Missouri Childhood Community Leader
for the South Central Region June 2024
June 2024 Newsletter
South Central Region
Benton - Camden - Cole - Crawford - Dallas - Dent - Franklin - Gasconade - Henry -
Hickory - Laclede - Maries - Miller - Moniteau - Morgan - Osage -
Phelps - Pulaski - St. Clair - Texas - Wright
No Meeting in July!
Monthly Survey Question
Have you reviewed your program on Missouri Family Resource?
The Ultimate Goal for Community Leader Work
Missouri childhood community leaders connect children and families to the resources and services they need to be safe, healthy, and ready to learn. Community leaders do this by implementing local early childhood plans that increase awareness and coordination among early childhood programs and resources in their region.
Monthly Spotlight
Grant Funds Available
Missouri Quality Prekindergarten Grants
The next round of Missouri Quality Prekindergarten (MOQPK) Grants are available for eligible local education agencies (LEAs) and child care programs. Once House Bill 2002 for fiscal year 2025 is signed into law, which is expected by June 30, state funds will be available to awarded programs.
MOQPK grant recipients must meet the quality standards in statute (161.213 RSMo) and rule (5 CSR 25 100-340).
- Programs must serve children age 4 by July 31, 2024, and classrooms must include children who are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.
- MOQPK funds allow the LEA to contract with another LEA or with a private entity to serve eligible Pre-K students.
- Learn more about these grants, including guidance and the application for funds, on the MOQPK website.
- Deadline to apply is June 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
For questions, contact the Office of Childhood at Preschool@dese.mo.gov or call 573-751-6793.
Preschool Start-Up Grants
OOC is offering grants to local education agencies (public and charter schools) to start-up a new preschool program for the 2024-25 academic year. Grant information is now available under “Funding Opportunities” on the Preschool Start-up & Guidance website. Funds may be requested to help pay for supplies, outdoor equipment and fencing, furniture and equipment designed for children, staff/salaries, curriculum expenses, instructional materials, or minor remodeling. Construction or purchase of land or buildings are not allowed under this grant.
- LEAs may contract with another entity to add a new classroom(s), as long as the entity did not previously receive start-up or expansion funding for the same classroom(s) at that location from DESE’s child care relief funds (e.g., CRRSA, ARPA Discretionary).
- Grants are for $25,000 per classroom serving up to 10 students, or $50,000 per classroom serving 11-20 students. LEAs may apply for more than one classroom.
- Awarded classrooms must be in operation by September 16, 2024.
- The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
- Questions? LEAs can contact Preschool@dese.mo.gov or call 573-751-6793.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Special Education Training
Missouri Parents Act (MPACT) is Missouri's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center for families of children with special needs. MPACT works with agencies, parent groups and professional organizations with the goal of assisting parents in their effort to effectively advocate for their child's educational rights and services.
Visit the MPACT training calendar to learn about upcoming trainings.
MO-SECA Training Available
Child care providers can register for MO-SECA, a program designed to provide training and assessment for child care administrators.
MO-SECA training dates are available through July 2024. For questions about registration, contact MO-SECA or call 314-558-6966.
Training Opportunities
Training dates for developmental screening and social emotional trainings are still available. Check out these flyers for more details and registration.
Free Training and Support for Child Care Providers
Office of Childhood (OOC) is contracted with Wonderschool to help Family Child Care and Group Home Child Care programs start or grow their business. Explore the Wonderschool landing webpage.
- Using Wonderschool can help an individual open a child care business, obtain a child care license, or learn marketing tips to grow their child care business.
- Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wonderschool is hosting a free webinar on Create Your Child Care Website with tools to help providers with website development.
Individuals can use the QR code below or go to this Google Docs page to register.
Resources
DESE’s Office of Childhood provides a comprehensive approach to childhood care and education in Missouri. It includes programs related to child care, home visiting, early learning, and early intervention for children birth to age five, as well as afterschool programs for school-age children. The Office of Childhood is responsible for overseeing DESE’s efforts to expand and improve high-quality early learning opportunities.
Do you want to help ensure children's well-being and healthy development? Family support is a field where professionals help families with young children by providing direct services or connecting them with supports in their community. Family support strengthens family resilience and assists children with developmental disabilities.
Early Connections makes navigating Missouri’s Early Care & Education (ECE) system easier for families and professionals. This website is a partnership between Missouri’s child-serving agencies who are working together to make it easier for families to access programs and resources for children from birth through age five. These agencies are also aligning policies and coordinating practices to make it easier for professionals to find information and training opportunities aimed at engaging families in their child’s safety, health and learning.
Missouri Early Care & Connections Page Provides Many Resources
Missouri Early Care and Education Connections website is backed by Missouri's agencies to fulfill their mission: Working together to prepare every child for success in school. This website has inks to:
- Find Child Care
- Find Family Resources
- Track My Child's Development
- Find Training Opportunities
- Community Leader and Resources
Childhood community leaders are local leaders in every part of the state that develop and implement strong community plans aimed at ensuring all families with young children can access high-quality programs, services, and resources in their communities. They bring together local stakeholders to increase awareness of and coordination among early childhood programs and services.
United 4 Children provides comprehensive services to child care and after school programs that address the many needs of the whole-child. This link provides many resources for caregivers to ensure that children feel safe, engaged, supported and challenged by qualified and caring adults.
The MO HealthNet Division offers health care coverage for eligible Missourians. If you do not currently have health care coverage through MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid), the Family Support Division can help you with your application.
Missouri's Parent Education Program is a voluntary parent education program offered through local school districts, serving families who are expecting a child or have children under the age of kindergarten entry. Missouri's Parent Education Program helps to establish positive partnerships between home, school and the community and plays a vital role in supporting families and children from the very beginning toward school readiness. Find your Local Missouri Parents as Teachers Program! Find your local Parents as Teachers Program!
Early intervention is a system of services that helps babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Early intervention focuses on helping eligible babies and toddlers learn the basic and brand-new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life.
First Steps is Missouri's Early Intervention system that provides services to families with children, birth to three years of age, with disabilities or developmental delays. The program is designed to meet the needs of families related to enhancing their child's development, learning, and participation in family and community life.
Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children's growth in many areas such as language, literacy, and social and emotional development.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by delivering high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to the homes of registered children under age 5, at no cost to the family.
With T.E.A.C.H. MISSOURI scholarships, you will advance your education almost debt-free with a dedicated scholarship counselor who will be alongside you every step of the way. Advance your early childhood career and build your confidence as you gain the ability to make a greater impact in the lives of the children who trust you.
Calendar Events
Silver Dollar City Teacher Appreciation Days
Silver Dollar City is offering a special, discounted one-day ticket in June to Silver Dollar City and White Water to preschool teachers, teachers, principals, assistant principals, and supporting school staff (who verify their employment through ID.me), and up to three additional guests! Tickets can be purchased now at Silver Dollar City. This is an online-only offer. The ticket is valid all operating days from June 2-30, 2024.
For more information, visit the Silver Dollar City Teacher Appreciation webpage.
Stakeholder Upcoming Meeting Dates
Stakeholder meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month. Meetings have an in-person and virtual option. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.
South Central Stakeholder August Meeting
Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024, 09:00 AM
South Central Stakeholder Meeting
Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024, 09:00 AM
South Central Stakeholder Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024, 09:00 AM
Monthly Early Childhood Resources
Safe
Healthy
Ready to Learn
Stem Activities for Infants and Toddlers
The federal Department of Education funded STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education released STEM exploration card sets for use with infants and toddlers.
These cards provide families and providers who work with infants and toddlers with activity ideas to embed early science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) within everyday routines and activities. Each card has specific ideas for talking about STEM, information about the STEM learning area, and the developmental progression step for the activity.
Read, Read, READ!
The Happy McReaders Summer Reading Program!
INTRODUCING The Happy McReaders Summer Reading Program!
This new program will allow local libraries to provide children with a special incentive from their local McDonald’s to continue reading over the summer – a Free Happy Meal.
For a list of participating libraries and McDonald's locations, please visit our website: http://McD.to/6188eLV7y
Participating McDonalds in Missouri: Aurora, Ava, Battlefield, Bolivar, Branson, Buffalo, California, Camdenton, Carthage, Centralia, El Dorado Springs, Eldon, Forsyth, Fulton, Hannibal, Hollister, Holts Summit, Houston, Jefferson City, Lake Ozark, Lamar, Lebanon, Linn, Macon, Marble Hill, Marshfield, Moberly, Monett, Mount Vernon, Mountain Gove, Mountain View, Neosho, Nixa, Osage Beach, Ozark, Pineville, Republic, Rogersville, Salem, Sedalia, Seymour, Springfield, Strafford, Thayer, Versailles, Warsaw, Waynesville, West Plains, Willard, Willow Springs
Call for Action
Always Ready to Help Spread the Word
Looking for Program Spotlights!
Follow our FACEBOOK Page
Missouri Childhood Community Leaders - South Central Region
Community Leader South Central Region: Benton, Camden, Cole, Crawford, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Henry, Hickory, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, St. Clair, Texas, and Wright counties.
Shauna Kerperin (Blair Oaks Parents as Teachers) skerperin@blairoaks.org
Theresa Verslues (United Way) theresa.verslues@unitedwaycemo.org
Laura Brown (Rolla Parents As Teachers) lbrown@rolla31.org
Angie Bax (YMCA Child Development Center) abax@jcymca.org
Beth Parrish bparrish@blairoaks.org
Email: skerperin@blairoaks.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/365259852056297