November News 2024
Early Childhood Brain Development
As a former elementary educator and a mother of a three-year-old, I have recently developed a keen interest in the science of early childhood brain development. Experience truly is the best teacher. Through my decade-long journey as a classroom teacher and five years as an afterschool and summer Program Director for both elementary and secondary levels, I have discovered various factors that influence academic success. One significant factor, which schools cannot control, is early brain development, which greatly affects students and third-grade reading scores. Remarkably, 90% of brain development occurs from birth to age five, with most of that happening before children even enter a classroom.
According to the Kids Count Whitfield County Profile, only 30% of children aged three to four in our community are enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs. While some children may be well-prepared for school due to enriching experiences provided by their parents or caregivers at home, many schools are encountering an increasing number of children who are unprepared when they arrive. This situation places a portion of students at a disadvantage and presents challenges for primary educators.
What does the research reveal about early brain development? Children's experiences, whether positive or negative, significantly shape the architecture of their brains. Supportive relationships between children and their caregivers have an immense impact on brain development. When parents respond effectively to their children's needs and cues, they help foster strong neural connections. Additionally, reducing stressors and addressing or reducing adverse childhood experiences can enhance early brain development. Finally, it's crucial to help children to develop core skills, including self-regulation and executive function skills.
During the November Collaborative Meeting, we will explore early brain development more deeply through the GEEARS Brain Architecture Game. This interactive game illustrates the powerful influence of experiences on brain development. Participants will learn about factors that promote healthy brain development, those that can hinder it, and the potential repercussions for our community and society when children lack access to supportive environments that nurture optimal brain growth. I look forward to seeing you there as we collectively explore the role we can play in shaping the brains of our youngest community members! To learn more about GEEARS or the Brain Architecture Game, click on the image to visit their website.
Basics Classes for Women's Enrichment Center Mothers
As a collaboration for Sharing is Caring Classes, the Family Connection Coordinator led a 3-week series on the Basics Principles for mothers from the Women's Enrichment Center. This was a two-generational approach where we explored every day activities parents can do with their children to help maximize brain development for their children in the pivotal years from birth-five years!
Read the Full Article Here.
Donate for Sharing is Caring
Chattanooga Area Food Bank
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank serves 20 counties in the Southeast Tennessee and the Northwest Georgia area. Whitfield County's Pierce Distribution Center, located at 1111 S. Hamilton Street, is their home in Georgia. Many of our Collaborative Partners receive food from the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which provide Saturday Sacks for our local schools, food pantries, and area food drops in the community. In Whitfield county alone, the food bank distributed 1,975,663 pounds of food, including nearly 700,000 pounds of produce in FY24. CAFB also helped submit 304 SNAP applications for individuals in Whitfield county, allowing families to shop in a dignified way for the foods that they need to thrive.
As many of our partners have seen, the increasing cost of food, utilities, rent, childcare, and insurance has put a greater strain on CAFB as they have seen drastic increases in requests for assistance post-pandemic, including middle-class, working families. In FY24, there was an 18% increase in food distributed by the Chattanooga Area Food Bank from just two years before, equating to food for over 17 million meals in their service area.
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank welcomes partnership with organizations through volunteer groups, monetary donations, or food drives. For every $1 donated, you can provide up to 3 meals for families in our community. For every hour volunteered, food for 84 meals can be packed. If your organization is looking for a non-profit to volunteer your time with or to donate, please consider partnering with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
One way you can partner this holiday season is by hosting a food and/or fund drive for Share your Christmas on December 13th, hosted by Local 3 News. This event will be held at Dalton First Baptist Church of Dalton. All food raised in each county will stay there for families in our community.
How this works:
1) Scan the QR code on the flyer below
2) Complete the Food Drive form
3) Fooddrives@chattfoodbank.org will send an email to the email provided to schedule a welcome call.
Most requested items: peanut butter, jelly, canned proteins, canned soup, canned corn, canned beans, pasta, rice, and cereal
