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From Ready 4 K

This week at the Capitol, details continued to emerge about the federal stimulus package.  While the total dollar amount that Minnesota stands to receive fluctuates on a weekly basis, based on new information from the federal government, here is a rough estimate of the dollars for education and child care:
 
·       Head Start, $7.8 million
·       Child Care, $26 million ($2.2 million for quality set-aside and $1.25 million for infants/toddlers)
·       IDEA (Special education)-Part B Preschool
·       IDEA (Special education)-Part B, $190 million
·       $7.7 million IDEA (Special education)-Part C, $7 million
 
The following education funds may be allowed to be spent be for early childhood education.
 
·       Fiscal Stabilization-Education, $667 million
·       Education Fiscal Stabilization-General Purpose, $148 million
·       Title I- Grants to School Districts, $95 million
·       Title I- School Improvement, $27 million
 
The Minnesota Department of Management and Budget will be coordinating how and where the federal stimulus dollars will be used, and has set up a webpage to provide up-to-date information on the dollars. Additionally, a more detailed analysis of these funds and how they can be used for early childhood care and education will be available on the Ready 4 K website in the coming days. Check back soon!
 
On Thursday, The House Early Childhood Committee heard House File 601, the bill to continue the three early childhood pilot programs that were funded in 2007. Rico Alexander, Head Start Director for Parents in Community Action, and Nancy Johnson, Director of the Caring for Kids Initiative, testified about how the Pre-K Allowances were working for them. For the Family, Friend and Neighbor grant program, Sarah Caruso, president of the Minnesota Children’s Museum and Emily Watts from Hennepin County Libraries, gave testimony about their successes with the grants.
 
Several concerns were raised about the Allowances, most notably about the application process and whether it makes sense to continue pilots. The legislation was tabled, hopefully to be brought up at a later date.
 
Check out the Ready 4 K bill tracker to follow legislation related to early care and education.

The February Forecast comes out next week, and Legislators and the Governor will get a better sense of the magnitude of the state deficit. Based on this, the Governor will update his proposed budget.

Eveleth Horizons has posted two personal accounts shared at Friday’s Town Hall meeting on Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposals. These accounts describe the very real impacts of proposed cuts to child care.

This is what Child Care WORKS had to say about these cuts:
Governor Pawlenty’s budget for the next two state fiscal years includes the following proposals for child care:

» Reduce Child Care Assistance program provider reimbursement rates by 3% from current maximum rates;
» Raise family copayments by 3% for families receiving child care assistance;
» Limit retroactive eligibility for child care assistance to six months.
 
These proposals total over $10 million in funding reductions. The Governor also proposed extending current pilot projects (School Readiness Connections and ParentAware projects, but not the Pre-K allowances project) using unspent Basic Sliding Fee funds.  He did not add any funds to reduce the waiting list for Child Care Assistance; currently there are about 7,000 families on the statewide waiting list.

Even if you didn’t go to the Town Hall meeting it’s not too late to take action.

Things you can do:

Write to members of the House Ways and Means Committee or Senate Health and Human Services Budget Division.  (Be sure to cc your local legislators to keep them in the loop on your communications with the Capitol.)

And be sure to check in with Eveleth Horizons to see what they may have planned.

Looking for more to do? Visit Parents United for tips on Communicating with the Capitol.

One of the most difficult times of the day for parents is bedtime. What should be a positive experience of drawing the day to a close and anticipating pleasant dreams can become a nightmare of stalling, crying, and fighting. What’s a parent to do to get their child to sleep at night? One of the most important ways is to establish routines before bedtime. Some items to include in a bedtime routine could be: a relaxing bath, a light snack that includes both protein and carbohydrate, cuddling and talking about the day, reading a few storybooks, brushing teeth, and tucking in with a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. Keeping to a routine helps children unwind and gives comfort and consistency to life.

Waking in the middle of the night is normal for both adults and children. However, what is not normal is not being able to get back to sleep.  Children have to learn the skill of getting back to sleep on their own. Routines can help with this, especially having a “lovey” to sleep with. Once children are tucked in, be tough. If children get back up, tuck them in again with as few words as possible. Bedtime is quiet time meant for sleep. Praise children when they settle down easily. A sticker chart can be an incentive. Give a gold star for every night they stay in their beds; and when a row is filled in, a reward is earned.

Helping children get enough sleep is very important. It cuts down on frustration and temper tantrums during the day and is vital for healthy growth and development.  Parents and children can both be at their best when they sleep well at night.  

                                                                                                               Jill Phillips

                                                                                                               ECFE Parent Educator

Title: YMCA Happy Feet: Soccer!
Location: Mesabi Family YMCA gym
Description: For children 3,4,& 5 who have not yet attended Kindergarten. This class focuses on fundamentals of soccer such as dribbling, shooting and passing.  This class also teaches young children listening skills, following directions,and getting along with other children. The program is instructional in nature following the YMCA Sport Philosophy.  The YMCA is not able to run their program without parents like you.  Parents are expected to stay with child during class to help them with all the skills and fun activities. Cost is $25 for members, $42 for program participants.  Register at the YMCA, on-line, or by phone 749-8020. Register by Feb. 20 to receive a T-shirt.
Start Time: 10:30
Date: February 28 through April 4
End Time: 11:30

Tuesdays, March 17 through May 19, 2009

3:30-5:00 pm   Messiah Lutheran Church in Mt. Iron

Offered by St. Mary’s East Range Hospice & Palliative Care

Co-Facilitators: Chris Ketelsen & Kathy McQuillan

This is a ten week program offering professional guidance and support for children as they journey through grief.  It’s designed to help young people come to terms with their feelings and reestablish some equilibrium in their lives.  It will be a safe place to share feelings and remember the one who has died without becoming overwhelmed with pain-a time to learn and grow.  Each group is limited to 8 children, ages 7 to 10 years old, and meets in 10 weekly sessions.

To Register: If you know a child who could benefit from this program, contact Kathy McQuillan at 218-749-7979 no later than March 3 to schedule a registration interview.  Interviews will take place Tuesday, March 10th and Wednesday, March 11th.

Title: Iron Range Earth Fest
Location: Mt. Iron Community Center & Messiah Lutheran Church, Hwy 169
Description: The event will feature local foods, music, craftsmen, business, and more!
Date: 2009-04-18

Title: Stress Relief & Relaxation Techniques
Location: Parkview Learning Center Library, Virginia
Description: Join Tracie Wilcox, Early Head Start Health Educator, for this informative presentation. She\’ll share tips for parents of young children. Free. CEU\’s are available.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-03-23
End Time: 19:30

Title: Inexpensive Meal Planning
Location: Parkview Learning Center Library, Virginia
Description: Anne Carter from the Natural Harvest Food Coop will speak on inexpensive meal planning, sample menus, and recipes that appeal to young children. CEU\’s are available.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-03-02
End Time: 19:30

Lawmakers will be in Virginia at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 20th to get input on the governor’s budget recommendations and listen to the public’s ideas to address the state’s $4.8 billion budget deficit.

The public meeting will be at the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Small Auditorium, 1001 Chestnut St. W., Virginia.

Town Hall Meetings on Governor Pawlenty’s budget proposals and the state budget deficit will take place around the state on Thursday, Feb 19 and Friday, Feb 20, and in the Metro area Feb 23-26.

Visit either the House Town Hall Meetings or Senate Community Hearings page for more locations and to sign up to testify …and forward these links to family and friends across the state!

Message from Ready4K:
It is critical that supporters of young children attend the town hall forum in your community to express your support for early childhood care and education.

Key messages to share:
»  The Governor’s proposed cuts are short sighted.  While they may appear to help balance the budget in the short term, it perpetuates what Minnesota is currently dealing with—the choice “not to pay now so you have to pay later” scenario.

• See the Star Tribune editorial:  Jay Kiedrowski: Accounting gimmicks won’t fix the budget

»  The cuts proposed are potentially harmful for young children and their families.  With increased co-pays and decreased reimbursement rates, families will be forced to put their young children in potentially harmful situations.

• “Although the Governor claims to “preserve coverage for children,” DHS estimates that 26,399 fewer children would be enrolled in state health care programs by FY 2011, ” Minnesota Budget Project.

»   Many of these costs will have to be passed on to families, creating a situation where families have limited access to quality environments.

• Read the Minnesota Budget Project post on how the Governor’s budget would hit Minnesota families hard. (Insider Tip: the Minnesota Budget Project and Jermaine Toney will be at the March 16 Parent Summit in Saint Paul.)

»   Combined with the massive cuts the Governor proposes to health care, lost child care assistance adds to the challenges families will have if this budget were adopted.

Child Care WORKS on Governor Pawlenty’s 2009-2010 Biennial Budget:
Governor Pawlenty’s budget for the next two state fiscal years includes the following proposals for child care:

» Reduce Child Care Assistance program provider reimbursement rates by 3% from current maximum rates;
» Raise family copayments by 3% for families receiving child care assistance;
» Limit retroactive eligibility for child care assistance to six months.

These proposals total over $10 million in funding reductions. The Governor also proposed extending current pilot projects (School Readiness Connections and ParentAware projects, but not the Pre-K allowances project) using unspent Basic Sliding Fee funds.  He did not add any funds to reduce the waiting list for Child Care Assistance; currently there are about 7,000 families on the statewide waiting list.

Child Care WORKS

Are you concerned about K-12?
Read the Minnesota Department of Education’s Summary of the Governor’s 2009 Education Budget Proposal and check the Excel file for local district impacts, and read what the Minnesota Budget Project has to say about the Governor’s recommended E-12 budget.

Related Article
February 15, 2009 - Lawmakers’ Range sessions set - In coming weeks, lawmakers accustomed to giving answers have set aside time to listen to local people’s suggestions for solutions of the state budget crisis. Friday, legislators will be coming through Northeast Minnesota, including a stop in Virginia, Mesabi Daily News.

Another Insider Tip: Prepare a written statement with your contact information you can give to the committee administrator should the schedule be too full for you to have a chance to speak, and check these resources from Parents United for tips on Preparing Testimony and Presenting Your Case when meeting with legislators.

Title: YMCA Healthy Kids Day & Kids Fun Run
Location: Mesabi Family YMCA, Mt. Iron
Description: Bring the whole family to the YMCA for a fun-filled day! Watch for event details to be posted at the YMCA in March!
Date: 2009-04-18