Invest Early : Partners

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PARTNERS (Click on partner for more info)

•  Itasca County Public Health - www.co.itasca.mn.us
•  Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) & School Readiness
www.isd317.org, www.isd318.org, www.greenway.k12.mn.us

•  KOOTASCA Head Start - www.kootasca.org
•  Itasca Community College - www.itascacc.edu
•  Itasca County Family YMCA Child Care - www.ymcaitasca.org
•  Adult Basic Education (ABE) - www.aeoa.org
•  Blandin Foundation - www.blandinfoundation.org
•  Bemidji State University - www.bemidjistate.edu

Itasca County Public Health
Public Health offers various programs designed to promote, protect, and maintain
the health of all citizens of Itasca County.

Family Health Programs provide maternal-child health care to pregnant women,
babies and families. The goal of the program includes:
  • Improve the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies.
  • Provide health services to children and families.
  • Provide case coordination and services to families of children with special needs.

Family Health available programs are:
  • Healthy Beginnings
  • Follow Along
  • Child and Teen Checkups Outreach
  • Home Visiting
  • Early Childhood Screening
  • Women, Infant and Children (WIC)
  • Immunizations
  • Personal Care Attendant (PCA) assessments

Adult and Seniors Programs assist eligible elderly and disabled people to remain
living in the community by coordinating services.

Health Education promotes healthy behaviors and provides information/education
to prevent disease, disability and premature death.

Other Public Health Programs provide a variety of services to meet the ever-
changing health needs of Itasca County.

For more information regarding Family Health or other programs,
call 218-327-2941.

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ISD 316, 317, 318, 319
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
& School Readiness

ECFE's Mission:
  • We believe that the home is the childąs first learning environment
  • We know that parents are their childąs first and most important teacher
  • We provide licensed Early Childhood & Parent Educators to support families

ECFE is:
  • A place for children to play and learn
  • An opportunity to spend quality time with your child
  • A time for you to connect with other families
  • A place for YOU, the parent, to talk with other parents who share your concerns

ECFE is for:
  • All families with children ages birth to five.
  • EVERYBODY - there are no income guidelines. There is a small fee for classes
     based on a sliding fee scale.
  • Learning: classes are divided into three parts:
1. Parent/Child Interaction - parents spend time playing with their children.
Our child-friendly classrooms offer exciting activities designed with young
children in mind.
2. Parent Time - an opportunity to spend time with other parents in a guided
discussion group. The support and encouragement that parents receive
from each other makes this time so popular.
3. Child Time - during parent discussion time, children are in the classroom
enjoying a healthy snack, engaging in cooperative play, and gaining
independent skills.

Our goal is to support parents and promote the healthy growth
   of their children. "Come for your child but stay for yourself!"

School Readiness Mission:
  • We believe that all children deserve to enter Kindergarten ready to succeed
  • We partner with parents to help preschoolers enter school with the skills and
     behaviors necessary to be successful in future learning
  • We provide licensed Early Childhood Teachers to support children's development

School Readiness is:
  • A positive preschool experience
  • A chance to play, have fun, and learn from hands-on activities
  • A public school program funded by the state of Minnesota

School Readiness is for:
  • Children ages 3 to Kindergarten entrance
  • Any family - there are no income or risk factor guidelines. There is a small fee for
     classes based on a sliding fee scale.
  • Learning:
1. problem solving and social skills
2. literacy development
3. pre-writing skills
4. large motor skills
5. concepts, colors, counting, and numbers
  • all types of families because YOU can choose from our menu of :
1. blended preschool in the school system
2. half-day to full day programming ranges
3. classes with or without your child - as much involvement as you
    would like
4. family fun events
5. parent education

Our goal is to collaborate with other early childhood programs so we
can coordinate services to meet the individual needs of your child.

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KOOTASCA Head Start
Our goal is to work in partnership with families in achieving their hopes
and dreams for a bright promising future.

We Believe...
  • That all families want the best for their children
  • That parents are the primary protectors, nurtures and educators
      of their children.
  • That all children have the right to a quality education
  • That all people should have the resources they need to thrive.
  • That Head Start services must support parents as well as children

Head Start Is...
  • State and federally funded
  • FREE to all families ( income guidelines apply)
  • Family focused
  • Parent driven
  • Comprehensive ( looks at all aspects of the family and child)

We Provide... A variety of program options in Itasca and Koochiching Counties.

For Children:
  • Child development - School Readiness - Ages 3-5
      Infant & Toddler services
  • Strong Literacy focus
  • Concepts, colors, counting and numbers
  • Physical development
  • Social emotional development
  • Strong focus on physical, dental & nutritional health
  • Healthy meals and snacks
  • Services for children with special needs

For Parents/Families:
  • Self-sufficiency
  • Parent partnerships with goal setting
  • Parent education
  • Parent involvement in program decision making
  • Wellness activities

Applications accepted year round! For more information call 327-6718

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Itasca County Family YMCA Child Care
Itasca County Family YMCA WeeFolksgarten Child Care is licensed by the State of
Minnesota and provides quality childcare in a warm, safe environment for children
ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Carefully planned, rich environments create
positive learning experiences where children receive quality, developmentally
appropriate guidance.

Mission:
To strengthen ourselves, families and communities by promoting growth in spirit,
mind and body.

YMCA Core Values:
  • Caring
  • Creativity
  • Honesty
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
Philosophy:
The philosophy and policies of YMCA Child Care serve to forge a
supportive relationship with parent/guardians and our community. We offer
intergenerational activities with the Bruce Bauer Senior Center, swimming, large
playground and gymnasium space. To achieve our mission we incorporate the
following into our days.
  • Developing Positive Self-Esteem
  • Learning By Discovery
  • Age Appropriate Tasks and Activities
  • Individual and Peer Activities
  • Variety of Experiences
  • Variety of Environments
  • Fostering Diversity

Partners in Education include: Head Start; Local School Districts; Bruce Bauer
Senior Center; Itasca Community College; Bemidji State University; America Reads
Program; Camp Fire; Grand Rapids Library.

Unique to YMCA Child Care:
  • Swimming for children age 3-5
  • Large gymnasium and wide variety of large motor equipment
  • 3 family events each year
  • Community projects

Kathy Carroll ~ YMCA Child Care Director
kcarroll@ymcaitasca.org
400 River Road • Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218.327.2418

At the YMCA "We build strong kids, families and communities."

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Itasca Community College
As part of its mission to strengthen the position of children in our community, Itasca
Community College (ICC) is committed to meeting the local and regional community
needs for trained childcare workers. ICC offers two program options in Early
Childhood Education to meet these needs.

Associate of Science (A.S.) in Early Childhood Development Degree
The A. S. in Early Childhood Education is a two-year degree (64 credits) designed to
provide a strong foundation of knowledge and skills in early childhood education for
those students wishing to complete a bachelor's degree at four-year college
or university. The A. S. articulates specifically with Bemidji State University. Students
interested in transferring to Bemidji State University can earn a four-year education
degree with an emphasis in the early childhood education field. Graduates with this
degree are qualified to teach as an early childhood teacher, elementary teacher, or
to work as a family childcare provider.

Child Development Associate Certificate (C.D.A)
ICC also offers a 15-credit Child Development Associate Certificate Program
geared to non-traditional students who are actively engaged in professional work
with early childhood as well as students in any related discipline who wish to
increase their employability by successfully acquiring the skills in early childhood
education and child development.

The curriculum includes the national competency goals and standards required for
the National C.D.A. Individuals learn how to meet the specific needs of children, and
work with parents and other adults to nurture childrenąs physical, social, emotional
and intellectual growth in a child development framework. The students have the
opportunity to gain work experience through an on-site practicum in area early
childhood programs. This experience, along with coursework, prepares students
with a strong foundation for working with young children in the community.

Unique components of programs
One unique program attribute is the paid professional involvement students have
through on-site teaching practicums in Itasca County. Opportunities are available
for students to earn income while gaining credit and experience through the
practicum. In addition, courses are scheduled in the evenings so that they can be
made available for working students. Scholarships are also available to support
students completing the Early Childhood Education program.

For more information
Students are welcome to come for a visit, sit in on a class and meet with the
program coordinator and/or current students. For more information, contact:
Brenda Johnson at 327-5916, or Brenda.Johnson@itascacc.edu

To register, call the Records & Admissions Office at Itasca Community College,
(218) 327-4468, OR 1-800-996-6422, Ext. 4468.

CDA Courses

Fall Semester (7 credits)
Psyc 1202 Children's Development and Learning - 3 cr
Psyc 1207 Children's Health, Safety & Nutrition - 3 cr
Psyc 1106 Psychology Practicum - 1 cr

Spring Semester (8 credits)
Psyc 1205 Relations and Management - 3 cr
Psyc 1206 Parent and Professional Relations - 3 cr
Psyc 1106 Psychology Practicum - 2/15

A. S. Early Childhood Education
64 credits/Program Plan
Semester One 16 credits
Psyc 1202 Child Development and Learning - 3 cr
Psyc 1207 Children's Health, Nutrition and Safety - 3 cr (elective)
Engl 1101 Expository Writing - 4 cr
MCS 1101 Intro. To Indian Studies/ or Gen. Ed. - 3 cr
Csci 1120 Intro. To Computer Science - 3 cr

Semester Two 16 credits
Psyc 1101 General Psychology or Sociology 1101 - 3 cr
Psyc 1206 Parent and Professional Relations - 3 cr
Psyc 1205 Relations and Management - 3 cr
Engl 1113 Research Writing - 3 cr
Spch 1121 Intercultural/Interpersonal - 3 cr
Psyc 1106 Practicum - 1-2 cr

Semester Three 16 credits
Psyc 2130 Infant/Toddler Development w/ lab - 3 cr
Soc 2140   Society/Family Dynamics - 3 cr
Biol 1101   Human Biology - 4 cr
Art 1201    Humanities - 3 cr
Math 1101 Contemporary Math - 3 cr

Semester Four 16 credits
Psyc 2202 Preschool Internship - 4 cr
Educ 3100 Intro. To Foundations (Genl 2199 - ICC) - 3 cr
Educ 3110 Educational Psychology - 3 cr
Educ 3670 Intro. To Foundations of Early Childhood Ed - 3 cr
Psyc 1201 Human Growth and Development - 3 cr

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