Missouri Childhood Community Leader
for the South Central Region June 2024
New Community Leader Graphic
The Office of Childhood (OOC) is pleased to share its updated Community Leader Graphic, which illustrates the collaborative efforts driving early childhood development. This visual highlights how the OOC, early childhood professionals, stakeholders, and families work together to build a coordinated system that increases access to programs and services, supporting children in becoming safe, healthy, and successful learners.
Registration is now open for the 52nd Conference on the Young Years. The conference will be March 6-8, 2025 at Tan-Tar-A Conference Center in Osage Beach, Missouri.
Please ensure you read the brochure and make session choices before starting the registration process.
New this year we have CYY shirts and hats available for pre-order and pick up at the conference. See below for additional details.
Explore and Expand Our Missouri Family Resources (MFR)
As part of our continuous effort to enhance the Missouri Family Resources (MFR), we recently held a productive meeting with our dedicated stakeholders. We've outlined a few key actions that each of you can take to help us grow and refine our resources:
Identify and Suggest Resources: Dive into MFR and pick your top three go-to resources. If you notice any valuable resources missing, please use the suggest program button on the MFR website or email them directly to skerperin@blairoaks.org. *Note: The picture to the right has the SUGGEST PROGRAM BUTTON highlighted in yellow.
Spread the Word: Sharing is caring! Please share MFR with at least three colleagues or during your team meetings. A broader awareness can lead to more enriched resources and support for all.
Contribute Your Favorites: If there are any resources you frequently use and believe should be part of MFR, don’t hesitate to send them our way. We’ll ensure they’re either already listed or added promptly. You can submit these resources through the same email as above.
We are excited to see how your contributions will help MFR grow and serve better. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration!
MOAIMH-EC is working to optimize well-being in the early years by promoting first relationships and advancing effective infant and early childhood mental health practice. Find more information out at: https://www.moaimh-ec.org
Quality Assurance Opportunity
Join the nearly 400 early childhood centers early childhood centers, school district preschool programs, and licensed family-child care programs who are currently participating in Missouri’s Quality Assurance Report (QAR) to achieve a DESE Quality Designation for their program.
The QAR is a statewide program committed to demonstrating why quality matters every day. Participants receive Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS)© assessments, one on one coaching, access to quality supports and resources, and a training opportunity for staff interested in obtaining a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. Early learning programs can apply at any time during the year and will be contacted once space is available to actively begin the program. Visit the QAR webpage for program information or contact Rachel Ratcliff, Office of Childhood at QAR@dese.mo.gov
Programs interested in joining may fill out the QAR Program application.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
Kurt Hafley (United Way) kurt.hafley@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/1257170455581701