Early Learning Coalition Briefs

Early Learning Coalition of Marion County

As of November 1, the ELC of Marion County's new physical address will be 3304 SE Lake Weir Ave. Suite 2, Ocala, FL 34471. The coalition's phone and fax numbers as well as email addresses will remain the same.

Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Gateway

The ELC of Florida's Gateway in Lake City is excited to announce its annual Fall Conference. The event will take place on Saturday, November 15, at Camp Weed and the Cerveny Conference Center in Live Oak, Florida. Presenters will discuss a variety of topics, and the conference theme will be based on taking the classroom outside. Florida is the perfect place to explore the outdoors with children and so much of what we do indoors can also be done outdoors and with a greater experience and impact. For more information about the conference, please call Carrie Skinner at 386-752-9770 or send an e-mail to cskinner@elc-fg.org.

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

On August 9, 2008, the ELC of Manatee County, as well as two of its contracted agencies, participated in the 14th Annual Children's Summit at the Manatee Convention Center. This event caters to children and families and the theme was "Steppin' Up For Kids." As a result of a towering backdrop, the coalition was easy to identify at the event. Their staff creatively decorated a booth depicting two children "Steppin' Up" a ladder and picking oranges from the "Tree of the ELC." Information and literature about the coalition were shared with hundreds of families while children participated in a bean bag toss, winning prizes for their efforts. In addition, educational toys were distributed as door prizes every half hour. For their efforts, the ELC of Manatee County received the "Most Creative Booth" award that is proudly displayed in its lobby. In addition, Resource Connection for Kids, one of the coalition's contractors that serves infamous mini ice cream cones annually, won the "Honorable Mention Booth Award."

Early Learning Coalition of Orange County

The ELC of Orange County will be hosting weekly Behavior Workshop Series Sessions in November, January, February, March, and April. In partnership with Orange County Head Start, the Behavior Workshop Series is available to all Orange County child care providers and will focus on topics such as social and emotional development, early childhood mental health, teaching children how to problem solve, control anger, and many more. The workshops are being offered at a number of sites around Orange County. On Saturday, September 6, the coalition kicked off the Behavior Workshop Series with topics that included behavior guidance, inclusion, and classroom management. Registration forms for the Behavior Workshop Series can be downloaded at www.elcoc.org. Completed registration forms for November and January should be faxed to Trevor May at 407-841-6697. Completed registration forms for February, March, and April should be faxed to Yan Ingram or Sandra Espinel at 407-836-7420.

Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast

The ELC of the Nature Coast began the new fiscal year by delivering several training opportunities to area early learning providers. The trainings included:

10 Components of Quality Childcare for Infants and Toddlers This 36-hour training was presented over a two-month period and was offered to participants in Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, and Sumter Counties.
A Framework for Understanding Poverty Held in Sumter County, this seminar was based on Dr. Ruby Payne's book. The seminar has been delivered in all of Nature Coast's service delivery areas.

For more information regarding upcoming training opportunities offered by the ELC of the Nature Coast, please visit www.elc-naturecoast.org.

Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County

The ELC of Osceola County is in its third year of implementing the Sending Out Support (SOS) Inclusion Coach Program. In collaboration with the School District of Osceola County and the United Cerebral Palsy Charter School, the SOS Inclusion Coach Program provides 30 hours of intensive training designed to create an on-site inclusion expert at each participating early education and care facility. The training and curriculum provide instruction for how early educators can create an environment where all children, regardless of their developmental level, can learn and play together with a focus on including young children with disabilities in regular early education and care programs. Participants who complete the 30-hour training have a better understanding of working with children with special needs and learn varying strategies for including children with special needs in their classrooms. It is the Coalition's goal through this initiative to have Inclusion Coaches in every early education and care facility in Osceola County.

In this Issue

Early Learning Coalition Briefs