The report says the number of preschool slots alone has dropped 4% from 2022, to the lowest number since at least 2005.

Read more...

https://ctmirror.org/2024/01/09/ct-voices-children-child-care-preschool

Position Summary:  The New Haven Early Childhood Council (Council) is a citywide group of community members committed to ensuring that all New Haven children from birth to age eight have the opportunities, supports, and experiences they need to reach their full potential.  The Council includes parents, educators, government officials, health and social service agencies and other representatives from the community invested in the well-being of young children. 

The Council seeks a passionate and entrepreneurial Director to lead the Council’s work to expand access to and the quality of early care and education in New Haven.  The ideal candidate will have knowledge of the early care and education landscape in Connecticut and understand and embrace systems change work. The Director should have experience working on complex community change efforts, embrace work rooted in partnerships, and be a consummate communicator comfortable with varied audiences. The Director will drive the Council’s internal and external functions, including strategy development and implementation, communications, community engagement, fund development, and data collection and analysis. 

This is a 15-month grant-funded position, with the possibility of renewal dependent on funding.  The position will be housed at United Way of Greater New Haven. 

The Director will report to the Council Co-Chairs and Executive Committee. 

This position can be 30-40 hours/week and is benefit eligible. The salary range for this position is $100,000 - $110,000 for full-time, depending on experience.

Responsibilities include:

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Provide leadership and support to the Council in its identification of strategic priorities and avenues for implementation.
• Research and promote best practices related to early care and education through advocacy, partnerships, and influence.
• Develop and implement the Council’s advocacy priorities and coordinate supporting activities of partners.
• Create an annual scope and sequence of Council agendas that align with the mission and strategic goals of the Council.
• Collaborate with the School Readiness Liaison and School Readiness fiduciary to ensure program viability and success.

Capacity-building

• Organize and sustain an inclusive, collaborative network of constituents focused on systemic efforts to improve outcomes for young children.
• Build capacity of Council leadership by recruiting and orienting new Council members and helping to bring newer members along in leadership roles.
• Support the Council by attending Council and committee meetings, working with Chairs to continually build trust and pay attention to group dynamics to ensure work is progressing.
• Coordinate all Council meetings and communications and ensure adherence to public meeting requirements for noticing and recording meetings.
• Supervise additional Council staff/interns/consultants.

Communications and Community Engagement

• Conduct marketing and outreach to engage constituents in the Council’s work.
• Develop content for the Council website and social media to ensure beneficiaries are engaged.
• Represent the Council at statewide meetings and forums.
• Manage relationships with partners.

Financial Management & Fund Development

• Create an annual Council budget under the direction of the Council and maintain, manage, and report budget income and expenses related to the Council monthly.
• Identify potential funding sources to support the Council’s goals and priorities and work to secure those funds.

Data Collection and Analysis

• Work with the Council and its committees to develop outcome measures and collect, analyze and report data to determine progress.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and work experience
• Minimum 5 years work-related experience in leadership roles
• Strong interpersonal skills
• In-depth knowledge of early childhood development and education
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Demonstrated experience working in urban areas and working with government agencies and officials
• Strong background in data collection and utilization
• Proficient technology skills
• Proven leadership and management skills
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask
• Experience in fundraising, grant writing, and fiscal management
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Spanish language fluency helpful
• Proficient with MS Office365 and demonstrated comfort in learning new software/ online tools as needed.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of the Council. 
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.

About United Way

United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to Greater New Haven’s most pressing challenges in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability grounded in racial and social justice. We tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one group working alone. We operate according to these organizational values.

In accordance with organizational policies, this position requires a criminal background check as a condition of employment. 

United Way staff are currently working hybrid, with at least two days per week in our office in New Haven. 

United Way is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. United Way of Greater New Haven is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!

Gun violence recently surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for American children.

By Robert Gebeloff, Danielle Ivory, Bill Marsh, Allison McCann and Albert Sun

For much of the nation’s history, disease was the No. 1 killer of children. Then America became the land of the automobile, and by the 1960s, motor-vehicle crashes were the most common way for children to die. Twenty years ago, well after the advent of the seatbelt, an American child was still three times as likely to die in a car accident as to be killed by a firearm. We’re now living in the era of the gun...

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/magazine/gun-violence-children-data-statistics.html

Community Impact, Program Assistant

 We Love What Makes You Unique

Your perspective fuels our mission-driven work at United Way of Greater New Haven. We are committed to building a team that is inclusive across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and lived experience. As an organization, we are committed to addressing systemic racism and injustice in our community, our partnerships, and our practices. 

Who We Are Looking For

Do you enjoy organizing information and facilitating effective communications between community organizations? Are you the type of person who takes pride in getting the details right and is excited to support programs that help families thrive in greater New Haven? Are you enthusiastic about using your organizational talents as a force for good in our community?

United Way is seeking a full-time Program Assistant who is passionate and organized to support two programs that help families in greater New Haven improve their lives: Early Head Start, which serves families with infants and toddlers, and the Coordinated Access Network, which helps people who are at-risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

This is an hourly position.  The pay range is $16 - $18/hour and includes benefits.

What You Will Do

• Prepare and execute contracts
• Review and submit housing applications
• Review and submit invoices for processing
• Organize and maintain file system, and file correspondence and other records
• Prepare materials for presentations and events
• Coordinate and schedule meetings and events
• Answer emails and correspondence
• Develop meeting agendas and take meeting minutes
• Develop memos, reports and other regular correspondences as requested
• Create and distribute surveys
• Participate in trainings and committee work as applicable
• Participate in program strategic planning and self-assessment processes
• Develop relationships with community partners
• Assist in special projects as requested
• Maintain a high sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment
• Other duties as assigned

 What You Need

• Minimum experience of 2 years working in an administrative capacity
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Training and experience using Microsoft Office 365 products
• Ability to travel to Partner sites in the Greater New Haven area

In accordance with organizational policies, this position requires a criminal background check as a condition of employment.  In accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, this position also requires a medical physical and proof of Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. 

About United Way

United Way of Greater New Haven brings people and organizations together to create solutions to Greater New Haven’s most pressing challenges in the areas of Education, Health, and Financial Stability grounded in racial and social justice. We tackle issues that cannot be solved by any one group working alone. We operate according to these organizational values.

United Way staff are currently working hybrid, with at least two days per week in our office in New Haven.

United Way is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

What’s your child’s experience playing sports? We want to hear from you.

Youth sports look much different than 10 and 20 years ago. With increasing costs and limited spots, fewer children are playing sports, and many aren’t getting enough physical activity.

Today, we explore who gets the privilege to play on a team.

https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/2022-06-16/who-gets-the-privilege-of-playing-sports

ALISON BODY, EMILY LAU AND JO JOSEPHIDOU

NOVEMBER 2020

https://i0.wp.com/impact.chartered.college/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-importance-of-teaching-philanthropy.jpg?resize=260%2C170&ssl=1 260w, https://i0.wp.com/impact.chartered.college/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-importance-of-teaching-philanthropy.jpg?resize=759%2C500&ssl=1 759w" data-lazy-loaded="1" sizes="(max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px" />

Philanthropy, that is ‘voluntary action for public good’ (Payton and Moody, 2008, p. 3), plays a fundamental role in civil society, both here in the UK and beyond. Central to this, the charitable sector is often at the forefront of challenging social and environmental injustice and inequality. In this article we argue that meaningfully engaging children in philanthropic action and charitable giving provides an ideal opportunity for children to critically participate and think about root causes of social issues and injustice...

https://impact.chartered.college/article/the-importance-of-teaching-philanthropy-educating-children-social-good/

THE RENSSELAERVILLE INSTITUTE would like to hear from you!  Come to the IGNITE Information Session to learn about "Community Sparkplugs" and how your idea may be eligible to receive a grant up to $3,000.  

✓Easy application Process

✓ Training and support provided

✓ Short projects - 6months or less

✓ Opportunities to share ideas and learn what has worked in other communities

✓ Build your community’s ability to do more

3 IGNITE SESSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

Session 1:  Wednesday, October 14, 2020 @ 12 pm – 2 pm

Session 2:  Thursday, October 15, 2020, @ 7pm – 9pm

Session 3:  Saturday, October 17, 2020 @ 10am – 12pm 

Register Today!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

For more information contact:

 Raquel Hill, Director

Community Sparkplugs

rhill@rinstitute.org

or Call 571-446-7653

It’s time to explore!

From July 1 to September 6, Connecticut children age 18 and under plus one accompanying adult can visit participating museums free of charge through the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program. Visit this website for details and updates on the list of participating places:

www.ctvisit.com/articles/connecticut-summer-museum-free-admission-kids ;

Older Post Below

New Haven EMERGENCY FOOD UPDATE: Free school food should be available starting Monday (public info will be shared by the city about where/how to get food) - United Way is coordinating local volunteers, The CT Food Bank is keeping a more up to date list of which emergency food pantries and soup kitchens are open. If you want to donate food/money or need food check the link below, and call the pantries to see if they are open. Also, a flyer in english and spanish is linked on that page. Reminder that senior centers are closed.

https://www.getconnectednewhaven.com/services/food

According to the psychologist Peter Gray, children today are more depressed than they were during the Great Depression and more anxious than they were at the height of the Cold War. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology found that between 2009 and 2017, rates of depression rose by more than 60 percent among those ages 14 to 17, and 47 percent among those ages 12 to 13. This isn’t just a matter of increased diagnoses. The number of children and teenagers who were seen in emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts or having attempted suicide doubled between 2007 and 2015...

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/08/17/opinion/sunday/childhood-suicide-depression-anxiety.amp.html

In August, the nightmares start.

Every teacher experiences the excitement, worry and sometimes dread as the first day of school approaches. It’s a combination of Christmas Eve and April 14.

Like most teachers, I spent my summer carefully crafting lesson plans. I spent weeks reading YA books and worked diligently on creating a week’s worth of team building activities to start the year with a positive classroom environment.

Then, https://ctmirror.org/category/ct-viewpoints/testing-over-teaching-tiffany-moyer-washington/?fbclid=IwAR2JzMMaA99juYGv-DXQJBdENCJ2_GukMb7eWJNNZmiHrxG7shd0VEXSr_c

CreditiStock

It’s a truism in child development that the very young learn through relationships and back-and-forth interactions, including the interactions that occur when parents read to their children. A new study provides evidence of just how sustained an impact reading and playing with young children can have, shaping their social and emotional development in ways that go far beyond helping them learn language and early literacy skills. The parent-child-book moment even has the potential to help curb problem behaviors like aggression, hyperactivity and difficulty with attention, a new study has found...

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/well/family/reading-aloud-to-young-children-has-benefits-for-behavior-and-attention.html ;

Poverty Shrinks Brains from Birth

HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH OF TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES??

ARE YOU READY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM?

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE????

Christian Community Action, Inc.’s

Advocacy & Education Project

invite you to join 

 Parent Leadership Training Institute

Please visit www.plti-ct.org for more information

Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)

trains, inspires and empowers parents and

others who care about children to become

effective advocates for children.

It is a statewide initiative created to improve the lifelong health, safety, and learning of Connecticut’s children by helping you develop the leadership skills to make real change-in schools, communities and state and local governments.

The program begins with a Saturday, January 2013 retreat.  Classes will be held for 18 weeks Tuesday evenings at a New Haven location TBD. Children ages 5-12 may attend the on-site Children’s Leadership Training Institute. There is NO COST for the program. Family dinner provided.

For more information or to schedule an interview,

contact, Merryl Eaton (203) 676- 3110

merryleaton@ccahelping.org