Montgomery County Advisory Committee Meeting

A. First Step to Stars – Additional funds have been released to fill the First Step to Stars requests. As a result, 95% of Montgomery County applicants will be funded.

B. Keystone Stars – Eight more Montgomery County providers have been accepted into case managed supports. There are not 12 Star II’s and CCRD has received 2 applications from Family Day Care Homes. CCRD has asked all Steering Committee members to continue to share information about Keystone Stars with child care providers. New information about the Stars program is being released on April 23, 2004.

C. Quality – There is no more funding available through the DCED Challenge Grant.

D. Education and Retention – CCRD is still waiting to hear when the money will be released. Applicants will be prioritized by the percentage of children on subsidy that they serve.

E. Community Planning Grant – The RFP for the Community Planning Grants was released from DPW. The proposal is due 5/24/04. If you would like a copy of the RFP and/or to be a part of the brainstorming session as we determine what will be included in the proposal, please contact Kathleen Babcock. All Steering Committee members will be asked to show their support by endorsing the proposal once it is complete.

III. Organization Reports

A. CCIS – New income guidelines for subsidy eligibility will be instituted on May 1, 2004. The exit level will remain at 235% of the federal poverty level. For the specific dollar amount per family size, contact Connie Whitson at 610-278-3707..

The state has advised CCIS to spend 3% above allocation but there is still a waiting list.

B. Head Start – There are now three sites in Montgomery County offering Head Start expansion. Head Start continues to seek additional child care centers with whom they can partner to offer the extended day care. Partners must adhere to Head Start performance standards. For more information, contact Marsha Suszkowksi at 610-239-6662.

The Head Start Bill has not yet been reauthorized and it does not look like it will be until the fall.

C. Legislative Update – House Bill 19, which supports improving safety in child care remains in the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. Letters encouraging the Committee to pass the bill should be addressed to:

Hon. Jane Orie, Chair

Senate Aging and Youth Committee

Room 187 Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120

Fax: 717-787-8625

Hon. Allen Kukovich, Democratic Chair

Senate Aging and Youth Committee

185 Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120

Fax: 717-772-0580

PCCY asks that you fax a copy of your letter to them at 215-563-9442 so that they can keep track of the letters the Senators receive.

D. Trainings by Margie Carter and Deb Curtis

“Working with a Vision”

June 23, 2004

8:00AM-1:00PM

LaSalle University

For registration information, contact DVAEYC at 215-963-0094.

“Nurturing Yourself and Your Vision”

June 23, 2004

6:30-9:30PM

LaSalle University

For registration information, contact DVAEYC at 215-963-0094.

E. Leaders in Action Summer Institute

6/24/04-6/27/04

LaSalle University

For registration information, contact DVAEYC at 215-963-0094.

F. Montgomery County Community College Director’s Course

Beginning this fall Montgomery County Community College will be offering a for-credit Director’s Course. For more information, contact Debbie Levin at 215-641-6333.

G. Bright Spaces: Holly Taylor of Bright Horizons will be coordinating the opening of a new play space in a shelter in Norristown. If you are interested in helping with the shopping and/or set up, let her know. She can be reached at 610-676-1545.

H. Voices for Children Summit – The Delaware Valley Council for Early Care and Learning will be pulling together a regional council to focus on child care and No Child Left Behind. There will be a team of 8-16 people from each of the five counties in the region. Montgomery County team leaders are Connie Whitson of CCIS and Mr. Terry Allison from the Intermediate Unit. The Summit will take place June 22-23, 2004 at the Chester County Intermediate Unit and is by invitation only.

I. National Immunization Week – The Health Department will be sponsoring immunization record reviews in North Whales, Spring House, and Pottstown. Those children who have up-to-date immunization records will be entered in a raffle to win prizes. Those records that are not up-to-date can be updated for free. For more information, contact the Health Department. (Norristown 610-278-5145, Pottstown 610-970-5040, Willow Grove 215-784-5415).

J. The Montgomery County Commissioners proclaimed 4/18/04-4/24/04 Week of the Young Child.

IV. Resource Inventory – Drafts of sections of the resource inventory were made available for Steering Committee members to give feedback. Thanks for all of your comments! If you would like to provide additional feedback on the resource inventory, please contact Leah Rayner.

V. Subcommittee Reports

A. Fundraising – This subcommittee coordinated the sale of school readiness videos and brochures at the DVAEYC Conference. Approximately 50 videos were sold at that time. Additional orders for 35-40 more were placed. If you would like to order a video, the cost is $5 each + shipping. If you would like to order brochures, they are $.15 each.

B. Quality Issues (includes School Readiness) – The quality group is working on distributing videos that are available to Norristown residents for free. This was a part of the original grant through which the video was created. They are considering distribution via a number of places including Head Start, shelters, the CAO, doctors’ offices, WIC, and Central MH/MR.

C. Health and Safety Issues in Early Education and School Age Care – This group is working to increase awareness about immunization forms that providers need to fill out. They have a letter from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that can be sent to doctors and to early education providers. They will be working on a cover letter to accompany the letter.

The group is also aware that there is a problem with doctors not doing all the appropriate screening. For instance, some are not checking vision and hearing. There is the possibility of tapping into a local conference to conduct outreach to physicians about the importance of performing comprehensive physical exams.

The group is also addressing the issue of children being fingerprinted. They would like to figure out how to work with local police stations so that the police stations will keep the children’s finger prints on file.

D. Community Awareness/Stakeholder Involvement – This group met to develop a brochure that will raise awareness about the Consortium. The brochure is currently being drafted and will be available the week of 4/26/04. If you would like to give feedback on the brochure, please contact Leah Rayner.

VI. Upcoming Meetings

What	When	Where	For info or to RSVP, contact:
Fundraising Subcommittee	April 30, 2004 10:00AM	MELC-Narberth Center	Toscha Blalock
Stakeholder Involvement/Community Awareness Subcommittee	April 30, 2004 9:00-11:00AM	HSC Rm. C	Leah Rayner
CCRD/Advisory Board Consortium Steering Committee Meeting	May 18, 2004 1:00-3:30PM	HSC Rm. A/B	Leah Rayner
Quality Subcommittee	May 18, 2004 3:30-4:00PM	HSC Rm. A/B	Kathleen Babcock