Author: Lauren Till

Announcing Strolling Thunder™ 2022

We invite all who advocate for young children to walk with us, pushing babies and toddlers in strollers to help bring awareness to the vital investments needed in programs for Alabama’s children from birth to age 3. There will be events for children and information for adults on helping young children thrive. Advocates will also deliver hand-made handprints from children all over the state to our state lawmakers.

Register Now

Agenda

9:45am – Gather on the Capitol Steps

10:00am – News Conference with Governor Kay Ivey and other state leaders on the Capitol Steps

10:20am – Strolling Thunder Parade (Around the Capitol)

11:00am- 2:00pm – Strolling Thunder Expo | Lunch, Children and Family Activities on the South Lawn, Handprint Package and Note Delivery to Alabama State House – Materials in Room 418

2:00pm – Conclude

**A boxed lunch will be provided. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies please bring your own sack lunch and picnic with us!

Information on parking, transportation and more details about the event will be emailed out one week before the event.

Check out our Twitter @Thriveby5 and Facebook at Alabama Partnership for Children for more updates!

Help us focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

Learn more about why you should attend Strolling Thunder.

If you have questions or would like information to share with your organization, please contact Lauren Till at ltill@apcteam.org.

A Note from Gail Piggott, Executive Director of the Alabama Partnership for Children

Happy New Year, and I hope you will join us in 2022 in celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the founding of our agency. It has been my honor to serve as its executive director for 19 of those years. We are grateful for all the leadership, directors of the board, staff, funders, and statewide partners who have assisted in our continuous growth and expansion.

The creation of the agency came out of a Governor’s Early Learning Commission Report that provided recommendations about how to improve outcomes for young children in Alabama. We have been fortunate to have the support and guidance from multiple national partners who have helped us identify the most important indicators of child well-being and how to strategically develop plans and programs to improve them. As we started out, we modeled the agency after Smart Start North Carolina, one of the first and best-funded early childhood models in the country. One of our strengths is an active board of directors with positions that represent every aspect of young children’s healthy development, along with (10) state agency heads. Their support and guidance creates a structure that allows and requires staff to excel in our work. We have also enjoyed funding and technical assistance from national partners such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Zero to Three, the BUILD and HOPE initiatives, Project LAUNCH, Pre-K Now, Ready Nation, Child Care Services Association, Nemours, National Smart Start Technical Assistance Center, National Governor’s Association, Morehouse School of Medicine, Pew Charitable Trust, and currently the Alliance for Early Success which also provides working partnerships with The Conference Board/Committee for Economic Development, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and other leaders in the early childhood field.

State partners have allowed us to expand our program offering and extend our reach across the state. The Alabama Departments of Human Resources/Child Care Development Fund and Early Childhood Education/PDG Birth to Five are major funders; the AL Departments of Mental Health, Rehabilitation Services, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, Health, and Education have all supported various programs. Private foundations in Alabama were critical in our early years, and we have enjoyed funding from the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, AL Child Caring Foundation (BCBS), Community Foundations, The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham, PNC Foundation, Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, the Daniel Foundation, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, Publix Supermarket Charities, and the Business Council of Alabama.

Through the years, we have refined our vision, mission, and major program areas. Through the Blueprint for Zero to Five (School Readiness), the state’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems initiative through the Department of Public Health, we committed to an indicators-based approach that requires us to regularly compile and analyze data (indicators) of child well-being and identify national programs and practices that are proven to improve the indicators. This focus is in three major areas:  strong families, optimum health outcomes, and access to high quality early learning experiences. Based on the extensive brain research, our goal is to effectively address needs in the first 3-4 years of life when a child’s brain is 85% developed. We promote early investments that can result in reduced costs later for remediation, rehabilitation, and failure in school and life. We all pay the costs when young children do not develop to their fullest potential, and relatively small investments in the critical years benefit our education system, the future workforce, and society in general. It is STILL much easier and more cost-efficient to build a healthy, productive child from birth than it is to remediate a troubled child, recapture a troublesome youth, or rehabilitate an adult who is not contributing positively to our society or our economy.

Having spent half of my career in education/higher education, I am still amazed that in thirty years, the research on early brain development has proven not to be a “trend” but has been solidified through the decades and provides a clear path to the improved outcomes we want for all of our citizens. The work we do is hard work, because this message is lost in all that we are trying to accomplish:  build the workforce we need, improve our school outcomes, reduce incarceration, improve health, and reduce dependency. However, the research is very clear that poor outcomes do not start when a 16 year old drops out of school or a third grader is not reading on grade level. It starts before birth, and the window of opportunity to positively impact future outcomes is in the first 3-4 years of life. That’s why the foundation for all of our work is building and supporting strong families, ensuring access to adequate health care, and supporting access to high-quality early learning experiences. THAT’S how we get to the better outcomes we all want.

The work is hard, but it also provides such a great opportunity for seeing the development of a first-time mom who embraces the nurturing and protection of her baby; celebrating graduation with a middle-aged child care teacher who is the first in her family to attend college; hearing the gratitude of a family when you are able to connect them to resources and programs their families need, but they didn’t know about; watching early childhood teachers transform their classrooms into welcoming play spaces where early literacy is a part of everything they do; and listening as teachers and directors share how they have changed their menus, their daily schedules, their use of electronics – all in an effort to reduce obesity rates and provide for the active day young children need.

Being able to do this hard work with a competent and dedicated staff, along with partners too numerous to count, makes it the most rewarding and joyful work I have been a part of. Join me in celebrating 20 years and the growth and expansion of our agency and its success!

Speaker McCutcheon appoints Drake State president to Alabama Partnership for Children Board 

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon has appointed Drake State President Dr. Patricia Sims to the Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) Board of Directors. Sims, as President of an Alabama public two-year college, will represent all 24 schools within the Alabama Community College System. 

“Dr. Sims has such a broad and deep career in education,” said APC Executive Director Gail Piggott. “She is recognized as a community leader, exemplary administrative head, and someone who promotes building the workforce so that families can thrive.” 

Dr. Sims has dedicated her career to education at multiple levels including primary to 12th grade, community college, and university. 

“Education is my life’s work and I am honored to serve an organization that is committed to serving Alabama’s families,” said Sims. “The Alabama Community College System provides a unified system of institutions dedicated to delivering academic education, adult education, and workforce development. By providing an impact at an earlier stage, students in pre-kindergarten to high school will be able to gain the support and training needed to enter the workforce.” 

The Alabama Partnership for Children relies on community colleges for the early childhood programs that help develop highly skilled teachers for the early childhood sector. Institutions like Drake State also help build skills and competencies for families to improve their livelihoods and incomes. 

“Dr. Sims’ involvement with young people and her interest in their success dovetails perfectly with the vision statement of the Alabama Partnership for Children that ‘every Alabama child will have the opportunity to succeed in life’,” said APC Board Chairperson Trippy McGuire. “We welcome Dr. Sims as a new member of our board and look forward to her lending her expertise and enthusiasm to our organization.” 

About Drake State Community & Technical College
Drake State Community & Technical College offers flexible, affordable university-transfer and technical degrees, certificates, adult and continuing education, and customized skills training to fulfill the diverse workforce need of employers. In April 2021, Drake State began a year-long celebration of its 60th Anniversary including multiple campus events for students and the community. Visit www.drakestate.edu for more information. 

CONTACT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mark Moore, Public Relations Director 
(256) 551-3136
mark.moore@drakestate.edu

January 13, 2021

Resources for Providers:

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Guidelines 
2. Alabama Department of Human Resources COVID-19 Guidelines
3. Alabama Department of Public Health COVID-19 Resources
4. Forgivable Loans for Child Care Providers Through the CARES Act – Fact Sheet
5. COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey
6. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Sheet: Borrowers
7. CDC Supplemental Guidance for Child Care Programs That Remain Open
8. Adverse Childhood Experiences Resources
9. Coloring Book: Helping Kids through the Coronavirus Crisis
10. The US Chamber of Commerce has a small business guide to help small businesses access financial assistance through the CARES Act. It can be found at: https://www.uschamber.com/report/covid-19-emergency-loans-small-business-guide 
11. Center for the Child Development, Harvard University News: The Brain Architects podcast episode 1, new workshop opportunities, and more!
12. Cash Options for Providers and CCR&RS during the Coronavirus Pandemic
13. Scholarship Opportunity for High School CTE Teachers and Family Child Care Providers
14. A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development
15. Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Discretionary Funds Appropriated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)
16. Business Rights + COVID-19
17. Becker’s Early Childhood Free Webinar
18. COVID-19 Financial Relief Resources for Early Care and Education Workers
19. NAEYC SBA Loans FAQs and Resources
20. Tuscaloosa Chamber Reopen Alabama Resource Guide
21. Voters Agree: Child Care is Essential
22. Free COVID-19 Flyers and Handouts
23. Strengths-Based Practice in Troubled Times
24. Child Care Relief
25. Talk, Read, and Play en espanol!
26. Yale School of Medicine Survey of Child Care Providers
27. Day Cares Struggle to Open as Alabama Parents Keep Kids at Home
28. NAEYC Virtual Institute
29. Coronavirus Resources for Child Care Providers
30. Comcast Offering Free Pubic WiFi through End of 2020
31. Public Health Guidance for Reopening
32. Alabama’s COVID-19 Risk Indicator Dashboard
33. DHR Temporary Assistance for Stabilizing Child Care Grant Application Guidance
34. DHR Temporary Assistance for Stabilizing Child Care Grant Application
35. STAARS Registration Information
36. From Surviving to Thriving: Creating a Way Forward in Challenging Times
37. DHR & VOICES Webinar on How to Navigate the Temporary Assistance for Stabilizing Child Care Grant Application
38. Alabama Standards for Early Learning and Development
39. Guidelines for Child Day Care Facilities
40. FDA Warns Consumers of Risk of Methanol Contamination in Certain Hand Sanitizers
41. Starting at Zero: Virtual Premier and Panel Discussion
42. The Emergency Child Care & Technical Assistance Center
43. Whether to Close or Stay Open: One of the Hardest Decisions in Child Care
44. COVID-19 Quick Response Grant Winners
45. ADPH Back to School Toolkit
46. NAEYC Back to School: Supporting Families and Teachers through Change, Virtual Learning, and Reopening Schools
47. COVID-19 and Early Care and Education: Considerations Before Reopening
48. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center COVID-19 Resources
49. COVID-19 Vaccination Survey for Child Care Providers
50. Coronavirus Resources for Child Care Providers | Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board
51. Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19
52. CDC Toolkits for Child Care Programs

Trainings:

1. Read Right from the Start Special Incentive for Completing Online Training
2. Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC assessments and training modules- use this code to register child care programs: RTHNVAVP)
3. Better Kid Care has Numerous Trainings Focused on Child Care that can be taken for Free ($5.00 if certificate is needed)
4. Texas A&M Child Care Training Courses
5. CDC’s Adverse Childhood Experiences training modules (resources and online training)
6. Child Development
7. ADPH Training Center (multiple health topics)
8. Strengthening Families: Scroll to bottom of page where the Protective Factors are listed and create an account. Be sure to choose the free course. You will receive a certificate of completion just not CEU’s.
9. Developmental Milestones: Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns: Certificate will be provided after quizzes on developmental milestones are completed.
10. Quorum
11. Adverse Childhood Experiences Online Learning
12. Columbus Technical College Free Professional Development Classes
13. EarlyEdU Highlight Webinar: Using Interactive Media in Early Learning
14. Emergency Child Care Webinar Series: Health Guidance (posted 4/17/2020)
15. Emergency Child Care Webinar Series: Child Development (posted 4/17/2020)
16. Resources for Emergency Child Care Providers (supplement to webinar series)
17. Talking to and Supporting Children and Ourselves During the Pandemic Webinar
18. Free Leadership Class Offered by Troy University
19. Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Training

Alabama Families’ Experience with Child Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Brief #3

The Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) conducted an online survey of working families between May 18, 2020 and June 9, 2020 that received over 500 responses. You can find a report with full survey results here. The results are pertinent to reopening child care programs safely, understanding the needs of families, and reconciling the competing needs of returning to work and providing child care.

This is the third brief highlighting key findings from the survey. You can read the first brief about child care experiences by household income here. The second brief about the increased preference for home-based child care arrangements can be read here.

View the full brief #3 here.

Do you have concerns or questions about your child’s development or behavior?

Complete a free, developmental screening with Help Me Grow Alabama! To complete the online screening, visit this webpage: https://www.asqonline.com/family/a91e35

Alabama Families’ Experience with Child Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic Brief #2

The Alabama Partnership for Children (APC) conducted an online survey of working families between May 18, 2020 and June 9, 2020 that received over 500 responses. You can find a report with full survey results at https://alabamapartnershipforchildren.org/parent-survey-results/. The results are pertinent to reopening child care programs safely, understanding the needs of families, and reconciling the competing needs of returning to work and providing child care.

This is the second brief highlighting key findings from the survey. You can read the first brief about child care experiences by household income at: https://alabamapartnershipforchildren.org/parent-survey-brief-1/

View the full brief #2 here.