ECIC

"I think it's really just a matter of thinking outside the box a little bit, and finding out what the needs are in the community"

Education Opportunities



Streams of Communication

								“ When coming to the meetings we're always kept appraised of what's going on in the community, of what services are out there. Parents are often times looking to us for answers in terms of what's available for their children. The council provides so much for families in that regard. In addition, the council also provides continuing education opportunities for teachers or staff members working in childcare programs, so our staff members have really benefited greatly from those types of topics ”
				Family Counselor St. Ann's Intergenerational Care Center



A Resource for Staff

								“through the Interagency Council-- we set up workshops for the staff that are in preschools and daycare centers. We have such things as "how do you really know your child is ill?". We had a basic sign language class; we had a music and dance program for the teachers to learn new music techniques to use in the classroom or movement techniques...so we have some nice things going on for the staff, too. We also go in and do some team teaching with the staff, with the teachers that are certified in Early Childhood Special Education, along with the teachers that are certified in early childhood, and we team teach. There's a lot of different things that go on..”



Continuing the Work

								“St. Francis recently received a wonderful grant called "Bridges to Learning" and that was in my mind a very prime example of how we can continue in this collaboration. Joan Laux, the director of that [the 21st Century Community Learning Center] has been able to really pull together all of the agencies that are in the council to find out how they might be able to get involved. For example, we'll be helping out in the Parents As Teachers program...my background is in Social Work and Counseling, so I will be helping to facilitate a parent's support and education program. I think it's really just a matter of thinking outside the box a little bit, and finding out what the needs are in the community, and coming together to write grants, or brainstorm on public policy issues, or legislation. There's a lot that we can do, just bringing all of our voices together to be heard.”