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| Initiative Updates/Events - School Readiness Initiative |
Thank you for visiting the School Readiness Initiative website. Below you will find summary updates from all of our learning institutes, as well as resources and handouts that were utilized by the speakers and participants. We hope you find the information useful, and make sure to visit us periodically for more updates!
April 2010: Regional Leadership Meetings
In April 2010, First 5 LA and Families In Schools held three regional meetings on the topic of leadership. Grantees were divided into three regions based on their geographical location. Such set-up proved to be conducive to creating an intimate space for participants to openly share, and collaborate with one another. The meetings were facilitated by best-selling author and leadership expert, Joan Goldmsith. Participants had the opportunity to distinguish the difference between managing and leading through a peer-coaching activity, reflect on personal leadership through a leadership self-assessment, and discuss how to strengthen community collaboration through a small-group action planning activity.
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March 8-9, 2010 and March 11-12, 2010: B.A.B.Y. Training Institute
On March 8-9, and March 11-12, 2010, First 5 LA and Families In Schools held 2 sets of its first curriculum-based training, B.A.B.Y Training Institute, in Montebello and Los Angeles. The trainings were facilitated by Motheread trainers, Ev Machtinger and Gloria Gonzalez. Participants, many of whom are parent educators, learned how to successfully implement the B.A.B.Y. curriculum, which uses children's books to open discussion and relay information to expectant and new mothers.
February 24, 2010: Advocacy Learning Institute
On February 24, 2010, First 5 LA and Families In Schools held its seventh SRI training workshop entitled, "Advocacy Learning Institute: Partnering with Parents as Advocates for Children" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Banquet Hall. Approximately 118 participants attended the training. Attendees learned how parental advocacy improves education, discovered how to partner with parents as advocates for children, and explored tools and advocacy strategies for school readiness programs. Documents from the learning institute can be downloaded below. Click on any of underlined links:
Advocacy Framework PowerPoint (English and Spanish) Picture Gallery
      December 9, 2009: Parent Engagement Learning Institute
On December 9, 2009, First 5 LA and Families In Schools held its sixth SRI training workshop entitled, "Parent Engagement Learning Institute at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral. Grantees learned how to utilize the assets of parents to improve school readiness, explored how a welcoming environment impacts family engagement and discovered various parent engagement strategies to strengthen school readiness programs. Documents from the learning institute can be downloaded below:
The Power of Parent Engagement in the Early Years PowerPoint Dimensions of Parent Involvement Kindergarten Survival Handbook - Purchasing Information Small group activity "What Parents/SR programs Need to Know and Do": What Parents Need to Know and Do What SR programs Need to Know and Do
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Summer 2009: Regional Case Management Leadership Lunches
During the summer, the 42 First 5 SRI grantees were divided into 3 respective groups based on regional locations and they were provided an intimate training on how to strengthen family support systems. Strategies training specialists, Magdalena Benitez and Samantha Florey, facilitated effective dialogues on core elements of a strong case management system. In the first half of the training, grantees were given the opportunity to share strategies for better documentation, assessments and overall support of families. In the latter half of the training, grantees were given time to work on action plans that will enhance and sharpen their case management systems and practices. Within the 3.5 hour training, grantees collaborated and supported each other through feedback and exchange of items and ideas. Some organizations even brought examples of forms they utilize in their case management practices. The forms that the organizations shared with one another can be found below. Lastly, the forms and best practices guidelines that Strategies shared with the grantees can also be found below.
Forms from First 5 SRI Grantees (click on the links below to upload the document): Bellflower Unified School District Family Service Plan Bellflower Unified School District Progress Notes Bellflower Unified School District Summary Referral and Service
Forms from Strategies (Handouts from the Leadership Lunches) (click on the links below to upload the document):
Action Plan
The School Readiness Initiative held its fifth training institute entitled “Fundraising Learning Institute,” on June 18, 2009 at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral Conference Center. In a workshop led by FIS Executive Director Jo Carcedo, organizations learned about creative ways to share their successful school readiness stories with potential funders. Kathleen Malaske-Samu from the LA County Office of Child Care gave insight into funding opportunities through the economic stimulus package for early childhood programs. Lastly, participants were treated to a unique panel discussion with representatives from the Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation, State Farm Insurance, Weingart Foundation, and World Vision. This discussion was led by Kristine Williams from CD Tech. During this dialogue, SRI grantees were able to ask potential funders a wide array of questions including what they expect from grantees and how to build strong relationships with foundations and corporations.
April 22, 2009: Case Management Learning Institute
On April 22, 2009, 66 SRI Grantee staff who provide direct services to families, participated in the Case Management Learning Institute, which emphasized “building a toolkit for family success”. The dynamic workshop was facilitated by two training specialists from Strategies, Maggie Benitez, MSW and Samantha Florey, M.A., who shared their expertise in the elements of case management. Participants began the day by learning a family centered and strength-based approach to case management. In the course of the workshop, participants learned about the process of assessment, case planning, and goal development. The training also focused on interpersonal and information gathering skills essential in case management. The workshop closed by covering the importance of documentation, a core case management tool.
Quality Assessment is the key to effective case management. The following are various instruments that SRI grantees are currently using to assess families. Explore the links below to discover new assessment tools to help the families in your communities:
Gessell Developmental Observation (GDO)
http://www.gesellinstitute.org/
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Ages and Stages: Social-Emotional (ASQ: SE)
http://www.agesandstages.com/index.html
Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and Developmental Milestones (PEDS:DM)
Parenting Stress Index (PSI)
http://www3.parinc.com/products/product.aspx?Productid=PSI
Language Development Survey (LDS)
http://www.aseba.org/research/language.html
Family Assessment Form (FAF)
http://www.familyassessmentform.com/
Family Development Matrix
http://hhspp.csumb.edu/community/matrix/familymatrix.htm
FOR MORE ON PAST LEARNING INSTITUTES, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN...
March 11, 2009: Kindergarten Transition and Articulation Learning Institute
On March 11, 2009, over 100 directors, coordinators and direct service staff attended the Kindergarten Transition and Articulation Learning Institute. The day began with Jennifer Chung, the Kindergarten Transition and Articulation/Curriculum Specialist at LA Universal Preschool (LAUP) presenting research on Kindergarten Transition and Articulation. Then, a panel of schools and agencies including LAUSD, El Rancho Unified School District, Urban Education Partnership, Mira Monte Elementary, and Friends of the Family explored ways to collaborate together to improve articulation. After lunch, participants experienced a panel of kindergarten transition and articulation promising practices. This panel included presentations from Lawndale Unified School District, LAUSD Ready for School Hyde Park, Human Services Association, and United Way Success by 6 Wilmington. The day ended with a guest expert on strategic planning, Trine Jensen of Emergent Learning Partners, facilitating action planning to build kindergarten transition plans.
Below are some of the resources from the March 11th learning institute:
Activity Handouts: Handout for activity: Kindergarten Transition Plan Handout: Kindergarten Transition & Articulation Plan Implementation Schedule
Research articles: Article: Easing the Transition from PreK to Kindergarten Report: Kindergarten Transition Study Research brief: Transition to Kindergarten
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December 9, 2008: Collaborating for Sustainability
In December 2008, Families In Schools held its kick-off learning institute to explore collaboration as a strategy for sustaining school readiness programs. Guest presenter Laura Escobedo from the Los Angeles County Office of Child Care facilitated discussion to identify grantee assets and barriers to sustainability in the current social, political, and economic context. Dr. Karen Hill Scott, a consultant and expert in early childcare and education, guided grantees in an exercise designed to assist them with initiating, facilitating, and sustaining collaborations for the purpose of promoting school readiness goals.
Below are some of the resources from the December 9th learning institute:
Our Strategic Mission Activity (Small group activity facilitated by Karen Hill Scott)
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