Child Welfare
Children’s Action Alliance — National survey shows overwhelming support for investment in high-quality early childhood education
Recent national surveys have shown, in contrast to many other issues for which voters are divided, support remains overwhelming for state investment in high-quality early childhood education. Seventy-six percent of likely Arizona voters said they support the state investing in high-quality, early childhood education opportunities for children from birth to five years old, according to a newly released survey completed by Moore Information Group.
Flagstaff Family Food Center VISTA Position
The Flagstaff Family Food Center is seeking to hire a Volunteer Engagement Specialist, an AmeriCorps VISTA position.
The Volunteer Engagement Specialist will work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to improve the Volunteer Program by: developing and implementing a formal Volunteer Orientation; creating job descriptions for all volunteer opportunities; improving the volunteer training process; working with Program staff to ensure that all volunteer shifts are filled; developing and implementing a volunteer feedback process; developing a Volunteer Recognition Program; and engaging in community outreach to recruit new volunteers.
Children’s Action Alliance — Economic Stress: COVID-19’s Real Threat to Child Safety and Well-being
With stay-at-home orders in place and schools largely shuttered since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many in the child welfare community are concerned about undetected child maltreatment due to a lack of mandated reporter eyes on children. Many are also bracing for a surge in reports to the DCS hotline once schools fully re-open that could overwhelm Arizona’s child welfare system. However, recent research from Chapin Hall finds that a surge in child maltreatment reports is unlikely and concludes that the real threat to child safety from COVID-19 is not the decrease in mandated reporting but the increase in economic stressors.
United Way of Northern Arizona — Raising A Generation of Readers
Nationally, only 3 in 10 students entering the 4th grade are proficient readers.(1) That’s disheartening enough, but here’s the really scary statistic: children who aren’t reading proficiently by the 4th grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.(2)
Instilling a love of reading is the key to success for our children. It’s the foundation upon which their education is built.
That’s why United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) is proud to partner with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) to make sure children in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties discover the world of books in those critical years before they enter school.
Recorded Navajo Nation Early Childhood Forum to be aired on KTNN on Nov. 27
NAVAJO NATION — In partnership with Navajo Project Indigenious LAUNCH, the First Things First Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council hosted a virtual forum, designed to give participants – especially parents and caregivers of young children – an opportunity to increase their awareness of relevant early childhood topics. A regional expert will discuss mental well being for families with young children.
Registration open for 7th annual ACES Summit on Dec. 15-17
This year’s conference theme is “Connection: The Power of Relationships” and will focus on how building and strengthening relationships is critical to creating the world we want for children. We look forward to connecting with you there!
Bilingual report — Family Child Care Registry & Networking Orientation on Dec. 15
Child Care Resource & Referral will present a Family Child Care Registry & Networking Orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15 via Zoom.
Register through the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry to get two hours of professional development credit by going to www.azregistry.org, calling 1-800-308.9000 or sending an email to childcareinfo@cfraz.org
Registration now open for ‘Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life’ Inaugural Virtual Conference on Jan. 19
Students throughout Arizona will join together in the first virtual conference to Speak Up, Stand Up and Save Lives. Now in its fifth year, the event will run from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on January 19, 2021 and will inspire attendees to create lasting ways to combat bullying, depression and suicide at their schools. The conference is free of charge thanks to partnerships and donations and is open to all schools in Arizona.
To register, visit the website at www.speakstandsave.com
2020 Health and Welfare Resource Virtual Networking meetings in Coconino County
A variety of health and welfare resource networking meetings are held each month in Coconino County. The meetings are presented in local restaurants, libraries, health care agencies and other locations where health professionals and representatives from a variety of governmental and non-profit organizations share information on upcoming programs and events that benefit the health and welfare of children, youth, parents and seniors throughout the region.
The following is a listing of some of those meetings. Please send any updates to frank@coconinokids.org
Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (AzCASE) — NatGeo Explorer Classroom: Afterschool Edition
Introduce your afterschool learners to National Geographic Explorers! Join the National Geographic Society for special editions of National Geographic’s Explorer Classroom this fall designed for out-of-school time educators. These Explorer Classroom events are supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The live YouTube shows connect young people with cutting-edge scientists, researchers, and powerful storytellers around the world. The events are free and include live Q&A with the Explorers as well as an event guide for your learners to get the most out of the experience.
