Quality Initiatives Workgroup The purpose of the Quality Initiatives Workgroup, is to support this vision, 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 workgroup of Birth to Five Ingham GSC, to raise public awareness among parents, family, business and community members about high-quality early childhood learning environments: i.e. where it’s found, what it is and why it’s important -  Supporting professionalization of the field by: a) facilitating staff training and education through preservice, recruitment, in-service, and retention strategies 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  - Supporting efforts to recognize early childhood professionals  - Increasing the number of high-quality, accredited early childhood programs  - Exploring, strategizing and promoting collaborative and partnership models for funding high quality education and child care to insure access to all families who want it and need it  - Creating connections and linkages for early childhood providers and programs to existing community services/resources available for themselves and the families they serve  - Coordinating with the Kindergarten Transition Committee of Birth to Five Ingham GSC to support and promote best practices in transition into kindergarten - Promoting commitment to continuous quality improvement processes Meetings are usually held at the Grand River Head Start Center (1107 E Grand River Ave, Lansing) on the 4th Monday of each month 2:30-4:30pm, and are open to all.  For more information contact Marcia Rysztak at rysztam@lcc.edu (517)483-1141, or  Michelle Nicholson at mnichols@inghamisd.org (517)244-1384.

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Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

 QI Meeting Notes - May 5, 2010

Present: Renee Demars-Johnson, Deb Hill, Nora Thompson; Michelle Nicholson; Barb Monroe; Marcia Rysztak; Barry Kaufman

1. Last month’s meeting notes reviewed

2. PD training
The contract for Pat Wesley has gone out.

Schedule
06/15 9-noon - Supervisors – Head Start and LCC field instructors
06/15 12-12:30 – Lunch provided for both morning and afternoon groups
12:30-3:30 – All (supervisors, field instructors, coaches, and CMH staff)
06/16 9-noon – Coaches and CMH staff

• Attendees will include folks from Head Start, the coaching project, LCC field instructors, Laurie Linscott, Barry Kaufman and Stephanie Peters

• Marcia will get information about using LCC, including parking costs and lunch

• Other options for sites include Grand River Head Start, Clark Center or Peckham.

• A flyer needs to be created with the agenda, times and an RSVP method

3. Scholarships

• Money is coming from Consumer’s Energy: $25,000 with $10,000 going to Eaton and Clinton counties for Imagination Library and $15,000 going to scholarships

• Sept 2010 – new round of scholarships begins

• End of July 2010 – mailing goes out with awards being made in August 2010

• Discussion was held about criteria for receiving scholarships

  • Families have a point system but discussion was held to see if perhaps centers should have criteria to address our strategy of connecting families to quality care

  • Parent choice and convenience were weighed against giving families specific centers/homes to choose from

  • Discussion of spreading scholarships around rural, suburban and urban sites was held

  • Agreement was that the money is designed to help those who might not be able to afford quality care but could afford it with the scholarship

  • Renee offered the idea of adding a category of the criteria/points related to centers to demonstrate quality

    • Are they enrolled in the coaching project?

    • Are they accredited?

    • Are they enrolled in the accreditation process?

  • Perhaps parents could receive the “Six points to choosing Quality Child Care” or a similar checklist to fill out about the center and submit with application

  • Centers could receive something at the billing cycle to fill out as well – perhaps a self-study card?

  • The DECA might be a resource to help write these checklists

  • Barb will talk to Sharon for a revised application for scholarships (Sharon will come to QI in July)

4. QRIS

• Marcia participated in a conference call and learned about what Wayne County and Kalamazoo are doing with the QRIS

  • It looks like they are combining the QRIS with coaching at Wayne and participants receive a seal of partnership if they come to three network meetings or have ten hours of training

  • Wayne has 3-5 centers participating and there are ten steps they use.

    • They use an early childhood specialist as a coach

    • Assess with PQA

    • Make an improvement plan

    • Get help with professional development, resources and $150 for supplies

    • Second assessment yields a diamond rating of 1-5 with a certificate

    • A cash award is given based on size of site, number of diamonds and number of DHS eligible children enrolled

  • Kalamazoo has ten centers and ten homes

    • One mentor for all

    • Assessed by High Scope person

    • Some use PQA

    • Working on getting discounts for staff from school suppliers

    • Mentors meet monthly

    • Stars awarded, 1-3

    • Self study helps identify needs and coaching helps centers get needs met

5. Next meetings

June 28 from 2-5pm at Ingham Human Services Building Admin. Conference Room

July 26 from 1-3pm at Ingham Human Services Bldg Atrium Conference Room

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

AGENDA Monday, June 28, 2010  2:30-4:30pm

Ingham County Health Dept. Admin Conference Room  5303 S. Cedar (Door 3), Lansing

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Feedback on Coaching Training

Strategic Plan update/Scholarships and Quality

        How do we define quality?

        Explore ways to package quality, coaching, scholarships and developmental screenings

        How do we measure quality?

Central Region Resource Center and CCEP Updates

Organization Updates

Next meeting Agenda 

Next QI meeting Monday, July 26, 2-4 pm at Ingham County Health Dept. Atrium Conference Room

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes 3/1/10

Present:  Marcia Rysztak, Deb Hill, Barry Kaufman, Renee DeMars-Johnson, Michelle Nicholson, Nora Thompson

Strategic Plan Review

Discussion continued from the last meeting on how we are promoting quality care in child care settings. The following were part of the discussion:

• Who or what defines quality? Review how quality is defined in the QRIS as a starting point
• What’s the purpose of the care?
• Look at options to drive toward higher quality and taking into account the economy, location, availabilities.
• Achieve a standard for coaching to tie together with the scholarships
• Possibly requiring parents who have applied for scholarships to attend a Choosing Quality Child Care in-service or similar idea.
• How do we engage parents in the assessment of quality?
  

Status on Identifying Presenters for Professional Development/Training:

Nora contacted Pat Wesley, who works with Virgina Buysse at Frank Porter Graham, regarding training opportunities to bring to the Great Start group and arranged a conference call during this meeting. Pat provided information on her fees and content, and posed several questions to the group. Her speaker fee is $2000/day plus transportation, lodging and meals.

We discussed the consultation practices and competencies our coaches have and that our audience would be a combination of coaches and supervisors who use coaching strategies. The group composition would be 12 education supervisors from Head Start, 2 CMH consultants, 6 field instructors from LCC and the 4 current coaches. The format of the training may need to be divided into parts over a 2 day period as there are different issues for coaches who are in a supervisory role, with inherent power, and coaches in a consultative role. There would be some content that would apply to both groups, but some that may need to be different.

Potential dates to consider are April 14 & 15, June 15& 16, July 15 & 16, September 13-17 or September 20-22.  The outcome would be that we would have a coaching model with a process over a 3-6 month period. The model is based on an 8 stage consultative approach that is evidenced based and collaborative.

Next steps: 

• Potential participants identify which dates are best for training
• Marcia will share with Pat the rubrics LCC uses
• Pat will send Michelle a Curriculum Vita and Biographical sketch
• Provide Pat with more information on what the coaches and others need/want from the training
  

CRRC & CCEP Updates:

      CEI-CMH is exploring the Kith and Kin model used in Phoenix & Flagstaff, AZ.         

       OYC is looking at the Bank Street model which uses a 14 week curriculum and       

       Incentives, and is used with bilingual populations.

 Next Meeting:  March 31, 2010, 2:30 at Grand River Head Start 

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Agenda Monday, March 1, 2010 2:30-4:30pm

Grand River Head Start 1107 E. Grand River Ave, Lansing 48906

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Status of Identifying Presenters for Training for Coaches, Supervisors, Early Childhood Specialists, LCC Field Advisors, Lab School, etc. – Marcia, Renee, Stephanie/Nora

Strategic Plan update:
         How do we define quality?
        Explore ways to package quality, coaching, scholarships and developmental screenings

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative Updates:
        Coaching
        Scholarships

Central Region Resource Center and CCEP Updates

Organization Updates

Next meeting Agenda

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

QI Meeting Minutes 2/1/2010

Present: 

Marcia Rysztak                        Barb Monroe                        Barry Kaufman

Renee DeMars-Johnson            Michelle Nicholson            Stephanie Peters

The Topic of Professional Development/Training:

Dr. Virginia Buysse (Pat Wesley):  Nora contacted her regarding training opportunities to bring to the Great Start group. Dr. Buysse was suggested by Stephanie Peters and is currently reading books regarding Dr. Buysse’s work. She shared these books with the QI group. This PD supports inclusion. 

Renee suggested that Dr. Buysse is contacted again and asked to recognize that we are a small initiative and we are looking for a way to pull together a framework for support regarding technical assistance for coaching.

Marcia checked into Joy Humbarger from the Francis Institute in Kansas.  Joy focuses on strength based coaching (peer coaching) and has four year history in the work that she does.  Current packaged trainings are designed to be two days/12 hours but she can design something specific to our program.  The cost is $3,000 (includes a workbook) is for 30 people + meals, travel and lodging.  She may have time available to do this in April, May or June.

Next steps: 

• Assess needs of the coaches, then try to match the training to fit the need.

-look at advanced topics

• Empower parents /  individualized /  actions & reflections
• Look for ways to sustain practices when coaching ends
• Follow up with Virginia Buysse and Joy Humbarg.
• Renee will contact Nebraska for PD information ; Stephanie will inquire about Dathon Rush

Strategic Plan Reviews

Goal III C2:  Scholarships

MSU will be doing evaluations by phone to the recipients of the scholarships.  Renee brought our attention back to the original goal of promoting quality care in child care settings.  The group discussed tying the scholarship program and coaching together as a way of increasing the quality of care.  In order to do this the group must consider the following:

• Look at options to drive toward higher quality and taking into account the economy, location, availabilities.
• Who or what defines quality?
• Achieve a standard for coaching to tie together with the scholarships
• Possibly requiring parents who have applied for scholarships to attend a Choosing Quality Child Care in-service or similar idea.

At the next several meetings the QI will devote time to revisit the goals and make adjustments to move intentionally forward toward quality.  These adjustments/revisions need to be completed and approved before the next round of scholarship applications go out.

Goal III C3

The group will review and reword so that it works with the Central Regional Resource Center and CCEP.  Barb and Barry will attend an immigrant and refugee meeting March 8^th.  (held at Waverly/ST. Joe @ Lutheran Social Services)

Goal III D2

Review and rewrite to include CCEP and the Central RRC  in the distribution plan.
Promote access to Oakland ASQSE and ASQ  (possibly put that on the CRRC website)

Next Meeting:  March 1, 2010

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Agenda Monday, February 1, 2010   2:30-4:30pm

Grand River Head Start Center 1107 E. Grand River Ave, Lansing 48906

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Training for Coaches, Supervisors, Early Childhood Specialists, LCC Field Advisors, Lab School, etc. 

Strategic Plan update:

Review summary of accomplishments and compare to work plan Strategic Goals

∙    Strategy C2:  Scholarships
·    Strategy C3:  Limited English Providers
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find (New action agenda, 3 year plan, due tentatively in      September)

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - Updates & Evaluation

Coaching Updates

Central Region Resource Center and CCEP Updates

Organization Updates

Next meeting Agenda

Next QI meeting Monday, March 1 ???, at Grand River Head Start. The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Grand River Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Quality Initiatives Work Group

Meeting Minutes  January 11, 2010

Present:  Nora Thompson, Michelle Nicholson, Barry Kaufman, Barb Monroe, Renee DeMars Johnson, Marcia Rysztak

Happy New Year!!

Coaching Updates

Marcia and Barb met prior to this meeting to discuss the progress of the coaching project.

The following is a summary of the topic:

*Currently, there are nine participants in the program.  With approval from the group, three more center staff will be recruited.  It was suggested that individualized contacts is the most effective tool for recruitment.  There are several possibilities already for this additional service.

The QI committee approved this recruitment/addition with these recommendations: 

• Recruit from centers that received dollars from the scholarship program.Keep the recruitment focused on licensed center programs.
• Utilizes services from the Great Start Central Regional Resource Center (Robin Willner) for mentoring options at the Family Growth Center.
• Refer and referrals for participation to Marcia or Barb

The additional coach will be from OYC (Kasey Edwards).   This will total two coaches from each agency (LCC & OYC).  Marcia will reorganize the budget for approval.

Michelle asked for information to wrap up the first round of coaching evaluations.  Items needed are:

• The number of children in centers served
• List of incentives
• Coachee demographics, i.e., level of education, role within the center, what age group in the classroom and how many were in Lansing vs the out county.

Summary of results of the CAUW/CRF evaluations:

• One director was not happy
• One coachee did not get the support from the director
• Coaches were rated as good or very good.  Written comments included that coaches were inspired and helped to reorganize rooms.

These were based on surveys, focus groups and analysis.

Professional Development Opportunities

The operations committee is looking into centralized/specific training i.e. social/emotional topics.  Laurie Linscott (MSU) shared training info via Nora.  The group will continue to explore the options and bring suggestions to the committees.  Committee member will review and revisit their assignments from 12.7.09.

Strategic Plan

Refer to the handout Michelle provided at this meeting.  In reviewing the overall strategic plans and budgets Michelle shared that the Imagination Library and the Scholarship Program will continue to be funded.  The group approved for Sharon to send the applications for the next round. 

• Goal III 2:  Look at other ways to do a professional recognition event.
• Goal III A1:  A series of articles were developed and distributes.   A2:  Any thoughts about a Caregiver 2010 Reception???
• Goal III B2:  Well attended in March ’09.  2010 the interest is directed to Social Emotional topics.  (in Lansing on March 9 or 10, 2010).  The collaborative is to play a supportive role.
• Goal III B3:  Coaching project has a successful beginning.
• Goal III B4:  Play and Learn groups are growing.  More work is beginning here to expand services.  Kinship care is an area to explore.  Barry is making contact with the MSU program.  Barry has also explored some possibilities at the North West Initiative (neighborhood in Lansing) to work on a pilot program with two people from the neighborhood to help canvass and to help with follow up support programs.  Funding is needed for this project.  Barb (with the Central Regional Resource Center) will look into options for funding.

The next meeting is Monday, 2/1/10, 2:30-4:30 at Grand River Head Start.

Quality Initiatives Work Group

Agenda Monday, January 11, 2010   2:30-4:30pm

Grand River School 1107 E. Grand River Ave

Coaching Updates
Training for Coaches, Supervisors, Early Childhood Specialists, LCC Field Advisors, Lab School, etc.
CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - Updates & Evaluation
Strategic Plan update:
     Review summary of accomplishments and compare to work plan
     New action agenda (3 year plan) due tentatively in September
Updates
Next meeting Agenda:
Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Next QI meeting Monday, February 1, at Grand River Head Start. The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Grand River Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Quality Initiatives Work Group

12/7/09 Meeting Notes

Present: Barry Kaufmann, Renee Demars-Johnson, Michelle Nicholson, Nora Thompson, Marcia Rysztak, Lucy McClintic

1.      Adjustments to agenda:
     a.     Next agenda
        i.      Strategic plan update
        ii.      Review summary of accomplishments and compare to work plan
        iii.      New action agenda (3 year plan) due tentatively in September

2.      Professional Development
    a.     Michelle shared info on availability of additional $30,000 from ECIC.  Operations recommended moving Professional Development Activity to ECIC funds from Foundation funds.  Can use up $20,000 of funds for PD, shared among all the PD needs of collaborative (ie autism).
    b.     Discussion of possibilities:
        i.      Carter & Curtis – not available to come here until 2011 or could attend one they have in place ($199, 2 days)
        ii.      Free training on reflective supervisors by IMH & DCHM Jan. 6.  Email Barry if needed
        iii.      Critical friends Group

1.      $1100/day for 12 people, 5 day training

2.      Train the Trainer – develop team with school building to provide collaborative/reflective supervision/inclusive

       iv.      Project Choice – only does in Illinois
       v.      STEP to Success – Head Start

Whatever training we do, needs to have an implementation plan and how do we make systems change

Each person will research possible trainings in coaching:
1.      Smart Start – Michelle
2.      Laurie Linscott – Nora
3.      Comm. College – Marcia
4.      National ED Leaders – Renee

Kick Off – Community of Learning/Practice for Coaches/Supervisors/Field Instructors/(maybe) Center Directors

3.      Family, Friend & Neighbor
   a.     Barry is making contacts with various programs across Region; Robin Willner will be doing a training on Social-Emotional; Coffee Club for FFN; Kinship Care Group; CCP having a training program on 12/18 to look at what others are doing to fund and engage with relative aide providers.

4.      Coaching Update
    a.     There are 7 confirmed coaches for year2 and 1 other for 8^th spot.  (One needs approval from Regional Corporate office).  Orientation for new participants and directors is 12/16.  Recruitment to centers directors worked well.
    b.      A tour of the new Grand River Head Start and Early Head Start center was given.

Ingham Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Agenda Monday, December 7, 2009  2:30-4:30 pm

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes
Professional Development Recommendations
Status of Contacts for Family, Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)
Coaching Updates and Evaluation Report
Agency/Community Updates
Next Meeting Agenda

The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Grand River Head Start Center from 2:30-4:30

Ingham Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Notes Monday, November 2, 2009 2:30-4:30 pm

101 E Willow, Head Start   

Present: Reneé DeMars-Johnson, Barry Kaufman, Lucy McClintic, Barb Monroe, Michelle Nicholson, Marcia Rysztak, Nora Thompson

Adjustment to agenda

Updates on the Central Regional Resources Center were added and discussed.  Highlights included:

·    DHS budget was signed and $808,000+ is available for the 10-county region
·    There is one hub and there are 3 satellites, from which direct services will be implemented.
·    The focus is on aides and relatives, who will be required to get prescribed training in CPR and First Aid.
·    Lending libraries will be available.  A media event was planned for the end of November, with another for Dec/Jan
·    There will be a new database for trainers, as well as the new database that has launched for searches for care.

Review of last meeting notes

No modifications to the notes of October 5, 2009 were made.

Professional Development Recommendations

There have been discussions over many work groups with regard to how integrated training might occur.  Capacity building is really an underlying theme; sustainability is key.  Further information about the MSU training (and cost for it) regarding autism spectrum was discussed.  The training could begin in January provided by doctoral students.  A possibility would be to scholarship 2-3 people into the comprehensive training, with the expectation that they would then be able to train.  If there is integrated training, key stakeholders at Lansing Schools would need to be on board.  We have had Social Emotional training, and the Community Service for Developmentally Disabled (CSDD) would require data on the need for their services, such as how many children transition out of Early On to nothing.  Data on the resources and supports for ASD would also help in decision making.

Status of Contacts for Family, Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)

Barry distributed a flyer on the Great Start Child Care Enhancement Program (CCEP) and sought additional contact information and resource ideas that would enable the Central Region to meet its obligations.

Coaching Updates and Evaluation Report

As of the date of the meeting, only three applications to participate in Coaching, with one of those from a family child care provider (and thus, ineligible).  Of those who participated in the first round of coaching activities, two have committed, while an additional one is still deciding. Further outreach is planned.

The Evaluation Report was not yet ready for distribution, but preliminary results indicated that there will be some common themes.

Agency/Community Updates

CMH: CCEP/KEEP update as mentioned above.  List of those aides/relatives who are registered has yet to be provided.

Head Start:  Peer review went well.  Grand River School site was held up because of the fire alarm/smoke detector system.  Some vandalism has occurred.  There will be five Head Start classrooms and three Early Head Start rooms.

Next Meeting Agenda

Professional Development (further planning); Coaching Updates; Family, Friend and Neighbor Care and the Central Region CCEP; Revisiting of the Strategic Plan.

Next meeting is Monday, December 7, 2009, 2:30-4:30 at the Grand River Head Start Center, 1107 E. Grand River Ave.

Ingham Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

AGENDA Monday, November 2, 2009  2:30-4:30 pm

Head Start, 101 E. Willow

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes
Professional Development Recommendations
Status of Contacts for Family, Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)
Coaching Updates and Evaluation Report
Agency/Community Updates
Next Meeting Agenda

The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Ingham Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

MINUTES October 5, 2009

A.       Adjustment to agenda:  None

 B.     Review of last meeting’s notes: 

     a.      Change “coaches” to coachees under Coaching Updates in the last sentence
     b.      Change “CTF” to Children’s Charter under Professional Development
     c.      Under KEEP update, edit last sentence so it says “This results in a cut for some staff from that program.”

C.     Family, Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)

     a.      Related to Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center and KEEP:  This is a required target for both grants to serve this population.
      b.      KEEP:  State DHS has realigned CCEP’s with ECIC Regional Resource Centers

                       i.      Training only if related to case
                       ii.      At least 25 children and 50 professionals
                       iii.      Work with four hubs
                       iv.      Have been reaching younger children
                        v.      Shiawassee had 15 centers and closed all cases because their program is no longer funded
                       vi.      Be part of Central Region Advisory Team – put banner on DHS website when aides filing is confirmed or when registered – could DHS require an orientation?
                       vii.      51% of families served have to be informal providers and all children have to be on a DHS subsidy

      c.      Ideas on how to reach Family and Relative Care Providers

                        i.      Contact Barry with suggestions for how to reach this population and with names of contacts
                        ii.      Partnering with faith based community contacts (use Yvonne’s contacts) and neighborhood associations may be a way to start
                        iii.      Senior housing or senior centers such as Grange Acres in Haslett might be useful contacts
                        iv.      Consult EHS, Early On, Food Movers, medical providers, GLHC, MSU kinship care, CADL

      d.      Hybrid Planning Group:  Wait until everyone’s budget and staff are finalized before proceeding with a hybrid workgroup of parent education and QI members

D.     Coaching Updates

       a.      Jill Lawler has been reassigned within the health department and Robin Zeiter will pick up Jill’s coachees
       b.      October 22 is a tentative date for an end of the year event at Creations Station/Impressions Five
       c.      Three attachments were handed out:  Budget, Involving Directors and notes from a Coaches’ meeting

                           i.      Talked about issues of whether or not to include director in discussions with coaches/coachees
                           ii.      Discussed setting an agreement, not just with coaches, but with directors at the beginning of the relationship
                           iii.      Directors could attend professional development with their coachees
                           iv.      Discussed empowering the coachees to present ideas to their directors
                            v.      Budget adjustments were shared with supplies upped to $400, videocameras at $200, orientation at $200 and travel increasing

        d.      November 9 is an orientation meeting for new coachees/directors

 
E.     Professional Development

        a.      Continue with joint professional development, identify needs and direct resources
        b.      Priorities
                           i.      Higher level of professional development for coaches
                           ii.      Autism spectrum disorder training by Brooke Ingersoll, Ph.D.
                                       1.      $5000/2 day train the trainers, especially in communication skills
                                       2.      Staff expressed interest in training for direct service providers rather than trainers
                                       3.      Brooke gives strategies for parents and has a curriculum which is being piloted

 F.      Agency/Community Updates
           a.      CACS has keys to Grand River School and will begin moving classes in

 
G.     Next Meeting Agenda
           a.      Agency Updates
           b.      Status of contacts with FFN
           c.      Professional development recommendations
           d.      Coaching updates (Evaluation report)

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:00-11:00 pm

Head Start, 101 E. Willow

Review of last meeting notes- the group commented on how thorough the notes were.

Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center
Work plans were turned in and are awaiting ECIC edits, and new guidelines.  ECIC commented that Central Region’s indicators are good and detailed, but we need more detailed indicators for increases in the outcomes.  ECIC is providing a new plan format which is adding a rationale column for tasks. ECIC has requested that we only connect with aides and relatives through the Home Based Child Care Council, not the Union.  The contact is Elizabeth Jordan.  ECIC sent letters to DHS offices announcing that Child Care Resource and Referral is no longer going through the 4Cs. Work First offices did not receive that communication so now 4C offices need to contact them to relay the information. ECIC has granted funding for the project leader for October. 
Central Region will have 4 Hubs:  North (Gladwin/Midland), Central (Alma), South (OYC) and West (Ionia). The focus will be on aides and relatives and major activities will include:
Lending Libraries, Play & Learn Groups, and Coaching, Lists of trainings and Websites.
CMU is the state entity and their database will have a calendar to sign up for training. They will also be conducting a curriculum review.

Scholarship Updates
TEACH received a substantial cut in the scholarship budget due to state woes. $15.5 million; there will be no new applicants, but the State will try to honor current recipients. We have one more year on the TEACH contract.

Coaching Updates
(See attachment with notes from a 7-30-09 coaching meeting) Marcia shared notes and input from a coaches meeting and asked for some assistance in responding to their questions and suggestions. A decision was made regarding incentives-who is the recipient, the staff or program? Who keeps the incentive if the coachee leaves the program? The workgroup decided that there would be 2 types of incentives- one for the program that would be related to the improvement area and left with the program; another would be something less expensive for the coachee, e.g. a book that would be theirs to keep. The group also discussed continuing with those coachees interested who are interested, but wait to recruit and start additional coaches until the amount of funding for coaching in Year 2 is determined.

 Professional Development
The workgroup discussed community training that would provide capacity building, i.e. ASD. More discussion is needed across several workgroups – QI, Social-Emotional and Kindergarten Transition. The Year 1 budget for CRCF/CAUW funding had line items for training in these areas. The Year 2 budget does not. Professional development has been lumped into a category with coaching and the workgroups, along with Operations Committee, need to decide what PD we really need and how much funding will be needed, while sustaining and potentially increasing, funding for coaching. Kathleen Strator from Children’s Charter, Zero to Three and PAT were all discussed as potential resources for PD.

Agency/Community Updates
MI4C will stay open with a reduction in hours (M-TH), and will be reinvented as a training entity.
The workgroup discussed the DHS lawsuit; DHS is being sued over unionizing child care providers.  The suit was initiated by Midland.  Childcare providers were not realizing that money was being deducted from their checks, and what it was for.  They are suing for taking money out, which would amount to $3.7 million by the end of 2009, and they aren’t sure what the union is doing with the money.

OYC Update
Everyone is re-assigned within ICHD for the month of October until they know about the budget. There could end up being some staff cuts.  Staff have been reassigned to Public Health, Breast & Cervical Health, and Emergency Preparedness/H1N1.  Three and ½ people will stay at OYC.  Robin Z. will continue with coaching.

KEEP Update

Due to funding for CCEPs being cut in half at the state level, Shiawassee will no longer have a CCEP and KEEP will be the only CCEP program in the Central Region. This results in a cut for some staff from the program.

Next Meeting Agenda
Family Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)
Coaching
PD and Community-wide Training

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Agenda Monday, October 5, 2009 2:30-4:30 pm

Head Start, 101 E. Willow

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Family, Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)

     Related to Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center

     Related to KEEP

     Reaching this population

     Hybrid Planning Group

Coaching Updates

 Professional Development

Agency/Community Updates

Next Meeting Agenda

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:00-11:00 pm

Head Start, 101 E. Willow

Review of last meeting notes- the group commented on how thorough the notes were.

Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center
Work plans were turned in and are awaiting ECIC edits, and new guidelines.  ECIC commented that Central Region’s indicators are good and detailed, but we need more detailed indicators for increases in the outcomes.  ECIC is providing a new plan format which is adding a rationale column for tasks. ECIC has requested that we only connect with aides and relatives through the Home Based Child Care Council, not the Union.  The contact is Elizabeth Jordan.  ECIC sent letters to DHS offices announcing that Child Care Resource and Referral is no longer going through the 4Cs. Work First offices did not receive that communication so now 4C offices need to contact them to relay the information. ECIC has granted funding for the project leader for October. 
Central Region will have 4 Hubs:  North (Gladwin/Midland), Central (Alma), South (OYC) and West (Ionia). The focus will be on aides and relatives and major activities will include:
Lending Libraries, Play & Learn Groups, and Coaching, Lists of trainings and Websites.
CMU is the state entity and their database will have a calendar to sign up for training. They will also be conducting a curriculum review.

Scholarship Updates
TEACH received a substantial cut in the scholarship budget due to state woes. $15.5 million; there will be no new applicants, but the State will try to honor current recipients. We have one more year on the TEACH contract.

Coaching Updates
(See attachment with notes from a 7-30-09 coaching meeting) Marcia shared notes and input from a coaches meeting and asked for some assistance in responding to their questions and suggestions. A decision was made regarding incentives-who is the recipient, the staff or program? Who keeps the incentive if the coachee leaves the program? The workgroup decided that there would be 2 types of incentives- one for the program that would be related to the improvement area and left with the program; another would be something less expensive for the coachee, e.g. a book that would be theirs to keep. The group also discussed continuing with those coaches interested in continuing, but wait to recruit and start additional coaches until the amount of funding for coaching in Year 2 is determined.

 Professional Development
The workgroup discussed community training that would provide capacity building, i.e. ASD. More discussion is needed across several workgroups – QI, Social-Emotional and Kindergarten Transition. The Year 1 budget for CRCF/CAUW funding had line items for training in these areas. The Year 2 budget does not. Professional development has been lumped into a category with coaching and the workgroups, along with Operations Committee, need to decide what PD we really need and how much funding will be needed, while sustaining and potentially increasing, funding for coaching. Kathleen Strator from CTF, Zero to Three and PAT were all discussed as potential resources for PD.

Agency/Community Updates
MI4C will stay open with a reduction in hours (M-TH), and will be reinvented as a training entity.
The workgroup discussed the DHS lawsuit; DHS is being sued over unionizing child care providers.  The suit was initiated by Midland.  Childcare providers were not realizing that money was being deducted from their checks, and what it was for.  They are suing for taking money out, which would amount to $3.7 million by the end of 2009, and they aren’t sure what the union is doing with the money.

OYC Update
Everyone is re-assigned within ICHD for the month of October until they know about the budget. There could end up being some staff cuts.  Staff have been reassigned to Public Health, Breast & Cervical Health, and Emergency Preparedness/H1N1.  Three and ½ people will stay at OYC.  Robin Z. will continue with coaching.

KEEP Update

Due to funding for CCEPs being cut in half at the state level, Shiawassee will no longer have a CCEP and KEEP will be the only CCEP program in the Central Region. This results in a cut for 2 staff and a limited licensed psychologist.

Next Meeting Agenda
Family Friend and Neighbor Care (Relative and Day Care Aides)
Coaching
PD and Community-wide Training

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

AGENDA Thursday, September 17, 2009  9:00-11:00 pm

Head Start, 101 E. Willow

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative –Year 2 Priorities

Scholarship Updates

Coaching Updates

Professional Development

Kinship Care/Family, Friend and Neighbor Care

Agency/Community Updates

Next Meeting Agenda:

The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes August 3, 2009

Attending: Marcia Rystak, Jill Lawler, Lucy McClintic, Barry Kaufman, Michelle Nicholson, Barb Monroe, Nora Thompson

Review of last meeting’s notes - no changes - thank you Barry for taking them.

Coaching

Marcia shared that one person being coached is moving centers.  It seems to make sense to continue with her but the center director needs to agree.  The pre/post test in each site would give the data needed.  There are still two people being coached at that site, so when this person leaves the current center will still receive coaching for the other person.

Michelle said they almost have a date for the coaches/coachees’ focus group for evaluation. Coaches should inform coachees about the potential dates of August 27/28 and September 3/4 to participate in a focus group.  Directors will be contacted for phone interviews.

An email was sent to Margie Carter and Deb Curtis regarding providing training on coaching and reflective supervision.  They are not available but the ISD has a DVD of their reflective supervision work if anyone wants to check it out.  Nora suggested Libby Sheldon from Detroit as an alternate consultant if this were still to be pursued.

Scholarships

Barb shared that applications have gone out.  Priority is first to outlying communities with current and wait listed applicants and then secondly to those in the City of Lansing.  They are getting things together for an invoice and it looks like there will be a little carryover of money.  There are approximately eleven or so scholarships available.

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative

Marcia is seeing the selection process for coaches needs to be strengthened by:

1)   Screening the center: for stability, enrollment, staff support and buy in, licensing status

2)   Screening the individual: for motivation, training, background, recency of training, what their roles have been (perhaps checking licensing records)

3)   Making a site visit: need to develop questions for this

It takes at least six months to see results and we are not there yet.  There are different levels of ability and interest.  In the future, we would not emphasize coaching as “free training hours”.  There has been discussion about providing support in family child care vs. child care centers and it was decided to stay with child care centers due to the greatest impact with numbers of families and children.  They need to get center buy in - not just the director, but all staff. 

Thinking about number of hours, the program currently provides 2.5 hours for the visit, plus travel and an hour of preparation time per week.  It will be revised to four hours for the visit every two weeks which includes the visit, consultation and preparation time.  It does not include travel.  There was a discussion about weekly visits but it was decided that it was not enough time for coaches to get things done so they are keeping to every other week.  They are choosing centers of high quality that are closer in improvement and near Lansing so they can give opportunities to visit other centers as well.  Coaches meeting together is valuable and attempts are being made to have all four meet together every two weeks for two hours. 

The project is looking at the year in three month chunks up to the end of the grant period with a review at the end of each three month period.  They are trying to have a meeting every three months for all coaches and coachees for a meal or dessert. 

Marcia says they want to do more if funding becomes available.  A closure process is needed for those leaving and the evaluation process needs to be further developed.  There was interest in the video reflection idea from the last meeting.  MSU outreach and engagement will do the evaluation using focus groups of coaches and coachees, surveys of those receiving scholarships and interviews of employers and center directors.  The focus is on qualitative information now, not quantitative.  The topics covered by this evaluation include the support the coach has provided, feedback on the method of coaching, and information on the coach and director specifically.  Michelle will send the dates for the focus groups. 

CRCF is going to request funding for a fourth year.  Funders have their own list of priorities:

1)   Play and learn groups

2)   Home visits

3)   Imagination library expansion

4)   Coaching and scholarships

The funders did not mention professional development so we might want to say professional development includes coaching, training, etc. - capacity building.

Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center 

Barb shared they had their first meeting and there are eight Great Start Collaboratives in the central region with all their directors attending.  Each collaborative had homework to go back and look at their plans to find out what they are currently doing and what gaps were seen.  The group is trying to get a baseline and go from there.  One proposal is to use Moodle training with coaching as a follow up.  The proposed plan is due August 31.  Barb will email a chart to Michelle for the region which shows assets and gaps.  Michelle will forward to Quality Initiatives members for additional input.

Kinship Care/Family, Friend and Neighbor Care

Barry proposed we have a subgroup to study this.  What is the minimum requirement for quality - a clearance?  an orientation?  Volunteers for this group include: Barry, Barb, Deb Hill (volunteered by Lucy!), Michelle and we will recruit two from the Parent Education group as well.  There will be an interface with MSU’s Kinship Care Network that is already established.  Maybe family members providing this type of care can attend playgroups for support and the development of relationships.  Barb shared that she feels the ECIC needs to understand more about the population and that was one of their original charges - to figure out how to work with them.  Marcia suggested that it should be shared with legislators how difficult this population is to reach and to consider who and how our state reimburses for child care in order to make a difference. 

Project ReImagine

Race to the Top money is available for K-12 programs.  ISD’s and school districts can apply until August 14th.  One of the requirements is to have preschool included in the applications.  Ingham ISD is working with the local school districts to create a plan and currently they are looking at incorporating the ECSQ (early childhood standards of Michigan).  They are discussing making a compact with parents, schools and the community to be invested in things happening at certain stages.  There would be supports in place at certain transitional stages. 

Maybe LCC/LSD’s venture to create a best practice kindergarten could fit into this plan. Marcia could talk to Stan Chase at LCC and Julie Lemond at LSD about it being a demonstration/training site.

Agency/Community Updates

Jim Gill concert coming up at Hannah Community Center on September 12th.  There will be a lunch (free for CMAEYC members, $10 for others) and a workshop for early childhood providers ($20 fro CMAEYC members, $40 for others).  Early childhood providers would receive credit for coming.

Next meeting is September 17 from 9-11am at the Head Start building for a new carpet party.

The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30
TEC.VOL1:Early Childhood:Quality Initiatives:Meeting August 3 2009.doc

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

AGENDA Monday, August 3, 2009

NOT at Head Start, 101 E. Willow 2:30-4:30 pm

The Head Start Office at Willow is not available, so we will be instead meeting at Maplehill Head Start at 640 Maplehill in Lansing for Monday's QI meeting. We will be in the GED room.

• Adjustment to agenda
• Review of last meeting notes
• Coaching Updates, Training and Evaluation
• CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative – Updates and Year 2 Priorities
• Central Region Child Care and Early Learning Resource Center
• Kinship Care/Family, Friend and Neighbor Care
• Agency/Community Updates
• Project Re-Imagine
• Next meeting Date and Agenda:

The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes July 10, 2009

Adjusted agenda:  add (if time allows) discussion of informal care and friendship care.

Reviewed last minutes

Michelle:
CAUW/CRCF had funded us $15,000 for childcare scholarships.  Consumers Energy provided an additional $15,000 for scholarships as well as $10,000 split between Clinton & Eaton counties for Imagination Library.

The group will address scholarship decisions for next year at a later date.

Jill/OYC:  Coaching Update
Coaches’ experiences have provided much learning.  The current application doesn’t ask participants what role they were in for their years of experience; i.e. 13 years in Early Childhood, but doesn’t indicate if that was as a lead teacher, assistant, director, etc.  The quality level of the programs indicated great variability to how well they applied information and level of their effectiveness as a child care setting.

Participating program needs are at a less developed level than anticipated.  Follow-through at the sites being coached was not consistent by the coaches or directors.  Questions about competence with the coaching process were often not done.  Director buy-in is high, but staff follow-through is limited. 

Each coach states that the situation varies across sites in commitment, resource availability, and previous experience.  Quality varies and sites are not as prepared as initially thought. 

Director follow-through in supporting the growth and change of coachees was varied and at times not done.  Director buy-in and follow-through is crucial. 

At the last Evaluation meeting Michelle had, it was determined that the evaluators are open to allowing flexibility in developing the Coaching Process.  In August or September focus groups with coaches and coachees as well as surveys for both will be conducted.  Center directors and supervisors of coaches will be interviewed about the project.

Jill shared the idea of considering targeting home and group providers who may have fewer complications to make changes in the setting.

Marcia reviewed the coaches she works with.  Key to the involvement is the level of director buy-in and follow-through.  Level of coachees’ existing experiences greatly varies and effects potential for change.

We discussed options for continuing coaching project.  Need to continue to review the lessons learned.  Marcia suggested a coaching meeting to review the possible next steps.

Strategies
Nora Thompson:  Reflective supervision using video taping all of the teacher/child interaction and letting the teacher react and observe the tape and learn.  We discussed use of guided observations in supervision and use of reflective supervision in coaching. 

Nora indicated she has training videos from Carter & Curtis:
    Preschool Tape:  “Reflecting Children’s Childhood” from Harvest Resources     (Margie Carter & Deb Curtis)

Question: How do you get people to reflect who don’t reflect?  How do you teach people to reflect?

The group discussed pursuing exploring cost and availability of Margie Carter & Deb Curtis for a possible training in the fall of 2010 on Coaching and Reflection.

Training would be for coaches, supervisors, Early Childhood Specialists, and LCC Field Advisors.

Scholarships & Next Steps for New Phase
Applications for September should be going out.  How should scholarship applications be sent out to eligible providers?  Are out-county providers our first priority?

Are we still going to allow Lansing families to be eligible?  In previous years out-county families had an additional priority.  Lansing is reducing its funding for scholarships.  How should this affect award families?

The group discussed putting previous recipients back into selection pool, allow them to re-apply and assess the neediest applicants.

People out of the city would receive an extra point for consideration.  Carry-over funds can be used for copies and mailings.

E-mail to out-county providers as first priority (or mail if they don’t have e-mail.)  Also current recipients and wait list families should receive applications first.  A later distribution to Lansing families and providers can e done if there is still money.

Year Two Priorities for Private Money
What activities does the Work Group want to support?  Coaching & Scholarships have been the two priority areas that this workgroup has worked on. We have a need for greater requests for Scholarships.  A possible request for Coaching is $50,000.  Per hour costs for coaches are higher than projected and we want to serve additional people.

The group began to discuss connecting and addressing the needs of relative provider.  Jill discussed outreach and connecting strategies OYC used. 

We discussed the need for reconsidering priorities to focus on high-need.

Next Meeting:  Informal Care

Birth to Five, GSC
Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Agenda Friday, July 10, 2009

Head Start, 101 E. Willow 9-11 am

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Articles Updates and Future Articles - focus on play, PreK standard 1 and approaches to learning     (p. 43) and social emotional (p. 45).
     Current activities, article distribution

Coaching Updates and Evaluation

Training for Coaches, Supervisors, Early  Childhood Specialists, LCC Field Advisors, Lab School, etc.

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative – Updates

Agency/Community Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Next QI meeting Monday 8/3 at Head Start. The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five, GSC
 Quality Initiative Workgroup

June 1, 2009 Meeting Notes

Present:  Michelle Nicholson, Maria Rysztak, Barry Kaufman, Renee DeMars-Johnson, Lucy McClintic

Articles

Taking a hiatus from Quality Early Learning articles; awaiting revisions on format of Standards from MDE.  Unsure of how used the articles are.  Is there a more practical application method?

Discussed how to impact Kindergarten teachers to incorporate more play into their classrooms.

Concerned that many preschools are moving to “Curriculum blocks” to meet what “Kindergarten teachers” say is needed.

Professional Development

Proposed bringing Marjorie Kortelnik to talk to administrators (breakfast meeting); Kindergarten Transition group on Play.  Next day she could provide coaching.  Target date for August pre-service days.  Also Dom Gullo, formerly of University of Wisconsin and NAEYC board is an expert on Kindergarten.

Coaching Update

More time is being spent than expected; most coachees are at the very basics.  We will discuss lessons learned & needs for grant next phase.

      August 3, 2009, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Head Start

Birth to Five, GSC
 Quality Initiative Workgroup

Agenda Monday, June 1, 2009

Head Start, 101 E. Willow 2:30-4:30pm

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Articles Updates and Future Articles - focus on play, PreK standard 1 and approaches to learning     (p. 43) and social emotional (p. 45).
     Current activities, article distribution

Coaching Updates

Training for Coaches, Supervisors, Early  Childhood Specialists, LCC Field Advisors, Lab School, etc.

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - updates, Logic Model & Evaluation – Jessica Barnes & Jason Almerigi will discuss with the group

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Next QI meeting Monday 7/6?? at Head Start. The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30
The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five, GSC
 Quality Initiative Workgroup

Meeting Notes Monday, May 4, 2009

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative:

Jessica Barnes and Jason Almerigi from MSU's Outreach and Engagement attended to engage in discussion.  They shared a narrative of the evaluation plan for coaching, and we then proceeded to discuss the coaching evaluation plan in detail.  There was significant discussion regarding how to measure and what to measure in the project.  Marcia has developed a contact log that will be easily coded for reports on the project.  Jessica will send Marcia a list of desired demographic elements and Marcia will amend current forms in order to collect desired elements.  Jessica discussed the possibility of attempting video recording of the classrooms in the next ten days.

Feedback on Caregiver Dessert & Advocacy Forum:

Approximately 100 registered for the Caregiver Dessert, while approximately 30 people (including presenters) were registered for the Advocacy Forum. 

 Other:  CLASS training is desired.  MSU's Tribal grant may be able to provide additional train-the-trainer workshop.

 Next meeting agenda:

1.     Articles

2.     Follow up on Coaching Evaluation

3.     Training.  There are training funds embedded in the CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative grant.  We discussed that support for coaches / help with coaching strategies would be an appropriate focus for training.  Two individuals who might be approached are Marjorie Kostelnik and Becky Brinks.  Lucy had a suggestion that site supervisors, early childhood specialists, MSU Lab School staff and Field Advisors for LCC would all benefit from attending such training.

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Agenda Monday, May 4, 2009

Head Start, 101 E. Willow 2:30-4:30pm

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - updates, Logic Model & Evaluation – Jessica Barnes & Jason Almerigi will discuss with the group

Coaching Updates

Articles Updates and Future Articles - focus on play, PreK standard 1 and approaches to learning     (p. 43) and social emotional (p. 45).
     Current activities, article distribution

Feedback on Caregiver Dessert & Advocacy Forum

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Next QI meeting Monday 6/1 at Head Start.
The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

QI Meeting Notes April 13, 2009

 Present: Renee Demars-Johnson; Carla Fitzgerald; Barry Kaufman; Barb Monroe; Michelle Nicholson; Marcia Rysztak

1.   Carla Fitzgerald, director at Helping Hands, joined the group. They will be doing a workshop for parents by Dan Hodgins. Topic is stress and will be open to all; April 28, 6-7:30pm. No cost; child care not available.

2.   Barry brought up two issues:
      a.   How to address connecting with relative/kinship care? This will be put on a future agenda.
      b.   Crisis or respite care for ongoing care for a child who needs extra support because of very challenging behaviors. Will be put on a future agenda.

3.   Update:  Evaluation of our projects:
      Outreach and Engagement MSU and grant funders
      a.      Michelle shared latest. Information includes:
                  Process measures
                  Outcome measures
                  Training
      b.      Reviewed suggested indicators     
       Process measures
              May need to add demographic information. Will review OYC demographics form for possible use
              Satisfaction of participants: will review OYC form for adaptation
              Satisfaction of parents: would need pre and post to make it valid. May want to use on next wave rather than this one due to short time frame
      We will do an information letter to parents on the project
      How can we build information on helping parents know what quality is? Rather than parent  satisfaction, could it become “Have parents gained information on quality?”

        c.   Questions on process for scholarship

    Can’t increase fund for those at quality centers because there is no rating scale
    Question: “Can we bring together the scholarship and coaching pool by targeting scholarships to those who were coached?” Will discuss further at future meeting. Maybe connect coaching first to those who received scholarship
    Maybe do a satisfaction survey of families who received scholarships

Coaching outcome measures
Focusing on “understanding” is not measurable
Each participant will be working with different indicators
Focus is on making progress toward goals on Coaching Reflection Form. It’s difficult to make changes
    on PQA scale, but progress is occurring. Will need to look at progress on scale used
May want to follow up with participants several months after ending to see if still doing or have coach
    available. How can we help director assist in sustainability?
Outcome measures are for projects that have higher resources allocation. It was suggested that
    Jessica Barnes from MSU Community Partnerships come to a QI meeting to talk about Outcome
    measures

4.      Scholarship update
      Whole amount awarded. Goals on who is receiving scholarship have been met. High percentage of students
      When next $15,000 received, next round will start
      Invoices are coming in. Wording on letter of agreement is being reviewed and must be finalized first
      We will revisit our goals for participants again. There is still a huge need in Lansing and we are addressing that as well
     Consumers Energy giving $15,000 for scholarship; $10,000 for Imagination library for Clinton and Eaton. Hoping for a three-year commitment.

 5.   Coaching
        All eight participants have had a least one visit
        Project orientation is tonight (April 13)
       Two preschools; five toddler; one infant program; programs in Holt; Okemos; Lansing; Leslie; and East Lansing

6.   Training
       Social emotional was distributed at kindergarten transition workshop (186 people). Social-
            emotional guide for parents and caregivers and other resources were shared as well.
        Other training dollars still available
         We would like training on coaching. $1,000 available

 7.   Articles
      First focus was exploration, incorporating both program elements and caregiver behaviors.
      Reviewed the 7/12/2007 minutes.
      We will focus on play. PreK standard 1 and approaches to learning (p. 43) and social emotional (p. 45). Marcia and Renee will seek input on I/T standards

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

QI Meeting AGENDA April 13, 2009

Head Start, 101 E. Willow 2:30-4:30pm

Review of last meeting notes

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - updates, Logic Model & Evaluation

Scholarship Updates

Coaching Updates

Articles Updates and Future Articles
     Current activities, article distribution

Caregiver Dessert

Advocacy Forum

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Next QI meeting Monday 5/4 at Head Start    

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

AGENDA Monday, March 2, 2009 2:30-4:30pm

Head Start, 101 E. Willow

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Status Of Coaching: Strategy B

Child Care Scholarships: New Money!!!

Standards Work Update: Articles and Distribution

Professional Recognition – Caregiver Reception: Strategy A2

Updates

Next meeting Agenda

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Notes February 2, 2009 meeting notes

Present: Lucy McClintic, Barb Monroe, Michelle Nicholson, Marcia Rysztak

1. Scholarships:
1. Review of Applications Process.

·         Upon review of applications, all will be placed by point number in the Pool listing until application period closes (Feb. 16 at 5:00).
·         Scholarship awards will be awarded by highest points first, until all budget is exhausted.
1. Award form and Provider agreement, will be sent (by mail) to parent.
2. Parent will read and sign it, Provider will also read and sign.
3. Form will be returned to Sharon.
4. Will verify provider meets requirements of scholarships (in Ingham Co, and in good standing with licensing).
5. Will then send them approved provider (by mail)
·         6 copies of billing forms, ( 1 per month), and
·         Provider Agreement Explanation letter explaining billing procedure and scholarship program requirements, and
·         Child Care Provider Agreement form which provider will sign and return.
6. Each month provider will send (via fax, email attachment, or mail), a completed billing form to OYC for payment.
7. Payments will be sent to provider from Ingham County at end of next month.

2.  Added that provider will participate in 10 – 12 hours of professional development as specified by licensing (as a way to enhance quality); Choosing Quality Child Care Brochure will be sent to parents; Info on coaching sent to provider.
   

3. Email blast went out on January 30.  1 application received and 5 inquires to date; applications on OYC and IGSC websites;
   

4. Michelle talked to Jamie regarding scholarships for at home parents.  Some funds are both parents must be in school or working in this round.
   

2. Letters of agreement are completed and being sent for signatures to agencies on coaching and scholarships.
   

3. ARTICLE: Made changes to combined social-emotional exploration article to shorten.

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

AGENDA Monday, January 12, 2009   2:30-4:30pm

CACS Head Start, 101 E Willow Lansing

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Identify a Chair for QI

Development of a coaching model: Strategy B3
     Continue discussion related to the attached document

Standards Work Update: Article on Environments for Exploration for Infants/Toddlers & Article Distribution

Updates

Next meeting Agenda

   Strategy B4:  Kinship care
   Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

12/11/08 QI Meeting Announcement

We began our discussion of developing the framework for our coaching project.  I generated a list of question and possible option answers from all of our past minutes.  We used this as the basis for our discussion.  I am attaching a document with our decisions thus far.  There are still things to be decided and we wanted to continue so we can get the project started.  We have set a meeting to just discuss coaching for Thursday Dec. 11 from 8:30 – 9:30 at Willow Head Start.  If you are interested in helping with the project and are available, please join us. 

Let me or Michelle know if you have any questions.

Marcia

Agenda for 12/11 meeting, 8:30 – 9:30 at Willow HS

Review of notes from last meeting.

Decide: which centers will be the target (2a)

1. How often will coaching occur?

1. Weekly? Bi-weekly?
2. Length of visit
3. Length of consultation time

 2. Timeline

 3. Coaches

1. Supervision
2. Coaches meeting regularly; 

                                                              i.      other agencies can bring supervisory staff to these meetings

3. Training across all agencies who do metioring/supervision/coaching

 4. Incentives and materials:  What are the limits?

 5. What is coaching focused on?

1. Baseline or needs assessment with formal assessment (ECERs, PQA, etc.)?
2. Individual contract of activities/goals

1. Relationship based
2. Strength based
3. Linkages to other community resources
4. incentives
5. Homework?
6. Group meeting?

 Questions:

            How does it differ from what KEEP does?

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Notes from QI meeting12/1/08 (draft for approval) 

Coaching:  Issues for discussion    

Present at 12/1/08 meeting:  Michelle Nicholson, Lucy McClintic, Marcia Rysztak, Barb Monroe.

Overview:

·        $25,000 available
·        Goal:  10 participants
·        Goal:  20-30 visits per participant, over 30 weeks
·        Costs:
o       Administrative fee (up to 10% or $2500)
o       Coaching:  fringe, salary, travel time, training, coaches meetings, mileage, paperwork
o       Incentives, materials
(Develop an attachment to letter of understanding that outlines expectations for coach’s use of time.)
·        Will pay agency at a flat fee for each person coached

1. Administration:
1. Ingham Great Start will contract with agencies through a letter of understanding.LCC will be the lead coordinating agency hiring a lead coach.  Responsibilities will be  

                                                              i.      Coordinating Data collection

                                                            ii.      Training coordination

                                                          iii.      Lead coach to lead coach’s meetings

                                                           iv.      Agency supervisors will supervise own staff and collaborate on overall guidance of the project

3. Coaches hired from:

                                                              i.      OYC and LCC

                                                            ii.      Coordination/collaboration with KEEP

2. Participants:  Who will receive coaching?
1. To be decided:  Neediest centers or  Centers with quality programs
2. Room will be the focus rather than the teacher
3. Director buy-in
4. Classroom staff participated in training
5. Centers

3. How will coached be chosen?
1. Application submitted by classroom with director’s agreement
2. Criteria

                                                              i.      Motivation to be engaged

                                                            ii.      Director buy in

                                                          iii.      Length of time teacher there

4. Recruitment: Where will coached come from? 
1. OYC Basic and Advanced trainings
2. College classes
3. KEEP training
4. Great Start Training

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Agenda Monday, December 1, 2008

Head Start, 101 E. Willow 2:30-4:30pm

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Identify a Chair for QI

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - updates, Logic Model & Evaluation

Development of a coaching model
§    Strategy B3:  Coaching
     o    Continue discussion related to the following questions:
§    What elements of coaching/mentoring could be adapted and adopted by directors and other supervisors? Training, Timeline, Target Group
§    What are ways we can build coaching into our community, across agencies?

Standards work:
§    Update: articles on Social-Emotional for Infants/Toddlers and Environments for Infants/Toddlers, Current activities, article distribution

Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy A2;  Professional Recognition – Caregiver Reception
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Next QI meeting Date ???

The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Agenda Monday, November 3, 2008

Willow Head Start Office 2:30-4:30pm

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Identify a Chair for QI

QI member on Operations Committee

Scholarship oversight/process – finalize recommendations on administration and distribution process to present to Operations Committee

CAUW/CRCF Youth Initiative - updates, Logic Model & Evaluation

Development of a coaching model
§    Strategy B3:  Coaching
     o    Continue discussion related to the following questions:
§    What elements of coaching/mentoring could be adapted and adopted by directors and other supervisors?
§    What are ways we can build coaching into our community, across agencies?

Standards work:
§    Update: articles on Social-Emotional for Infants/Toddlers and Environments for Infants/Toddlers, Current activities, article distribution

Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy A2;  Professional Recognition
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Next QI meeting Monday 12/1 at Head Start        The Quality Initiatives workgroup meets on the first Monday of each month at Head Start from 2:30-4:30

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

MINUTES October 6, 2008

Willow Head Start Office

Members Present:  Barry Kaufman-CMH, Marcia Rysztak-LCC, Michelle Nicholson-ISD, Lucy McClintic-Head Start, Lori Brasic-OYC, Ana Woehr-LCC Women’s Resource Center, Renee DeMars-Johnson-CMAEYC

Scholarship Oversight

·        Michelle passed out Project Component Plan on scholarships
·        $15,000 – what can we do with the money
·        Talk through criteria
·        Build on what exists

Lori Strom  – MSU –
CCAMPIS Grant – Childcare Access Means Parents in School Grant
·        4 year grant back in 1999, 2005 and fall of 2009
·        Same as LCC – pays the providers
·        Don’t know if they can reapply
·        $177,000-MSU subsidizing 8 providers
·        Infant-Age 12, before & after, summer camp
·        Program name is Spartan Kids
·        Purchase space – may serve with part time students
·        Have slots available at Spartan, Eastminster, Just Like Home 24-7, City of East Lansing Before/After, Okemos Kids Club, Ms. Bees, People’s Church, Delta Glen Home
·        Each student $2500 per child – can use all at once or throughout year
·        Pell Grant eligible under grad
·        Infant space biggest demand
·        Serve 180 students during the year
·        Have a monthly meeting to support each other.
·        Match requirement – University gives $200,000

MSU childcare grant – gets credited in financial aid
·        Applications ongoing
·        $1000 per semester per child
·        Don’t have to receive a Pell Grant, can be international student
·        Can use any licensed provider

Michelle asked for a breakdown of ages and a waitlist by age
Lori worried about renewal for Campus Grant 10/1 started last year

MSU – 130 students use per year

Do satisfaction survey
          “Allow me to Graduate”
          Looking into graduation rates
Barry mentioned satisfaction survey, effectiveness, accessibility, affordability and quality

Marcia:  LCC CCAMPIS grant
·        Fund students at HS & EHS, EC3
·        funds staffing and childcare stipend, so much money per credit toward cost of childcare
·        Paid to center
·        Per semester to at 18 Early LCC -Head Start, 8 at EarlyLCC-Early Head Start, 2 or 3 at EarlyLCC- EC3
·        Applied to Early LCC access grant – pays for study, library time
·        Women’s Resource Center pay for class time
·        End of 4 years coming up for grant

Ana Woehr - LCC Women’s Resource Center
·        Celebrating 35 years
·        Added returning Adults Program
·        Child Grant – college funded – advise students
·        3 grants – Displaced homemaker, single parent, non-traditional & economically disadvantaged - Students out of high school 6 years
·        Childcare scholarship for LCC classes, only 1 phys ed - $4.50 per hour, only pay for class time,
·        Looking into paying for online classes and transportation
·        Have to be licensed
·        Accept people with BA – will do international students
·        LCC enrolled, check progress, check GPA
·        File application – income guidelines
·        Sign a contract between LCC and provider
·        Checks with student & provider names
·        Contract wit h LCC & provider
·        Paid 2x’s per semester
·        Will pay male students – 12% men to 88% women
·        West Campus more males
·        Budget $200,000 – if it doesn’t get spent it gets reallocated
·        Pay $4.50 per hour / week per child
·        12 credits/full time students
·        Also looking at giving a stipend
·        Looking at going to $5.00
·        Application due 3 times per year – 1500 applications

Lori – OYC – City of Lansing Child Care Scholoarship
·        Must use licensed provider
·        70 students per semester
·        Have a childcare meeting for overviews of aid, tuition, childcare
·        Collect data – demographics
·        Only anecdotal evaluation – what’s needed
·        OYC does enhanced referrals for LCC
·        Lansing Childcare School LSP
·        Pts for City of Lansing licensed care
·        Highest: full time working, student, low income, not eligible for DHS
·        Working or student part time or eligible for childcare
·        1-11 points residence, work or school at least part time
·        Part time 20-30 hours or 8-11 school credits above full time
·        More than 1 preschool child get 1 more point per child
·        HUD income requirement
·        70-90 median income
·        Less than 70% low income
·        Letter from health/mental health get 2 points
·        6 month scholarship awards get another point if second 6 month
·        Highest score or lowest income award for next 6 months – July and December
·        Have to reapply
·        Put on waitlist
·        59,000 July – Dec - $9000 admin, $2000 emergency fund
·        48,000 award $24000 2 times per year
·        Full time – very low income – child 5 and under $40 a week, $520 every 6 months
·        Too much money for DHS
·        Awards for parents needing part time care
·        Scores each application
·        Do site visits to providers who participated

Barry

• Evaluation – What have you achieved this year? Child/parent gains; I am able to spend quality time with my child

Ana

• Educate employers about scholarships, help support program; could you cap match money

E. Lansing accepts applications all year even through July deadline

OYC always uses funds

State 4C office -  Women’s Caring Program – fundraising

• Ran out of money in December
• Have to be denied by DHS
• Max $2400 pay up to 40%

Doe 211 have childcare scholarship information?

Next Steps:

• Where are gaps
• Eligibility
• Monitoring of Program
• Evaluation

Next Meeting:

·        Nov. 3, 2:30-4:30pm

·        Hold coaching until November or a subgroup or hold split meeting with scholarship first then coaching

·        Make final decision on how to use the scholarship monies.

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Agenda  October 6, 2008   2:30 – 4:30 

Willow Head Start Office

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Identify a Chair for QI

Next meeting date:

QI member on Operations Committee:

Scholarship oversight:  Michelle

Updates on ECIC and GSC:  Michelle

Standards work:
§    Update: articles on Social-Emotional for Infants/Toddlers
§    Update:  Environments for Infants/Toddlers
§    Current activities, article distribution

Development of a coaching model
§    Strategy B3:  Coaching
     o    Continue discussion related to the following questions:
§    What are essential elements of coaching/mentoring?  What are our current experiences?
§    What elements of coaching/mentoring could be adapted and adopted by directors and other supervisors?
§    What are ways we can build coaching into our community, across agencies?

Strategic Goals:
·    Strategy A2;  Professional Recognition
·    Strategy B4:  Kinship care
·    Strategy D2:  Utilize Early On and Project Find:  Barry

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

QI 10/6/08 Meeting reminder

QI members,

A reminder that our next meeting will be October 6, 2:30 -4:30 at Willow Head Start office.

Marcia

 Marcia P. Rysztak, M.A.
Child Development and Early Education Program
Lansing Community College
#3100 - HHS
P.O. Box 40010
Lansing, MI 48901
(517) 483-1141
fax: (517) 483-9888
rysztam@lcc.edu

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

9/8/08 Meeting Notes

Head Start Office

Present:  Karen Woodman – CACS Head Start, Lucy McClintic – CACS Head Start, Michelle Nicholson – Ingham ISD, Lori Brasic – OYC, Barb Monroe – OYC, Mary Fullmer – LCC, Barry Kaufman – CMH, Sara Lewandowski – CMH, Renee DeMars-Johnson – CMAEYC, Judy Goth-Owens – LCC

Adjustments to Agenda
Michelle would like to talk about Strategic Goal A2 today and come back to the others later.

Barry introduced Sara Lewandowski who is a doctorate student working with him at CMH

Strategic Goal A2
Renee reported that Elaine Williams indicated that CMAEYC had no budget and they want to postpone the reception until later.  Some funding has come through Head Start, CMAEYC and LCC.

Great Start and ECIC update
·    Michelle reported that there are 17 new Great Start collaboratives in Michigan
·    Michelle invited everyone to the press event on Wednesday, 9/10/08 at the East Lansing Library at 11:00am.  Capital Area United Way and the Capital Region Foundation will present their check.  Both Eaton and Clinton county representative will be at hand as well.

Scholarship Oversight
-    We would like to invite other people from the community who have implemented scholarships similar to this one for the next meeting.
-    Lucy will invite the East Lansing group
-    Lauri will invite OYC, LCC, Women’s Resource Center, and Lauri Straum

Coaching
-    Elements
-    Building relationships, trust, rapport
-    Having a “buy in” from directors and supervisors
-    Agreement with director, along with requirements and expectations
-    Mentee/director – must volunteer to do it so we don’t receive resistance
-    Clear definition of purpose, roles, boundaries – at all levels.
-    Do a “room” at a center – not necessarily one person
-    Measuring/Assessing
-    “why” it matters – continue sense of self as lifelong learner
-    Look at environmental changes
-    Goal setting – match to core competencies and standards
-    Homework
-    Coaching session at the end for realistic action steps
-    Minimum of 20 minutes
-    Needs assessment – structured but open enough to talk about challenges
-    Instead of “you don’t have it” – use “not yet implemented”
-    Adult child relationships/interactions
-    Strengths based
-    Support has to have a definition to it

Barry posed these questions:
1.    How is coaching provided by Childcare Expulsion Programs similar or different?
2.    If social/emotional issues arise, how can linkages to community resources be made?

Differences of opinion on who should be the “target” – Renee would like to see good centers become “great” centers.  Judy agreed with her.

Barry would like to target centers who are in need or are struggling.

Barb suggested bringing DHS to the table.

Birth to Five QUALITY INITIATIVES
Workgroup

Agenda July 7, 2008   3:00 – 5:00 

Willow Head Start Office

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Next meeting date:

QI member on Operations Committee:

Scholarship oversight:  Michelle

Updates on ECIC and GSC:  Michelle

Standards work:

§        Update: articles on Social-Emotional for Infants/Toddlers
§        Update:  Environments for Infants/Toddlers
§        Current activities, article distribution

RFP on coaching :
            Development of a coaching model

• Strategy B3:  Coaching
• Please bring information on coaching/mentoring to that meeting related to the following questions:
• What are essential elements of coaching/mentoring?  What are our current experiences? 
• What elements of coaching/mentoring could be adapted and adopted by directors and other supervisors?
• What are ways we can build coaching into our community, across agencies?

Strategic Goals:

• Strategy A2;  Professional Recognition
• Discussion of Professional’s reception
• Strategy B4:  Kinship care
• Strategic planning discussion of activities
• Strategy D2:  Utilize EarlyOn and Project Find:  Barry
• Strategic planning discussion of activities

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Minutes Monday, June 16, 2008

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Kellogg Center, Room 6

Members Present: Marcia Rysztak, Jill Lawler, Beany Tomber, Renee DeMars-Johnson, Kellye Wood (recorder), Barry Kaufman, Michelle Nicholson

Prior Agenda Confirmed

Updates Provided by Various Members

Next Meeting Set for Monday, July 7, Head Start Willow Office, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Coaching Proposal:

Reviewed from the Capital Region Community Foundation/Capital Area United Way Youth Initiative:

6.            Project Component Name:  Quality Early Care and Education – Professional
Development

Outcomes: High-quality early education opportunities will be available for children at-risk.  High-quality early education opportunities will prepare children in the tri-county area to enter the school setting.

Discussed measures to use to evaluate outcomes; wording for the Indicators

column: 

For example, “Indicators:  Early Care and Education providers receive materials

and consultations targeted to improve their knowledge and skills.”

Move “Measures:  No. of 2 hour on-site visits…” to underneath “Measurable

Outcomes” as “Additional Measures”

Under “Measurable Outcomes,” switch #1 and #2.  Reword “Providers will meet

goals set in Individual Improvement Plan for each provider” to “Providers will

meet goals set in their Improvement Plans.”

Fix Typo:  “QIRS” should be “QRIS”

6.b.      Reviewed and discussed as part of our input being gathered/included with that of other partners

Coaching Model:

Marcia poses this question for whole group consideration: 

What do we want our project to look like?

Essential Elements – Coaching model design; Need to review/analyze/adapt effective models; Target audience – mix of directors and staff; Identifying and choosing programs/participants (recruitment/selection)

Additional discussion about lead teacher-director combinations and an “Instructional Consultation Team” kind of model; helping centers go from “good to great” with staff employed for 3 or more years, for example

Who are we serving?

Higher quality programs because the gain will be more sustainable. 

How do we determine who they are?

o  Meeting with licensing and OYC staff and LCC staff    

 o       Motivation to be engaged in the process

o       Staff their 3 + years

Selection:

• Buy in and sanctioning by the director 

What are we providing training on?  Brainstorming included: 

• Is the focus director or classroom? 
• Involve director up front to be a collegial support role for their staff.  Top down.
• Staff:  bottom up
• Director and staff work on team goals.
• Low risk, collegial, I will take risks and try it model.
• Focused on building relationships with children --- from that all else comes.  Across all areas:  teacher-child; parent-teacher; director-teacher; etc.
• Offer some type of incentive to the director who allows the coaching in their program.  Parallel process. 
• Lead Teacher and director

Google: instructional consultation team to get more info on the model.

Meeting Adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes 5/12/08

Head Start Office

Present:  Marcia Rysztak – LCC, Michelle Nicholson – Ingham ISD, Karen Woodman – CACS Head Start, Renee DeMars-Johnson – CMAEYC, Barry Kaufman – CMH, Shera Emmons – Parent, Lin Hirai – OYC, Kelly Wood – Child Development Lab, Elaine Williams – CMAEYC

Adjustments to Agenda

          Elaine Williams from CMAEYC coming at 3:30 to discuss the professionals reception.

Changes to Minutes

          Ken’s last name spelled wrong – should be Sperber

Standards Work

·        Lin will check with Mindy about the Infant/Toddler Environments article
·        How are we using these articles?  Kindergarten Transition committee requested PD date w/LSD.  It will be open to all districts – we can disburse the articles then.
·        CMH is starting a series of 4 workshops in October for Early Childhood providers – maybe they can be given out here
·        OYC is currently moving into Mentoring – already put finished articles in newsletter
·        Michelle said the 2^nd set of Social/Emotional articles is done.  She will forward the colored set, along with the PDF.
·        What’s next?
o       Marcia will e-mail notes from 7/12/07 meeting so that everyone can check over the standards and pick a new standard to start on

ECIC Update

·        Michelle passed out info on the STAR rally – she encouraged all committee members to register and attend

Capital Region Foundation/United Way

·        The final version is going in this week and they will hear by the end of the month.
·        We talked about switching the wording in the grant to “coaching” and take out “mentoring”
·        We discussed whether we built in enough money for other costs.  Should we increase costs to $3000?    Here’s how we came up with the initial amount:
o       20 visits x 2 hours
o       1 hour prep
o       1 hour travel = 4 hours x 80 hours x $25.00/hr
·        Discussed whether $25.00/hr was enough money?

Coaching/mentoring

·        Karen’s mentor kit on the next agenda
·        Megan Shedd was wondering about whether we planned to do research on coaching

Professional Recognition

·        Elaine Williams
o       Has had 4 meetings planning professional recognition reception
o       Have had 3 receptions recognizing caregivers receiving degrees (CDA, TEACH, etc) and accredited programs
o       Thursday Oct 9, 16, 23:  possible dates
·        Conversation about recognizing accreditation
·        Participates will be allowed 1 guest
·        4 county area
·        Music, awards (pins etc)
·        Possible locations:  LCC West, Trinity, JNL
·        Next meeting June 10^th, 5:30-7:00pm, 4C office, dinner provided
·        Developing a resource sheet to help support accreditation
·        Looking for connections/networking to help support resources

Next Meeting

·        Monday, June 16^th, 3:30-5:00pm at the Kellogg Center, Room 6 in the basement
·        NOTE CHANGE in TIME and LOCATION

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

QI Agenda 4/07/08    Head Start Office 2-4pm

Adjustment to agenda
Review of last meeting notes
Next meeting date:
Updates on ECIC and GSC:  Michelle
Review and discussion of RFP on coaching

• Strategy B3:  Coaching
• Please bring information on coaching/mentoring to that meeting related to the following questions:
• What are essential elements of coaching/mentoring?  What are our current experiences? 
• What elements of coaching/mentoring could be adapted and adopted by directors and other supervisors?
• What are ways we can build coaching into our community, across agencies?

Strategic Goals:

• Strategy A2;  Professional Recognition
• Discussion of Professional’s reception
  

• Strategy B4:  Kinship care
• Strategic planning discussion of activities
  

• Strategy D2:  Utilize EarlyOn and Project Find:  Barry
• Strategic planning discussion of activities

Standards work:

§        Update: articles on Social-Emotional for Infants/Toddlers

§        Update:  Environments for Infants/Toddlers

§        Current activities, article distribution

Agenda items held from last meeting:

• Substitutes (table to May meeting)

Updates

Next meeting Agenda:

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

4/7/08 Meeting Notes 

Head Start Office

Present:  Marcia Rysztak – LCC, Ken Spurber – Ingham ISD, Karen Woodman – CACS Head Start, Lucy McClintic -   CACS Head Start, Jill Lawler – OYC, Shera Emmons – parent, Renee DeMars-Johnson – CMAEYC

Adjustments to Agenda:
          Review Request for Proposals

Reviewed Request for Proposals

·                    Capital Region Community Foundation and Capital Area United Way are creating a youth initiative and have chosen Birth to 5 as their focus topic.

·                    The group reviewed the handout that Ken provided and discussed different ideas about how the QI group thought some of the money should be used.  Suggestions included focusing on attachment and on coaching.

·                    Shera, Karen and Lucy will compile ideas discussed for the proposal which will focus on coaching.  They will e-mail the group for input.

Updates

·                    Marcia talked to Elaine about the Caregivers Reception and they would like to work with the QI group on this in the fall.

·                    OYC is doing a pilot – Adult Caregivers/Providers

o       They attend a group meeting then they get 4 home visits (1 ½ hours) from April to September

o       OYC staff to coach them

o       Right now there are 12 providers

o       One of the target areas is Baker Donora

Reviewed List serve for the QI and deleted members no longer interested in being on the workgroup.

Next Meeting  -  May 12, 2:00-4:00pm

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

(NOTE CHANGE IN DATE AND TIME)

Agenda 4/07/08   2:30 – 4:00

Adjustment to agenda

Review of last meeting notes

Next meeting date: May 12, 2- 4, Willow Head Start

Updates on ECIC and GSC:  Michelle

Strategic Goals:

• Strategy A2;  Professional Recognition
• Discussion of Professional’s reception

• Strategy B4:  Kinship care
• Strategic planning discussion of activities
  

Standards work:

•         Review of article on Social-Emotional for Infants/Toddlers
•         Next topic and writer:  Environments for Infants/Toddlers
•         Current activities, article distribution
  

Agenda items held from last meeting:

• Substitutes

Updates

Next meeting Agenda: 

• Strategy D2:  Utilize EarlyOn and Project Find:  Stephanie
• Strategic planning discussion of activities

• Strategy B3:  Coaching
• Please bring information on coaching/mentoring to that meeting related to the following questions:
• What are essential elements of coaching/mentoring?  What are our current experiences? 
• What elements of coaching/mentoring could be adapted and adopted by directors and other supervisors?
• What are ways we can build coaching into our community, across agencies?
  

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

3/10/08 Meeting Notes

Head Start Office

Present:       Marcia Rysztak – LCC, Michelle Nicholson – Ingham ISD, Karen Woodman – CACS Head Start, Renee DeMars-Johnson-CMAEYC, Jill Lawler – OYC

 Adjustments to Agenda:
                    Add Great Start Collaborative update
                    Add Substitutes

 Updates to last meeting notes:
·                    Jill will remind Lin @ article on Infant Exploration
·                    Barry asked Fran to write Infant Exploration Social-Emotional…Michelle & Marcia will ask Fran on Wednesday about article
·                    OYC – Coming Together for Children conference – 240 attendees.  Suggestion for next year is to have Caregivers Reception after the conference for caregivers
·                    OYC is celebrating children during Month of the Young Child – not caregivers.
·                    Next OYC training is April 24^th – Make it, take it Multi-aged Literacy 6-9:30pm, dinner/workshop,
·                    D(2) – State did not apply for Special Quest Team

 Next Meeting Date:
                    April 14^th from 2:00-4:00pm at the Head Start office

 Review of Articles:
·                    Discussion about how to edit articles without attacking the author.
·                    Discussion about whether or not to have author’s names listed or should it be “Great Start” generic article.
·                    Decided to let authors know up front that the group will make changes in order to get all perspectives
                              – we want to promote something we agree with.
·                    Reviewed articles – Michelle will make changes on Barry’s
·                    Distribution of articles – at Kindergarten Professional Development day Tuesday, March 11^th, also at OYC training April 24^th.  Will ask Fran for her article by March 21^st.  It will get sent out, everyone can make changes, Marcia will compile suggestions/corrections and get that to the group.  We will make final changes at our April meeting.

 
Strategic Planning:
·                    A(2)
o       Professionals Reception (CMAEYC) – we’ll wait to hear from CMAEYC to see how we can support them with this

 ·                    B(3) Mentor Coaching
§         Michelle collected info from OYC and LCC about their Mentor Coaching.  This is something we can look at.
§         What are the elements of coaching and mentoring that can be adapted/adopted for directors, supervisors, etc.
§         What are critical elements of coaching and mentoring?
§         How can we build Mentor Coaching into the community – how do we get the community behind it?
§         Is there funding to support this?

 
Great Start Update
·                    ECIC funding directed to family, friend & provider.
·                    Proposed budget – one of four choices was a pilot for QRIS and non-regulated care
·                    How can we be more systematic/intentional about getting info/trainings for family, friend & neighbor?

 Next Meetings:
·                    April:
o       Professional Reception
o       Review of B(4) Kinship Care
o       D(2) – Barry & Stephanie (utilizing Project Find /Early On)

Quality Initiatives Workgroup

1/04/08 Meeting Notes

Present: Marcia Rysztak – LCC, Michelle Nicholson-Ingham ISD, Karen Woodman-CACS Head Start, Renee DeMars-Johnson-CMAEYC, Jill Lawler-OYC, Barry Kaufman-CMH

Adjustment to Agenda:  Add Speakers Bureau

Changes to Minutes:  Page 2 – 2^nd bullet:  Change to “Marcia gave it to Michelle”

Next Meeting Dates:  February 11, March 10, April 14 from 2:00-4:00pm. at the Head start office.

 
Review Standards work:
 
·        Jill will ask Lin about writing the Infant/Toddler article on Environments for Exploration
·        Barry will ask Fran about writing the Infant/Toddler article on Social Emotional
·        Changes made to Preschool article “Environments for Exploration”
·        Changes made to Preschool article “Fostering Healthy Social-Emotional Development with Preschoolers Through Exploration”
·        The format of the articles was discussed.  The consensus was that the standard needed to stay at the top of the article but drop the template paragraph to a box at the end of the articles.  Jill was checking with the person who does their newsletter article for suggestions of how it would look best.  Michelle will check with her printer person and also ask for suggestions.
·        Michelle was going to make changes to Barry’s article
·        Karen was going to make changes to her article and send out

Panel Discussion/OYC Training:

·        Jill reported that 26 attended the event and it went well.
·        25% of the attendees were CMAEYC members
·        Good mix of providers and experience
·        The topic for OYC’s next event is “If you’re going to teach the alphabet, don’t start with the letter A”.
·        QI group needs to make sure we have our articles at these events so they are available to providers
·        Coming Together for Children conference – 10 sessions offered 3 times.  We need to have articles done and to Jill by February 1^st – 300 copies.
·        If Lin or Fran get their articles done, send them to Michelle or Marcia so we can get them out and proofed.

 
Goals of Great Start:

·        Strategy A(2)
o       Discussed Caregivers Reception.  OYC not doing it this year – could another group take it over?

·        Strategy B(3)
o       OYC is piloting coaching – will be offered with Basic I class.
o       Offered from March – June
o       Coached on 3 topics:  Curriculum, Guidance & Discipline, and Professionalism

·        Strategy B(4)
o       MSU Dept of SW is home of Kinship Care – we need to get them on the 0-5 Committee
o       Ahma would also be a good resource for Kinship Care
o       OYC will be teaching Parenting classes at Baker Donora

·        Strategy C(2)
o       Barry would like to see some way to link Early On, OYC, KEEP to identify special needs children early and get them services
o       The state is applying to be a Special Quest Team.
 

 Speakers Bureau:

·        Michelle passed out “application”.  Any agencies interested in presenting Early Childhood information to businesses, faith-based community and/or the private sector should fill this out.

Next Meeting:

·        Re-look at articles
·        Prioritize Goals and work plan for this group
·        Share information from Clinton County Group

Quality Initiatives Workgroup  

12/05/07 Meeting Notes

 Head Start Office

Present:        Marcia Rysztak-LCC, Michelle Nicholson-Ingham ISD, Karen Woodman-CACS Head Start, Stephanie Peters – Ingham ISD, Lin Hirai – OYC, Renee DeMars-Johnson – CMAEYC

Adjustment to Agenda:

                   Talk about United Way and Foundations funding

Changes to Minutes:

                   It should say Birth to Five website under the review of how the articles are being distributed

Discussion About Articles

·        Ronda in Eaton County asked about using the articles for their Eaton County insert.  Discussed if it was appropriate for that newspaper – as the newspaper insert is mainly for parents.  She asked if she could change it the group decided that it could not be modified.  Michelle suggested they use the Great Start articles as they may be more appropriate.

·        Renee told the group that the articles may be in the Beacon

·        Marcia was going to fix the top of the article and resend to everyone.  We were also going to send it to June to get it to the Readiness Committee.

·        Discussed “softening up” the articles so they are more reader friendly – such as adding pictures.  Renee suggested a template – could Great Start funds be used for this?  Michelle said either Great Start or ISD could do it.

·        We need to make it look nicer than decide how to get it to people.

·        Another suggestion was to try to put the article into columns

·        Looked at Environments for Exploration – Marcia suggested using a different example rather than dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs were the examples in Peter Rillera’s article so we really can’t change it.  Karen will do some more work on the article and will bring to next meeting.  Marcia will look around for someone to write the Infant/Toddler piece. 

·        Next article:  Barry Kaufman and Fran will do the next round of articles on Social Emotional Development

Ingham GSC Early Care & Education

·        Stephanie asked if QI would be taking a leadership role in Section D.   This is not something the group has yet focused on but that’s not to say we can’t.  We’ve dealt more with professional development – not so much with “hands on”.

·        Michelle’s version was missing information.  Marcia gave it to Michelle to update.

·        Looked at QI goals and matched up to Early Care and Education Plan. 

o       1.  fit with strategy B

o       2. fit with strategy A

o       3. fit with A1 and B3, 4, 5

o       4. fit with C

·        What else can we focus on to have an impact?  Marcia would like to look at coaching.  Are there ways to work with OYC and the new project with Howell?

United Way

·        Birth to Five presentation to United Way and other foundations
·        The group came to the consensus about supporting Early Childhood.
·        They are looking at raising ½ million dollars for a year for the next 3 years
·        Michelle made it clear that there is not one solution – it is about meeting the needs of families, parent education, quality care etc.
·        The group wants the strategic plan and $ ranges for  some of these things
·        Michelle asked OYC and Marcia to get dollar amounts for scholarships, coaching, and incentives to her ASAP.

Strategy B – Promote Professional Development and the enhancement of early caregivers’ skills

·        Michelle said that the Kindergarten transition committee was interested in looking at the standards we used for the articles for the basis of their PD in March

·        Suggestion:  Can we tie mentoring/coaching to quality & professional development?

·        QECC was discussed

·        Maybe we need to look at the Literacy Alignment again

Next Meeting

·        Monday, January 14^th, 1:30-3:30 at Head Start

·        Will re-look at dates/days of future meetings

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Reminder - 12/5/07

REMINDER

The next meeting of the Quality Initiatives Workgroup of Ingham Birth to Five Great Start Collaborative is
Wednesday, 12/5/07 from 2-4 pm at Head Start 101 E. Willow St.

Notes from the November (10/30/07) meeting are attached. An Agenda will be available at the meeting.

mnichols@inghamisd.org
Michelle Nicholson
Supervisor of Early Childhood Education
Ingham Intermediate School District
2630 W. Howell Rd.
Mason, MI 48854
(517)244-1384
fax (517)244-1738

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

10/30/07 Meeting Notes

Quality Initiatives Workgroup – Head Start Office

Present:       Marcia Rysztak-LCC, Michelle Nicholson-Ingham ISD, Lucy McClintic-CACS Head Start, Barry Kaufman-CMH, Shera Emmons-parent, Karen Woodman-CACS Head Start, Jill Lawler-OYC, Laura Anderson-MSU Extension

Adjustment of Agenda:

·        Talk about tying our work to the Kindergarten Transition Committee

Review of Community and Parent Conversations

1.                   Merged Playgroup notes – this was input from parents
2.                 Community Conversations – all other community members

 ·        The group read through the comments and came up with the following themes, which were then grouped into categories:

 1.                   Improving Quality of Care

        a.      Training
        b.     Qualified teachers
        c.      Coaching/mentoring
        d.      CPR
        e.      Support parents
        f.      Family/Friends/Neighbors
 

2.                 Family Friendly Workplace

a.      Collaborative programs
b.     Affordability
 

3.                 Advocacy with Policymakers Around Early Childhood and Care Programs
a.      Childcare seen as a legitimate business
b.     Quality Rating System
c.      Childcare provider wages
d.      Affordability
e.      Consistency of care (retaining of staff)
f.      Mentoring/coaching funding
g.      Universal preschool

 
4.                 Transitions Across Programs
a.      Consistency of care

 
The group talked about the kinds of things this group should focus on and some ideas were given:

·        coaching/mentoring
·        resource fair
·        playgroup model
·        family friendly workplace
·        advocacy

 
Review of Articles 

·        Discussion about how the articles have been distributed
o       On Ingham website

·        How will the articles get distributed?
o       Marcia will fix the top of the articles and send out to all members
o       OYC – Jill taking care of it in OYC newsletter
o       LCC – Marcia putting in student newsletter
o       Head Start – classroom/staff newsletter
o       Jane – on list serve
o       Jim Simmanon – Marcia will get it to him
o       Michelle – ISD website

·        Let Marcia know if you are adding it to any other newsletter so that we can keep track of where it is being distributed
·        Jill needs hardcopies for the Creativity Cruise and the December training (50 copies).  Michelle will copy for her.
·        Talked about the training with Kindergarten teachers, Head Start, MSRP, and childcare providers.  Could exploration be the topic?  Will talk more about this at next meeting.
·        Passed out “Honoring Exploration”.  Comments need to get to Karen Woodman by Friday, Nov. 2.
·        Next article – Barry Kaufman – Tying social-emotional to exploration

  
Next Meeting:
                    *          December 5, 1:30 – 3:30  Head Start

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

AGENDA Quality Initiatives Meeting  10/30/07, 2-4pm, Head Start Willow Office

• Review of last meeting notes
• Adjustment to agenda
• Review Community Conversation feedback and make recommendations
• Update on Articles and distribution
• Next topic and writer
• Next Steps - Workshops
  
• Updates
• Next meeting Agenda

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

10/3/07 Meeting Notes 

Quality Initiatives Workgroup – Head Start Office

Present:        Marcia Rysztak – LCC, Michelle Nicholson – IISD, Rene DeMars-Johnson – CMAEYC, Lucy McClintic – CACS Head Start, Barry Kaufman – CMH, Shera Emmons – parent

Adjustment of Agenda:

· Renee questioned whether work group was on target with purpose of group

· Consensus of current work; raise awareness of state standards, integrate standards into trainings

· Michelle will email ahead and bring to next meeting a copy of Root Cause Framework, revised mission statement, and summary of related community conversations

· Group will review documents in preparation for 0-5 retreat, Nov 14.  Strategic plan needs to be turned in to ECIC Jan 15

Review of Articles and Distribution:

· Reviewed infant/toddler, preschool and combination articles.  Decision to standardize heading and introductory paragraph.  Also suggested adding a footer to number the articles.

· Distribution – send to CMAEYC for newsletter, send to web site – Michelle

· Get introduction from OYC to act as cover letter for article.  Send articles with letter to Birth-5 members ask that articles be distributed in newsletters

· Marcia will send articles to Jim Sinemon for “Child Care Matters”

Next Article:             “Honoring Exploration”

Explore how we can work with CMAEYC on training events

Next meeting:            October 30 from 2 – 4 p.m. Head Start, 101 E. Willow

· Review and prioritize recommendations from community conversations

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

8/2/07 Agenda 1:30-3:30

Head Start 101 E. Willow 517-482-1504

Developing/refining a plan for incorporating standards into training

 Agency newsletter Articles Related to the Quality Standards

 Updates

 Next Meeting

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

7/12/2007 Meeting Notes

Maple Hill Head Start

640 Maple Hill Ave

Lansing, MI 48910

517-882-5025

Present:

Laura Anderson-MSUE, Renee DeMars-Johnson-CMAEYC, Mary Fullmer-CMAEYC, Judy Goth-Owens-LCC, Jill Lawler-OYC, Lucy McClintic-Head Start, Michelle Nicholson –IISD, Marcia Rysztak-LCC, and Beany Tomber-WKAR

INCORPORATING STATE STANDARDS INTO TRAININGS AS A WAY TO FOCUS ON QUALITY:

            Renee introduced the State Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Pre-Kindergarten (ECSQ-P) which includes sections on Quality Standards and Early Learning Expectations for 3 and 4 year old children. (Copies distributed and available on MDE web site.) The standards are designed to “provide guidance to all early care and education programs for providing all 3 and 4 years old children with opportunities to reach essential developmental and education al goals” (ECSQ-P, p.2).   Early Learning expectations are linked to K-12 expectations.  “Clear research-based expectations for the content and desired results of early learning experiences can help focus curriculum and instruction.  By defining the content and outcomes of young children’ early education, the early learning expectations will lead to greater opportunities for preschoolers positive development.” (ECSQ-P, p. 3) The standards provide for the individuality of each child and program and do not imply that all pre-K programs should look the same.  They allow for a variety of strategies and curricula to meet the diverse needs of children and choices for families. 

            Judy Goth-Owens introduced the State Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infant and Toddler (ECSQ-IT) Programs (available on the MI Department of Education web site) has two main sections – Quality Program Standards and Early Developmental and Learning Strands.  The Standards define high quality in home and center-based programs for children birth to age three. The Strands define what young children might reasonably be learning and doing (knowledge, skills and attitudes), and what adults should be helping them learn and do.  The Strands support the Standards by helping to guide practice.  The goals, list of developing skills (not intended to be exhaustive), examples of experiences and strategies, and questions for reflection provide an organizational framework intended to provide a way to think about each child’s unique developmental and learning pathway.

            It was noted that an important step was convincing early childhood professionals and the community that standards of quality matter. Some early childhood professionals can be like the “general public” in their perceptions of the profession. There is confusion with licensing.  Others are unsure about what difference it really makes.  There is debate about the “real world” vs. the “ideal”. 

Ideas for ways to incorporate state standards into community trainings by all training groups were generated. 

• Highlight standard in newsletters (CMAEYC, OYC, LCC, etc.)
• “Standard of the Month: so that all agencies are doing the same standard.
• Highlight standard in all workshops, showing how the topic is related to a state standard.
• Creativity Cruise:  show how the Strand or Early Leaning Expectation is being promoted by the activities showcased.
• Standards strand at CTFC Conference; have all workshop sessions incorporate the standard it addresses
• Design a workshop on a specific standard
• Design a training using the I/T strands questions for discussion (This will address the tremendous knowledge of child development needed to incorporate the Learning Strands for Infants and Toddler standards.)
• Promote the importance of the standards: 
• “One pager” on standards (Michelle distributed examples of other “one-pagers.)
• Integrate standards into courses (such as scavenger hunt of standards)
• Have ACCESS come up with a collection of ideas how standards have been incorporated into classes
• Use “Frameworks” approach which looks at a building foundation analogy for brain development.  If child care is a “warehouse”, then children are packages and we don’t need to pay package movers high wages.  (Judy will forward ideas from Frameworks)
• Use videos: My Parents/My Teachers Brain video; Parenting Counts videos; EdPro video on advocacy (http://www.edpro.com/advocacy/advocacy.shtml); Use brain video at all trainings; Show video and do a scavenger hunt: how does it relate to practice.
• Head Start has linked Head Start Performance Standard with their curriculum materials.  Can do this with state standards as well. 
• Ask ECIC to develop a user friendly version of the standards. 

Suggest/Identify Narrowed Number of Standards to Incorporate:

Ideas included:

• Not focus on Language and Literacy because of high level of training on this
• Do a balance between standards and expectations:  linking them
• Climate and Social Emotional development seem to go hand – in –hand
• Problem solving:  how do you set up activities to promote problem solving
• What do children bring and how do we use that with problem solving (#15 with infant- toddler ) Relationships and Climate
• Approaches to Learning
• Page 32: interactions
• Teaching Practices #3 (p. 30)
• Climate and Social Emotional:  Program Standard #4 and #1 under Climate
• Relationships, Experience and Climate
• Approaches to Learning
• Maybe focus on the Early Learning Expectation and how the standard connects with it. 
• Case study is a strategy for how to help providers learn. 
• We have to make the standards meaningful. 
• Problem solving connects various items

It was decided that the Early Childhood Standard of Quality for Pre-K focus will be:  

Standard area:  Teaching Practices (pg. 30): 

            Standard #3 (exploration): The program is planned and implemented to permit children to learn from exploration, acquisition of skills and knowledge, practice, and application;    

            Standard #1 (play): The value of play is demonstrated throughout all aspects of the program and children have opportunities to use play to translate experience into understanding;  and

            Standard #7 (problem solving):  Child-child interactions are encouraged through the use of learning experiences that include cooperative play, conflict resolution, and large, small, interest-based, and  multi-age groupings.   

The Primary focus for the “one pager” will be on Standard #3. 

The Early Learning Expectations focus will be: 

Approaches to Learning (pg. 43)

1.  Children show increasing initiative and curiosity about their work and play in all areas of the curriculum.

2. Children show increasing engagement and persistence in their work and play in all areas of the curriculum

3. Children show increasing invention and imagination in their work and play in all areas of the curriculum.

AND

 Social and Emotional Development (p. 45)

1.  Children will develop and exhibit a healthy sense of self.

2. Children show increasing ability to regulate how they express their emotions.

3.  Children develop healthy relationships with other children and adults.

Two Program Standards from the Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Infants and Toddlers (ECSQ-IT) were chosen to provide a focus for training in the early childhood community.

Program Area:  Relationships and Climate (p. 69) : Standard #7 (experiences for exploration) and Activities and Experiences (p. 73) Standard #15 (supportive relationships)  and a corresponding Strands are:

Relationships and Climate, Program Standard #7 (p. 69) : The program facilitates a climate of supportive and responsive child-caregiver relationships that enhances the development of each infant and toddler.

Strand B – Belonging (p. 21)

Goal 1: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they know they belong and have a place.

Activities and Experiences Program Standard #15 (p. 73): Activities and experiences build upon, support, and enhance infants’ and toddlers’ well-being, feeling of belonging, growing capacity to make contributions, communication, and expanding interest in exploration.

Strand C – Exploration (p. 28)

Goal 3: Infants and toddlers experience environments where they learn strategies for active exploration, thinking, and reasoning. (p. 30)

GATHERING PARENT INPUT ON QUALITY:

The group suggested all community conversations ask the questions on quality programs that the parent liaisons were going to ask.  These questions were; What are you looking for in a quality early childhood program?  What are your perceptions?  This will be forwarded to the Operations committee.

UPDATES:

• Renee shared information on the new “Teaching Young Children” pages that will be coming out from NAEYC.  They are intended to be a practical piece.  Multiple copies can be ordered online. 
• Nicole Wells and Michelle are going to a workshop on playgroups as a vehicle for providing training for parent-aide and relative aides. 

NEXT MEETING:

Because of conflicts with the regular date, it was decided that the next meeting would be Thursday, August 2 at 1:30 at Willow Head Start pending Michelle having that date open.

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

7/12/07 Agenda 10:45-12:00

Maple Hill Head Start

640 Maple Hill Ave

Lansing, MI 48910

517-882-5025

Discuss How State Standards Can Be Incorporated Into Trainings Offered

Suggest/Identify Narrowed Number of Standards to Incorporate

Gathering Parent Input on Quality

Representation for Accreditation Committee

Updates

Next Meeting

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Meeting Notes 6/6/07

Marcia Rysztak chaired

Present:  Lucy McClintic, Beany Tomber, Karen Woodman, Reneé DeMars-Johnson

Agenda - Added item of prioritizing items for discussion/inclusion in the strategic plan for Great Start Collaborative, Ingham Birth to 5 Subcommittee.

Continue Strategic Planning Process

  Confirmed that the Key Issue that we needed to focus our discussion on was "There is a lack of accessible, affordable, quality early education and care"

Some of our items need to be carried out hand-in-hand with the Public Awareness Workgroup - e.g., what is quality early care and education - for parents, providers, etc. with a focus on what it actually looks like.  Beany reported that the message needs to be clearly crafted, targeted and intensive.  Lucy reported that the Great Start / ECIC "report card" is going to take a major focus of the PA workgroup.  She suggested that the data drive the messages.

We don't think we can get the reimbursement rates to be raised, but we do think we can help raise awareness of standards, their importance.

Activity:

  Public awareness group incorporates some of what quality looks like into their work (to coincide with elements of the Report Card).

  Consistently integrate use of the Michigan Standards into all training venues as a way to objectively focus on quality.  Convene the groups that do training and have conversations about how the standards can be integrated into the training that they are doing.  We could develop a "key elements to consider" in incorporating standards into training.

We recommend striking the "(hand in hand with reimbursement rates)” and all of the activities listed except the last and to move the #3 from QI’s Purpose into this space.  Incorporate standards into training.

Marcia reported that Shera has been offered a parent liaison contract with Ingham Great Start and may be able to survey parents at the playgroups regarding their perceptions of "What are you looking for in a quality program?"

Lucy reported that Shiawassee has their report card drafted and may be used as an example for way(s) to get the information distributed.

It was suggested that we convene a group of the training entities and determine which of them should be the focus for training.  This would meet an activity.  Invite other key people within each of the training entities to our next meeting to have discussion about how training could meet this request.

Michelle - invitations go to MSUE Better Kid Care, OYC, LCC, CMAEYC, Ready to Learn, Ingham ISD, and Great Start. Suggest having 2 people from each agency if possible.

Date for invitation / our next meeting: July 12, 10:45 a.m. - 12:00, Maple Hill Head Start

Agenda:

Discuss the state standards and how various training entities can incorporate elements of the standards into their training

Suggest a narrowed number of standards to be incorporated into trainings

Renee - PreK standards

Judy Goth-Owens - I/T standards

Second action, Shera's data gathering at parent meeting.

Priority for Birth to 5 goals:

The priorities that 0-5 should receive from the issues, are to

increase the quality of early education and care programs, including all ages and types. 

Suggest using playgroup model for relative / aide care providers. 

[Great Start Collaborative could provide a mailing to them (mailing list from OYC) of the current play groups, encouraging them to attend.]

Last item - Accreditation committee.  Reneé will be liaison between.  All are to think about an individual who might be able/willing to serve on this committee and work on supporting accreditation and actively participate in the Professionals reception planning.

irth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Agenda Quality Initiatives  6/6/07, 1:30-3:30pm,  Kellogg Ctr Centennial A

Continue Strategic Planning Process

     Update Work Plan

     Identify Strategies/Timelines

Updates

Next Meeting

     Continue at Head Start for the summer?
     1^st Wed in July is the 4^th, another date?

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup - 5/2/07 Notes

Present:  Renee DeMars-Johnson, Shera Emmons, Lucy McClintic, Michelle Nicholson, Marcia Rysztak, and Beany Tomber

Strategic Planning for Improving Quality

Most of the meeting was spent reviewing and revising the QI Purpose Statement into goal statements. (See Attached) The Root Causes Matrix (See Attached) was also reviewed regarding previously identified priorities of Birth to Five and action steps that had been identified. We began linking the action steps with the goal statements. At the next meeting we will continue to revise the action steps and reframe them to support the goal statements.

There was some discussion about looking at our existing system for professional development and how to make it work while also brainstorming an ideal system.

Another suggestion was to bring in experts in parent education and family support to talk about research based curriculum and practices.

Updates

GRCC has started a leadership course which may be interesting to learn more about

Susan Neumann is working with Baker College to offer a 12 week course from September-December for 150 people. Some would take the course, some would take the course and receive coaching, some would receive coaching only, and others would receive nothing. MI4C is helping with recruitment and coaching.

LCC has a 2+2 arrangement with Ferris State for child development or early childhood

It was suggested that institutions of higher education offer a 4 year degree program in early childhood, there is a pilot with U of M Dearborn.

MDE requires State Aid MSRP programs to have teachers with a BA in child development, a teaching certificate with a ZA endorsement or to get a ZA endorsement in 4 years.

Next Meeting

The next meeting for Quality Initiatives will be Wednesday, June 6, 2007 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Center Centennial Room A.

Birth to Five Quality Initiatives Workgroup

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, family,  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 preservice experiences to ongoing professional development and progression on the early childhood education and 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 efforts that currently exist among groups such as CMAEYC , LCC, OYC, MSU,  Head Start 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, parents 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

 
 - Revised 3/28/2007