional ways and places to present parent education. The idea is to develop parenting education activities/programs in non-classroom settings such as at food banks, shelters, neighborhood centers, and housing community rooms.  After further discussion, the GSC voted to create a Parent Education Workgroup.  Beany agreed to convene the first meeting, and a sign-up sheet for the new Workgroup was passed around.  {The first meeting of the Parent Education workgroup will be on Monday, April 14, 2008 from 1:30 – 3:30pm at either East Lansing Public Library or Head Start.  Contact Beany at Beany@wkar.org for details}

Goal IV - Basic Needs

             Michelle reported that the Power of We Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation has had one meeting, and will next meet on 3/24/08 at 1:30pm in the Ingham Human Services Bldg - MSU Extension Conference Room.  Agencies were encouraged to bring data related to transportation problems.  There was some discussion of alternate transportation ideas such as ride-share, volunteers, and donated vehicles.
              Ken reported that the Lead Coalition has been invited to discuss their efforts, and how we can work together, at the May 12^th GSC meeting.

 Goal III - Early Care & Ed

            Marcia reported that the Quality Initiatives workgroup has been focused on 4 areas: professional recognition, coaching/mentoring, quality standards, and kinship/unregulated care.  Lori related that OYC has a pilot project for kinship/parent and child playgroups at Baker Donora Network Center.
               Tom reported there were 163 participants at the Joint Professional Development workshop on 3/11/08.  This workshop was planned by the Kindergarten Transition workgroup and sponsored by the Lansing School District, Ingham GSC, and Ingham ISD.  Kindergarten Teachers from local school districts, Head Start, MSRP programs, Child Care Centers and Family Day Care Homes attended the sessions.  The theme was encouraging young children to explore the environment, and initial indications are that the workshop was very successful.
               The Kindergarten Transition workgroup is trying to broaden representation to include more school districts (in addition to Lansing School District).  They are considering segmenting the meeting into Lansing business and items of more general interest.
               Sharlina and Sergio talked about some of the current concerns in the Lansing School District, including the large number of kindergarten and early elementary grade level students with low mid-term evaluations (at-risk of being retained in grade).  Sergio said the teachers are sharing these concerns with the parents and developing strategies for the rest of the year.
               Lucy shared that Head Start is currently in a research project to see if two years of Head Start is better than one year.  Preliminary results seem to indicate that three-year olds enrolled in Head Star for two years don’t do better than 4 year olds enrolled for one year.  The GSC discussed the more general question -does Head Start and MSRP make a difference in school readiness?  Tom said that anecdotally he often hears from kindergarten teachers that children that have preschool experiences are much more ready for school, and that it really shows in the kindergarten classrooms.

Goal II - Social-Emotional Health

            Fran & Ken reported on the KEEP Task Force meeting on 2/14/08, where there was a presentation from the Hope Network, and a distribution plan was developed for the Social-Emotional Development   Wheels.  The next KEEP Task Force meeting is on 3/25/08 in MSU Extension Conference Room.
            The MI-AIMH Fatherhood Conference will be held on April 21-22.  A flyer with the details will be sent to all GSC members.  After a request by the Ingham GSC, the ECIC has agreed to help sponsor the Conference with $2,000 from the MI Head Start Collaborative budget.
            Jaime attended the MI Play Therapy Conference.  She reported on some of the evidence-based research that shows how attachment in the first year effects brain growth.  Jaime will also be sharing this information with the KEEP Task Force.

 Goal I - Physical Health

            Lisa reported that the Infant Mortality Initiative and the Safe Sleep Coalition will for the first time be meeting together at a joint meeting on 3/27/08 from 1-3pm in Conference Room C of the Human Services Building.
            Dr. Barry Saltman convened a community meeting on 2/29/08 to address the issues of the uninsured.  The community forum was facilitated by Doak Bloss and supported by the Capital Area Health Alliance.  Over 100 community representatives participated including Michelle, Ken and Lori (who spoke on the needs of families with young children, and the lack of insurance for child care workers).  Issues were also raised about dental and mental health too.
            Amy Moore brought additional materials for smoking cessation and promoting smoke-free environments.  Members were encouraged to browse and pick-up the free materials set-up on the side tables.

Action Agenda, Building Links –

CACS Head Start Dental and Oral Health, “Miles for Smiles” 5k Walk 4/19/08

Lucy provided the Ingham GSC some background on the issues around oral and dental health.  There are 930 Ingham Head Start and 30 Early Start children currently enrolled in CACS Head Start.  Head Start provides mandated dental exams for all these children.  The results show that (even though Lansing has a fluoridated water system) the children have had a rate of dental decay at 2 times the national average.  Forty percent, or 430 Head Start children needed cavities filled.  Now that all Head Start children have fluoride varnish and dental education - only one child out of 30 Early Head Start children needed to have a cavity treated this year.  Lucy shared a fact sheet with the following information:

Did you know...  
Did you know...dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease among children today.
Did you know...most of the parents of children who have dental decay also suffer from dental disease.
Did you know...dental decay can be transmitted from a mother to her child.
Did you know...11.2% of Michigan children have no access to dental care due to lack of insurance.
Did you know...children and adults lose 200 million hours of school and work a year while seeking dental care.
Did you know...less than 30% of dentists in Michigan accept Medicaid patients.
Did you know...that a family of four living in poverty has an income of $20,000 or less.
Did you know...98% of Head Start families are at or below poverty line.

Lucy encouraged all GSC members to participate in the 2^nd Annual “Miles for Smiles” fundraiser, 5k Walk on 4/19/08 at Hawk Island Park. Funds raised will help pay for dental care for uninsured Head Start families.  If you are interested in walking registration forms are on the CACS Head Start website at www.cacsheadstart.org, or you can just pledge a contribution to sponsor Lucy on the Walk (lucy.mcclintic@cacsheadstart.org).  Ken added that he attended last year and it was a great event for families to attend - food, fun, and for a good cause.

Next Meeting Date

Fran reminded the group that the next GSC Meeting will be on Tuesday 4/15/08 (not the usual 2^nd Wednesday of the month).   Meeting officially ended at 3:15pm.

Due to Spring Break, the next Ingham GSC Meeting will be on Tuesday April 15, 2008 from 1pm-3:30pm. As usual it will be at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church,  549 E. Mt. Hope in Lansing (1 block East of Cedar).  Child Care will be available by Reservation Only - Call 371-1347.