Present: Julie Allen - CAPS, Lori Brasic - OYC, Carol Buzzitta - EPO, Natasha Davidson - ICHD, Wendy Duke-Littlejohn - Parent, Shera Emmons - Parent, Mary Ferranti - Circuit Court, Barry Kaufman - CEI-CMH, Michelle Nicholson - IISD, Jo Mayer - Stockbridge Schools, Bev Phillips - Lansing SD, Yvonne Phillips - Lansing Mayor’s Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives, Sharlina Pye-Mack - Parent, Peggy Roberts - Power of We Consortium, Marcia Rysztak - LCC, Ken Sperber - Community Rep, Beany Tomber - WKAR, and Cherie Ross-Barber - ECIC

Introductions & Minutes Approval

            Michelle called the meeting to order at 1:35pm and asked all members to introduce themselves.  After introductions, members voted to approve the Minutes from the previous Ingham GSC meeting on 6/13/07.

The Minutes were approved without correction.

ECIC & Budget Updates 

            Cherie reported that over 500 people attended the Star Rally at the Capitol on 5/29/07.  It was very successful, especially for a first time event, a CD of the highlights is available on the ECIC website www.ecic4kids.org

            On Aug 8-10^th there will be a statewide GSC Coordinators meeting and training session.  Included in the workshops will be information on the 2008 local GSC funding application process. They expect the

ECIC funding to remain same or increase (due to Foundation funding) – any additional funds will be used to try to bring on additional local GSC sites.

Michelle completed the Quarterly Narrative and Expense Reports and sent them into the ECIC. Ingham GSC is spending very close to the budget quarter expectations, around $54k.   With input from the Operations Committee the GSC purchased incentives for the Community Conversations and GSC outreach efforts.  Outreach efforts will be using the following purchased items which will be tracked in the GSC database: Baby Teeth Wheels, Bunnaby Bunny Reader, Calendars, Child's Play Booklet, Kids Basics, Nursery Rhymes Booklet, Nursery Rhyme CD, Rockabye Reader, Sleep Sacks, Social-Emotional Wheels-Infant/Toddler, and Social-Emotional Wheels-Preschool. Samples of these items were passed around for the GSC to review.

Community Needs Assessment – Strategic Planning Process

            The Quality Initiatives Workgroup has been reviewing and revising the committee’s purpose and goals.  Marcia presented and discussed seven Quality Initiative strategies (see attached handout).  Barry asked about creating better linkages for KEEP and CMH staff to the work of the Quality Initiatives.

            Each member of the GSC has received via email the Ingham Community Report version dated 7-2-07.  The comments overall were very favorable to the Community Report.  Email feedback included a suggestion to clarify what is meant by the Action Agenda.  At the meeting there were suggested corrections to the list of GSC partner agencies, and some grammatical and syntax errors were pointed out.  There was discussion as to the appropriate labels in the ethnic/racial background charts  (Afro-American or Blacks).  It was decided to use the labels that the data source used in each chart and in the narratives.  Ken and Michelle will work on making these changes and a final version will go to the printer on Friday July 13^th, and will be posted on the website www.cacvoices.org/birthtofive .

            The next steps are a series of Community Conversations to share the Ingham Community Report and receive feedback on the GSC goals and strategies.  Michelle shared the list of scheduled groups for these Community Conversations:

Early On Family Committee                    7/26/07            6-8pm (Sharlina & Stephanie)

Infant Health Disparities Coalition              7/30/07            1-3pm (Ken)

Early Childhood Coalition                       8/14/07            9-10:30am (Michelle)

Public Awareness Workgroup            8/20/07            1:30-3:30 (Michelle, Ken, Sharlina)

Quality Initiatives Workgroup            8/1/07              (Michelle)                   

Safe Sleep Coalition                                   8/20/07            9-11am (Ken)

Head Start Policy Council              September       10am -12 noon (Sharlina & Lucy)

Immigrant & Refugee Coalition            9/10/07            9-11am (Michelle)

Power of We Consortium                   9/21/07            1:30-2pm (Ken & Michelle)

Superintendents Roundtable                   September            (Michelle)

Curriculum Directors                                  September            (Michelle)

Special Ed Directors                                  September            (Michelle)

Homeless Resolution Network            ? Sept.             (Ken)

Clergy Forum                                       ? Aug.              (Yvonne, Michelle)

IMPACT                                             ?Aug or Sept            (Sharlina, Michelle)

CMH Partnership Council             9/14/07            6-8pm (Sharlina)

Stockbridge Community                   8/29/07            (Jo, Michelle)

GPGS Playgroups (Sharlina or Shera):  Holt 8/6/07 at 10-11am, Willamston 8/7 at 10-11am, Haslett 8/8 at 10-11am, Stockbridge 8/9 at 10-11am, Oak Park Y 8/9 at 2-3pm, Foster Community Ctr 8/10 at 10-11am, East Lansing 8/16 at 10-11am.

            In addition, GSC members suggested that additional meetings be held with Lansing School District Staff (Early Childhood and Special Ed), Head Start Staff, KEEP Taskforce, CMAEYC, MSRP, OYC Directors Rap Group, DHS & CMH Staff, Circuit Court Staff and CACS outreach programs.

            These meetings will run from July - September, and then the input has to be collected, analyzed and synthesized into an Action Agenda for a Strategic 3-5 Year Plan for the Ingham GSC.  Michelle said we are trying to be very inclusive in taking time to have these Community Conversations with lots of community and parent groups.  It will take time to distill the conversations into themes, and then blend it into one report, but the Fiscal Year deadline is September 30^th.  Since the timeline will be tight, Cherie mentioned other GSC have requested and received timeline extensions from ECIC.  Michelle will pursue this extension of the deadline for the completed Strategic Plan.

Outreach Initiatives - Parents, Business, & Faith-Based

            Yvonne shared ongoing efforts to contact churches as part of the faith-based outreach initiative.  She is working with Ken and OYC to develop a database of contacts and information.  Beany brought lots of copies of the first two issues “Good Health is for Everybody” for Yvonne, and others at the meeting.  Cherie asked Yvonne about what were the purposes for the visits – and Yvonne responded to recruit additional members to the Collaborative, and distribute important information on Birth to Five. The packet of information that Yvonne is giving to the faith-based groups includes: Ingham GSC brochure, monthly PA articles, Ready Kits, 2-1-1 brochures, and OYC Yellow Pages, and other items.

            Lori also talked about her work on the joint database, which will help organize the business, faith-based and parent outreach initiatives.  OYC is setting up 10 business meetings/presentations, starting with the CAYA Board next week.  OYC intends to recruit 3 business people to join the Collaborative.  OYC has been working with the business groups who signed up at Bill Millet presentation through phone contacts and sending out the monthly parenting articles.  Beany asked if members can have the articles as well, Michelle responded that all the monthly articles, as well as meeting agenda and minutes are all available at the website www.cacvoices.org/birthtofive . Members can copy, download, or print the information from the website.  (We are trying to get Internet access at one of the future GSC meetings to review the website and information available there.)

            Sharlina talked about trying to set up a meeting with other parent liaisons.  She is feeling like they  need to make more personal contacts with agency staff, so that they know more about agencies and can share that information with parents.  Malcolm is working with a fathers group.  Shera, Yvonne, Sharlina and Malcolm met to strategize plans on June 18^th at Burger King, so that the kids could play while the parents met.  Sharlina said she is looking forward, with some nervousness, to leading some of the Community Conversations and sharing the Community Report.

            Cherie talked about how important it is to learn the names of key people in agencies, and making personal contacts.  Cherie said next year there will be more training for Parent Coordinators, and also 4 regional training meetings where all local GSC members will be invited.  In August Coordinators will receive a yearlong training schedule calendar from the ECIC.

            Michelle made a plea for GSC members to not only review Birth to Five website but also the website at MiGreatParents.org .  Michelle suggested that it is important to also review your own agency website as well, to make sure important information about birth to five services are readily visible. Ken will be meeting with Suzanne at CAUW next week to help add the information collected by Wendy, Sharlina and Shera into the 2-1-1 database and the In Touch website.  The same information will also be used to update the resource listings at the MI Great Parents website.

Advisory Sub-Groups – Updates

            Great Parents Great Start - Michelle shared that when the State budget is settled we will have information from the Department of Education on the new fiscal year’s grant for GPGS.  Hopefully we will have this information by the September meeting,
                                      

Workgroups - Updates         

                Literacy Coalition -“Super Why” is a new PBS literacy series that will use folk tales (like Three Little Pigs, Jack in the Beanstalk, etc.)   Four characters will re-appear in the series.  One of the characters and promotional materials will be available at the Fall Literacy Kickoff events.  There are Literacy Events planned for the Lansing Mall (Saturday 10/20/07) and the Meridian Mall (Saturday 10/27/07).  At each event the Coalition is planning a Literacy Lotto for the children to play throughout the malls.  Rhonda Rucker from Eaton GSC has arranged for “Cat in the Hat” books to be given for all those who complete the learning lotto.  Tables will be available for agency displays and there will be stage performers at both events.

            It was also mentioned that volunteers are needed for a Aug 8^th training for teams to work in the Lansing schools to promote interest in middle school math and science.  It is part of a pilot project with 3 member teams of parents, teachers, and mentors.

                  Safe Sleep - Carol shared that at the next Safe sleep meeting they will be setting new goals and looking at expanding the Safe Sleep Coalition to additional counties.

Kindergarten Transition - The Kellogg Foundation has approved funding for the Promoting Academic Success (PAS) in Boys of Color grant.  This will be a three-year grant focused on 3-8 yr old boys in the Lansing School District.  A team will be going to the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute in NC to learn more about the model.  The grant will create a new coordinator position in the Lansing School District for the project.

Bev and Michelle talked about their visit to Peckham to meet with the caseworkers (50 families with preschoolers).  Currently one third of refugees re-settled in Lansing are from Cuba.  The immigrant numbers will be increasing and there will be a shift, so that a large new immigrant population here will be from the east African nation of Burindi.  Many of the families have spent most of their lives in refugee camps, so school readiness will be very crucial.

Barry shared that new Proud Parents, and Proud Fathers, free classes will be starting soon, and also a new 14 week Nuturing Fathers series.  There will be four KEEP trainings starting in the Fall – Barry will have flyers to distribute soon and share with the GSC.

            Lori reported on the UM Professional Development Project, which includes literacy coaches to work with childcare center staff.  So far 30 providers have signed up for Fall and Winter classes on early literacy as part of this project.

GSC Meeting Conclusion

            The next Ingham GSC Meeting will be August 15, 1:30-3:30 at 1120 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823 (University United Methodist Church - Asbury Hall).  Child Care will be available by Reservation Only - Call 371-1347.  The Ingham GSC meeting ended at 3:37pm.

Quality Initiaves Committee - Updated Goals

The Quality Initiatives committee is a workgroup of the Ingham County Great Start Collaborative Committee 0-5 Subcommittee. The vision of the 0-5 subcommittee is “All children ready to succeed in school and life.”

The purpose of the Quality Initiatives committee, in support of this vision, is to “Create a collaborative alliance of early childhood providers and programs to promote and provide high-quality learning environments for young children from birth to age 5 through”:

Coordinating with the Public Awareness committee of HSAC 0-5, to raise public awareness among early childhood educators, parents, families, business and community members about high-quality early childhood learning environments: i.e. what it is and why it’s important

1.        Supporting professionalism in the early childhood education and care field by:

a) facilitating training and education from pre-service experiences to ongoing professional development and progression on the early childhood education and care career lattice and

b) promoting and supporting activities to help with provider recruitment and retention, including appropriate staff compensation (salary and benefits), other incentives, and support services

2.        Supporting efforts to recognize early childhood educators.

a.       Coordinate with efforts that currently exist among groups such as CMAEYC , LCC, OYC, MSU,  Head Start, and  Accreditation Task Force that recognize early childhood educators who demonstrate meeting milestones, benchmarks or criteria by convening a conversation/dialogue to expand recognition opportunities.

3.        Increasing the number of early childhood programs that meet high standards of quality such as accreditation, state standards, quality rating systems, Head Start Program standards or other recognized standards of quality

a.       ‘Why are there standards in Early Childhood Education and Care?’ Convene focus groups, forums, dialogues, community forums to discuss AND distribute through newsletters or other written forms to generate by-in from providers, directors (Director’s Rap?), parents (who are looking for care) and community member on the value of standards.

b.       ‘What are the standards in Early Childhood Education and Care?” NAEYC, Quality Rating Standards, etc. Inform about WHAT these are.

c.       Augment/supplement existing community Early Childhood Education and Care trainings/education that address these quality issues by exploring supports such as coaching, mentoring, etc.

d.       Pilot playgroup model as a way to implement training opportunities for relative/day care aides by coordinating with 4C, Great Start and/or Early On.

4.        Promoting collaborative and partnership models for funding high quality early childhood education and care to insure access to all families.

5.        Creating connections and linkages for early childhood providers and programs to existing community services/resources available for themselves and the families they serve

6.        Coordinating with the Transition Committee of Great Start Collaborative 0-5 to support and promote best practices in transition into kindergarten

7.        Promoting commitment to continuous quality improvement processes  among early childhood educators and our community partnerships

Quality Initiatives  - Revised 3/28/2007

 Ingham Great Start Collaborative, Birth to Five

 Ingham Great Start Collaborative, Birth to Five