Invest Early : Resources

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History of Invest Early
Timeline

1997

• The Grand Rapids Area Community Partnership facilitators (community
advisory group to the Blandin Foundation) makes a recommendation to
the Board of Directors of the Blandin Foundation to invest more of their
resources in education – strive to create a "Learning Community".
Early 1998
• ISD #318 hosts an early childhood workshop.
November 1998
• The Blandin Foundation hosts a conference for Children First! – the vision
is set by large number in attendance (approximately 240 people from all
over the county).
• Mary Jo Jess and Mary Kosak are hired as consultants to work with the
Action Teams determined at the conference.
1999 - 2002
• Several Action Teams devote time in developing programs, events and
activities to meet goals established at November conference:
- Children’s Fair
- Family Celebrations
- Baby Steps Boutique
- L.A.M.B. (Labor And My Baby prenatal program)
- Child Care Awareness and Appreciation banquets
- Infant Care at the YMCA
- Child Care Scholarships (working with the Kiwanis)
- Month-Long Celebration of the Young Child (April)
• The awareness and importance of early childhood education is heightened.
• Sue Mattson calls together a task force to address those missing early
childhood opportunities.
November 2002
• Mary Kosak visits the Ounce of Prevention office in Chicago, meets with
the president Harriet Meyer.
• Mary tours the Educare Center on the south side of Chicago and brings
back to the Task Force brochures detailing the center and the similarities
of the partnership.
2003
• Extensive research is conducted to support the development of a quality
early care and education program.
• IDC/JOBS 2020 hosts an educational forum and Art Rolnick
is the Keynote Speaker.
2004
• A van load of interested early childhood professionals (presently all
members of the Leadership Team for Invest Early) drive to the Twin
Cities to meet with Harriet Meyer, president of the Ounce of Prevention,
and two of her colleagues.
• Details of the collaborative behind the Chicago Educare Center are
discussed in detail – the dream becomes a little more realistic.
• The Itasca Area Early Childhood Initiative is launched (Northland Foundation
Staff facilitate) – the business community is finally engaged.
• At the March Board Meeting of the Blandin Foundation Board of Directors,
Mary and Kathryn present a concept paper – for approval to move forward
with plans to help develop and fund a local, community-based effort to
provide high quality early childhood development services for children
and their families in Itasca County.
• The following components would be a necessary part of any propsosal:
- Quality
- Intensity
- Accountability
- System that works for children and families
• The first proposal submitted in June 2004 is tabled – more work is required.
• Numerous meetings take place, several experts are called upon,
most notably:
- Art Rolnick and Rob Grunewald
- Joe Nathan
- Sharon Lynn Kagan
• Collaboration workshops are held with Karen Ray, collaboration expert
from the Twin Cities.
• In December 2004 the proposal is accepted by the Board with a $1.5
million award to provide services for 100 children and their families at
four sites throughout Itasca County.
2005
• January through June of 2005 – Coordinator of Invest Early is hired and
development of collaborative and early childhood programming plan
begins to take shape.
• July through September of 2005 – Hiring of staff takes place and classroom
preparation is arranged. Licensing is finalized for October.
• October 18, 2005 - the doors open for 16 early childhood classrooms!
2006
• A second grant is approved from Blandin Foundation to continue the
Invest Early Initiative.

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