Free conference for parents and providers, offering onsite immunizations, a chance to win an Amazon Kindle and so much more! Download the free flyer with all of the details by clicking  here.

When: Saturday, March 12, 2011

9 am – 3 pm

Where: Community Reformed Church

100 Oak Street, Charlevoix

Keynote Speaker: Matt Jones presents “If I Only Had a Heart”

Matt Jones is a father of 5 that lives right here in northern Michigan. Matt has presented

workshops at conferences around the country on several topics including Parent Leadership and

Grant Writing. He has Co-Chaired the National Head Start Association Parenting Conference and

served on planning committees for local and regional conferences. Matt has served on the Board

of Directors for Head Start at both the state and regional levels. Matt has received several awards

including Region V Head Start Parent of the Year. Most recently Matt was the first parent to be

awarded Volunteer of The Year by Reading Is Fundamental in 2010.

Agenda:

9 am – 10 am…………………………………………………….. Registration & Coffee and Connecting with Your Legislators

10 am – 11 am ……………………………………………. Keynote Speaker

11 am – 12 pm…………………………………….. Expo and FREE Lunch

12pm – 3 pm…………………………………………….Breakout Sessions

Registration: Call 231.582.8070 to register.

Supported by Charlevoix, Emmet and Northern Antrim Counties Great Start Parent

Coalition and Child Care Connections – Great Start Regional Resource Center

Click here for a printable flyer.

Written by:  Susan Chowen, Child Care Specialist

Choosing a quality child care program is one of the most important decisions families make.  But where do you look and what do you look for?  Your first step is determining what type of child care is right for your family.  Options include:

Child Care Centers – licensed facilities that include preschools, nursery schools, Head Start programs, Great Start Readiness Programs, and before & after school programs.

Group Child Care Homes – licensed homes in which two or more adults provide care for up to 12 children.

Family Child Care Homes – registered homes where one adult cares for one to six children.

Child Care Connections, a Great Start Regional Resource Center, can provide child care referrals for families searching for local providers in their area.  Our staff can provide guidance by phone, in person, or electronically if parents have internet access.  Once a list of providers is determined, it’s up to the family to contact the provider and schedule an interview. If possible, take your child with you when you visit.  The following questions should be asked when looking for quality child care:

• Can you explain your written policies and contract?
• What activities are the children involved in during a typical day?
• What is your guidance/discipline policy?
• What are your emergency procedures?
• Do the staff have experience and training in child care?

When visiting, look for positive interactions between caregivers and children; clean, safe and healthy indoor and outdoor spaces; safety features in all rooms accessible to the children; and a variety of age-appropriate learning materials.  Download a free brochure on 4 steps to finding quality childcare!

To find out if a provider has any documented complaints or investigations, log on to http://www.michigan.gov/dhs and click on “Search for Childcare Centers and Homes.”  This information can be helpful when looking for quality child care.

In making your decision, consider all of your information and approach the provider with any questions or concerns you have.  It’s okay to be a choosy parent! The person you choose to provide that high quality child care for your child can make a positive impact on your child’s development.

You have access to our comprehensive database of child care programs!

Just visit http://www.greatstartconnect.org.  In just 5 easy steps, you will obtain information on local providers that best meet your needs.

You can also contact Child Care Connections at 1-800-968-4228 or visit our website at http://www.childcarenwmi.com.  Families living in Charlevoix, Emmet and Antrim counties, please feel free to contact  Susan Chowen, Child Care Specialist, at 231-582-8070 or susanc@childcarenwmi.com

Must be accompanied by an adult.  Candy will be collected Monday November 1st 2010from 3pm-7pm

at D. Scott Eaton DDS, 4144 Charlevoix Ave., Petoskey

Click hereto download the flyer and spread the news!

This candy will be sent to OPERATION GRATITUDE in Van Nuys, CA. They will make individual holiday packages for troops and ship them overseas to our soldiers stationed in war zones.  www.opgratitude.com

Did you know that millions of families are missing out on money — potentially a lot of it — every tax season?

It’s true.

Unfortunately, some families don’t even know to ask for the tax credits they are eligible for, and they miss out. And we’re not talking about a few dollars; we’re talking about potentially thousands of dollars.

We need your help to spread the word. And we’re offering two free online trainings to give you the information and tools you need:

Part I – Tax Credits: What Working Families Need to Know
Thursday, Oct. 21 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (1 hour)

Get the facts about how federal and state tax credits can give working families a leg up, and get access to resources that will help you to get that information in the hands of families in your community.

Part II – Tax Credits Outreach: Tips and Tools for Service Providers and Advocates

Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern (1 hour)

You can make a big difference for families by making sure families get the information they need. Learn about simple outreach activities that can make a major impact for working families. This webinar will help you:

• Get free outreach materials;
• Connect with local coalitions;
• Find free tax preparation services in your community; and
• Learn some successful techniques for spreading the word about tax credits.

Register today! These online sessions are free to participants, but registration is required.

Live Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate Twitter Forum Focusing on Early Childhood

Monday, June 21^st from 12p-1p EST

It’s FREE!  Here’s how to attend…

1. Join our discussion by using the #greatstart hashtag in each of your tweets so we can all follow the conversation during the party.

2. 
Follow the Gubernatorial Candidates (@Mike_Cox @george4govenor @Dillon4MI @bouchardforgov)  @greatstart the host so we can respond to the discussion and answer questions.

3.  Click here to use a special Tweet Grid link that has been specifically created for this forum to make following the conversation easier.

4.  If you don’t have a Twitter account, sign up here.

For a free flyer to share or link to click here.

Who can apply for the training? Any parent in Michigan who has a child age birth to 18 years old and has received specialty public services in Michigan for their child. How long is the training session? On day one the training will be held from 1pm – 8pm. On day 2 the training will be held from 9am – 4pm. Parents need to attend both days. Where is the training located? Marquette is July 12-13, 2010 and Oakland County is July 20-21, 2010. Is there childcare provided during the training? No, however we provide reimbursement for money you spend on childcare while at the training. Who pays for the training? There is no cost to parents to attend. Parents also receive a honoraria for their time, mileage reimbursement, and hotel (if they are traveling over 50 miles each way). Meals during the training are provided.

Please apply online using the link on the attached flyer.  For more information contact Sarah Wedepohl at swedepohl@me.com or 248.761.2553.

Visit some of these helpful resources to help make your summertime safer and more enjoyable!

Safe Kids offers advice, tips and additional resources and guides for parents with children of all ages.

Sun Safety for Kids offers videos, recommendations and tips for helping to keep your child safe this summer. A wonderful resource for providers as well!

Kids Health offers tips for how to handle those wasp and bee stings because they do happen and it is good to be prepared!

American Academy of Pediatrics offers many summertime safety tips and links for resources, a wonderful site to visit for an abundance of information!

Keep Kids Healthy is a great resource to help you learn how to keep your child safe this summer from spoiled food. Tips on packing lunches, how long food can stay out and what to look for and avoid.

Enjoy your summer and come on out, give us a call and join us for all of our summer 2010 scheduled events! We’d love if you printed this and posted it at your local playgroup, grocery store or library!

KIWI Magazine has taken a fun new approach to helping parents with parenting by holding free Kiwi University Classes with experts and this month Dr. Susan Bartell, author of The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask, is here to help with these tough questions! And guess what, you’ll get to ask questions too!

Hurry, spaces are limited for this free event!

* June 8 at 10 a.m. EST (Register for this time)

* June 9 at 8 p.m. EST (Register for this time)

Sign up and join us for the whole webinar, and you could win a copy of Dr. Bartell’s book! Ten participants in each session will be randomly selected to receive the book of their choice: The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask: Pre-K through 2nd Grade or The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask: 3rd through 5th Grade.

Great Start

Help your child get ready for kindergarten and let Dora help you!A free simple quiz will create a customized readiness plan for your preschooler. Focusing on early learning skills, social skills, healthy habits and parent involvement.