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Early Learning Coordinators for School Districts

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Early Learning Coordinators for School Districts

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3 infant openings  and 3 ECEAP openings. All openings and fun updates are posted on our facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/eastersealsjaneshouse

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LaDon Linde, Yakima County Commissioner, 509-574-1500

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How can we help boost referrals to the HMG line?

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How can we help boost referrals to the HMG line?

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About the show

Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin welcome you to Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine. Every Friday, they dig through the annals of medical history to uncover all the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we've tried to fix people over the years. Educational? You bet! Fun? We hope!

Send topic suggestions to sawbones@maximumfun.org and follow @Sawbones on Twitter.

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COVID Vaccine Questions and Answers | Maximum Fun

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About the show Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin welcome you to Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine. Every Friday, they dig through the annals of medical history to uncover all the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we've tried to fix people over the years.

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Who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine?

Where can I take my child age 5-11 to get vaccinated?

The Pfizer vaccine that is given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children ages 5-11. The following locations are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to children within this age range. YHD's mobile vaccine clinics are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 5 and older. See table under "Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics" for a list of available clinics.

Youth under 18 years need parent or guardian consent to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Find more information about COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens on the CDCandDOH websites.

Where can I get a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine?

Several sites are offering booster doses to eligible individuals. Click here for a list of COVID-19 vaccine locations in Yakima County. YHD Community vaccine clinics are also offering Pfizer booster doses to anyone 16 and older. Please take your vaccine card to your appointment.

Community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Community COVID-19 vaccine clinics are currently providing first and second doses of Pfizer vaccine to anyone 5 and older. Pfizer booster doses are also available to anyone 12 and older. Appointments are not required. Youth under 18 years need parent or guardian consent to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Times and locations may change.
Private Clinic Registration for Business/Organization

If you are a business or organization and would like to set up a clinic for employees or members, please email yakimavaccinemobileteam@gmail.com with the following information:

Name of business/organization

Point of contact Name-Email-Phone Number

Date you want the team to come

Time frame you would like the team to come (Ex. 11am-12pm)

Number of appointments required

Location you'd like to host the clinic
Location should have access to bathrooms, chairs, and plenty of space for people to wait for 15-30 minutes.

Once we have received this information we will send you a link to the Private Clinic for you to register your employees, members, etc. Please provide all information for registration prior to the mobile vaccine event for faster processing and screening.

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covid -19 vaccinations questions covid-19 vaccine faq's

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The Pfizer vaccine that is given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children ages 5-11. The following locations are offering the COVID-19 vaccine to children within this age range. YHD's mobile vaccine clinics are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 5 and older.

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Are you getting questions from the families you are serving?

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Are you getting questions from the families you are serving?

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Vacunas contra el COVID: Verdades, mitos y preguntas

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Making Sense of Vaccines During COVID-19

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How to make connections with local, regional, and state legislators?

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How to make connections with local, regional, and state legislators?

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Video re PreK to Kindergarten Transitions

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Video re PreK to Kindergarten Transitions

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West Valley staff and parents are featured in this national video from the Office of Head Start:

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/about-us/article/leaders-school-readiness

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Head Start Programs, Families, and Elementary Schools Collaborate!

More than 320,000 Head Start children in the United States enter kindergarten each year. Research shows this transition is an important event in the lives of children and families that can make a difference in their immediate and ongoing school success. To learn more about supportive practices for transition to kindergarten, visit the Transition to Kindergarten page. To immediately connect with children and families, share these special read-alouds, recorded with love from leaders at the Office of Head Start (OHS).

One of the key practices that fosters successful transitions is collaboration. When there are strong relationships among Early Head Start programs, Head Start programs, families, and receiving elementary schools, all of these parts can work together to offer children and families continuity, security, and resources for smooth transitions.

Head Start-Public Schools Collaboration Demonstration Project

To explore the impact of intentional collaboration between Head Start and local schools, 13 Head Start and public-school leadership teams were selected from across the nation to participate in the Collaboration Demonstration Project (CDP). Each team of Head Start programs, families, and their receiving schools worked together from summer 2019 to summer 2020 to improve the transition to kindergarten for Head Start families and children. Watch this video to hear them discuss the project and suggest ways to improve transition work.

To read about the strategies and activities that the CDP teams focused on, check out the Collaboration Demonstration Project: Successful Strategies from the Field paper.

Resources to Support Collaboration Between Head Start and Schools

When leaders in the transition to kindergarten process take time to partner, the positive impact on child and family outcomes is far-reaching. Explore these resources to support efforts to strengthen collaboration between Head Start programs, families, local school leaders, and national school associations.

Host Your Own Collaboration Meeting

Plan and host a collaboration meeting in your region. CDP teams use these resources to establish collaboration teams, plan agendas, set goals, make plans, and create team charters. Consider them guidelines that can be adapted to fit each team's region, timeline, capacity, and other characteristics.

Reach Out to Your Local Principals

Build connections between Head Start programs and receiving schools through face-to-face meetings in October. Bring a principal to your program to join story time, meet a parent group, and strategize with you about school readiness goals. Visit the receiving school and learn how they extend a child's "head start." There's so much to share, from early learning goals and curricula to ways parents can stay involved. Celebrate your partnership by sharing highlights from your visit using the hashtag #LeadersinSchoolReadiness on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Engage Families as Leaders

Parents and families support their children's education and development. They hold key roles in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Parents participate in decision-making, policy development, and activity organization in communities and states to improve children's safety, health, development, and learning experiences. Explore this collection of resources to learn how to involve families as leaders in your program.

Build Formal Collaborations with School Associations

The OHS has formalized partnerships with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the School Superintendents Association (AASA) to improve the transition of Head Start children as they enter elementary school. Review the following memoranda of understanding (MOUs) for details:

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More than 320,000 Head Start children in the United States enter kindergarten each year. Research shows this transition is an important event in the lives of children and families that can make a difference in their immediate and ongoing school success. To learn more about supportive practices for transition to kindergarten, visit the Transition to Kindergarten page.

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Seeking higher rates for retention and enrollment over this past summer

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Investing in Children Charter Approval (done annually)

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Investing in Children Charter Approval (done annually)

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RFP: Kittitas County Childcare Assessment and Planning Process

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RFP: Kittitas County Childcare Assessment and Planning Process

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January 2021 - Powered by PageTurnPro.com

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Start with Equity Report (includes recommendations for state and federal)

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Start with Equity Report (includes recommendations for state and federal)

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Washington Communities for Children: Feb 21st
WCAAP: Feb 5th
La Casa Hogar (Andrea R. is on planning team): January 18th
Development Disability Legislative Briefing:
WSA: Depending on who sets up ZOOM appointments, might influence whose account is it with?
ESD:

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One Vax, Two Lives Communication Toolkit

This communication toolkit (accessible via Google Drive) is designed to provide you with communication materials, including social media content, and a comprehensive list of medically vetted answers to FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Currently, we have content in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Bulgarian. We are adding more languages on an ongoing basis.
Thank you to our partners at One Vax, Two Lives for creating this toolkit! Visit their website to learn more.
Vax Into Summer Promotional Materials
Social Media Toolkit
Help us promote our Vax into Summer campaign with your networks! This social media toolkit includes shareable images and messaging that you can use on your own social media and communications channels:
"Dear Parent" Letters
These letters are for clinics and health care providers to send out to the parents or caregivers of their pediatric patients. These letters come in several languages and can be downloaded below as editable Word Documents:
COVID-19 Vaccines for Adolescents: What it means for providers
This flyer provides health care providers with information and resources that they can use to ensure adolescents ages 12 and up get immunized against COVID-19 and receive all other vaccinations they are eligible for:

Vax To School Promotional Materials

Provider Toolkit for Childhood Immunizations: This toolkit is for general health care providers. The toolkit includes links to resources, a parent letter for children 4 to 6 year olds and social media posts for childhood and COVID-19 vaccines.

Childhood Vaccination Toolkit for Schools: This toolkit is for school and school nurses. The toolkit includes links to childhood vaccination resources, sample letters for parents/guardians and social media posts for childhood and COVID-19 vaccines.
Social Media Toolkit
Help us promote our Vax to School campaign with your networks! This social media toolkit includes shareable images and messaging that you can use on your own social media and communications channels:
"Dear Parent" Letters
These letters are for clinics and health care providers to send out to the parents or caregivers of their pediatric patients. These letters come in several languages and can be downloaded below as editable Word Documents:
"Dear Provider" Letter
This letter is for clinics and health care providers. See below to download an original version or editable Word Document version of this letter:
"Dear Administrators/School Nurse " Letters
This letter is for school nurses, administrators and staff. See below to download an editable Word Document version of this letter:

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Vaccinated! Promotional Materials
Social Media Toolkit
Help us promote our Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Vaccinated! campaign with your networks! This social media toolkit includes shareable images and messaging that you can use on your own social media and communications channels:

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This communication toolkit (accessible via Google Drive) is designed to provide you with communication materials, including social media content, and a comprehensive list of medically vetted answers to FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Currently, we have content in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Bulgarian.

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WA211 is operating the DOH COVID-19 Assistance Line. Here is the contact information:
State COVID-19 Assistance Hotline: Dial 1-800-525-0127, then press #

6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and observed state holidays

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1) Regional Early Learning Conference (1 day) August 2021-virtual conference
2) Anti-racism training (similar to DCYF offerings)
3) Other virtual trainings
4) Education Pathways

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1) Continue to meet monthly as an action team.
2) Meet together to discuss returning to home visiting post-COVID (questions around PPE, assure families are comfortable with us returning to the home, trainings)
3) Explore collaboration with Help Me Grow (coordinated referral system)
4) Facilitating referrals with DCYF

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Carina is the new Family Resource Navigator based in the Yakima Valley!

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81586444596

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Looking back on the past 24 hours, were you mainly calm or reactive?

As you worked, were you focused or scattered?

In the evening, did you feel nourished or depleted?

I've noticed when I interact with others, I'm often scattered. Lost in my own thoughts, I'm anxious. I may not be aware of this anxiety at the time, but it expresses itself in my behavior. And it affects how I communicate with others.

The same thing often occurs when I'm writing an article, talking to a client, or spending time with my family. If I notice this lack of focus at the moment, I can address it. But many times, I don't catch it until later that day, if at all.

So what determines if you're calm and focused or reactive and scattered? It all depends on whether you're centered.

What the Center Feels Like

"There's a center of quietness within which has to be known and held. If you lose that center, you are in tension and begin to fall apart." - Joseph Campbell

When you're in the Center, there's no resistance. Everything is. You are alive, alert, and active. An inner calm prevails. Abiding in the present moment, you act spontaneously. You don't achieve this present awareness; it's a result of being centered.

You don't feel happy or sad in the Center. You're not positive or negative. In the Center, you're neutral.

Clear Signs You're Out of Center

Throughout the day, you're reactive. You multi-task, checking your phone and email compulsively. You fail to differentiate what is urgent from what's important. Fatigue sets in early unless you take a stimulant like caffeine.

In your mental and emotional state, you're consumed by negative self-talk, easily distracted, and unable to focus. You might ruminate about the past or hold anxiety about the future. Overall, you might feel stuck or overwhelmed.

And in the evening, you're depleted. You struggle with impulse control with sugar, social media, alcohol, snacks, TV, marijuana, drugs, porn, shopping, etc. You go to sleep too late or crash too early.

Any of these signs familiar to you?

Living Out of Center

Most of us are out of balance all the time. Our search for happiness is a sign of being out of Center. We strive for success or to build self-confidence because our Center eludes us. Other symptoms of being off-center include pervasive anxiety, overwhelm, laziness, procrastination, and self-criticism.

When we're out of Center, we don't trust ourselves. Gurus, thought leaders, and others become our authority. And the truth is, when you're not in the Center, you can't trust yourself because you can't connect with your instincts or true feelings.

We experience all inner fulfillment from the Center. When we don't abide there, we feel impoverished. This forces us to obsess about the future or ruminate in the past. We believe the answer lies in a better job, the right relationship, more money, prestige, and so on.

Perhaps the biggest sign of our collective condition is the prevalence of mental disorders. Anxiety disorders alone affect 18 percent of adults ages 18 to 54 in the United States. But that just counts "disorders." Virtually everyone experiences anxiety at various levels under certain conditions. When you're out of the Center, fear, anger, and shame rule you.

Returning to the Center

"Within you, there's a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself." - Hermann Hesse

We've all experienced this Center, if only for brief moments. Thankfully, it's easy to return to the Center, if only temporarily. It takes two ingredients:

1. Awareness: the ability to detect when you're out of Center.

2. Method: an effective practice for centering yourself.

I stress it's easy to return to the center, because if you think it's difficult, it will be. If you believe, as I once did, that it takes years of mind training to center yourself, it will take years.

With practice, however, centering gets even easier as you spend more of your time in this inner sanctuary.

Seven Exercises to Help You Center Yourself

The good news is that there are many transformative practices to help you find your Center. Even better news: many of these exercises work quickly.

Noticing when you're out of Center is half the battle. There's a good chance you're out of Center right now. I was a few moments ago. Now, I brought my awareness back to the present.

Below are seven practices that can help you return to your Center. I find it best to remain agnostic toward these practices. Different practices work better for different people and under different circumstances. Depending on your personality type, you may find certain practices have more efficacy than others.

I've selected practices for active, creative professionals. You should notice the effects of these powerful practices within a minute or two. If after 2 minutes, you don't feel a shift in your conscious state, you either are doing something incorrectly or the practice may not be right for you.
Exercise #1: Breathe Like It Matters
When you're out of Center, one thing is certain: you're not breathing properly. Both your thoughts and emotions are linked to your breath. For example, when your mind is racing, your breath is coarse. If you smooth out your breath, making it quieter and more rhythmic, your mind will slow down. Take deep, slow, rhythmic, quiet, breaths from your belly. Just 3 or 4 breaths can help bring you closer to the Center. If this creates tension, breathe from your chest a few times first before focusing on your belly. See this complete guide on how to breathe properly.
Exercise #2: Feel Your Feet
When you're out of Center, you're often over-thinking. Too much energy is swirling in your head. Put both feet firmly on the ground. Place your awareness on the bottom of your feet. This helps draw the excessive energy down into your body. Pay attention to any sensations in your feet. This practice often works within 30 seconds.
Exercise #3: Attend to Your Navel
In Qigong and Tai Chi, the center of your body is called the lower dantien, which is about two inches below your navel. Place your awareness in this area and breathe naturally. It's helpful to put one or both hands over your navel as you breathe. Combine this with the conscious breathing exercise (above) for greater benefit. You'll probably notice the effects within 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Exercise #4: Thank Your Heart
Our hearts are working all day and night for us and we rarely give it any attention. Place your awareness on your heart region as you breathe naturally. Smile inwardly at your heart. Acknowledge your heart on the inhale, saying, "I see you." And then express gratitude to your heart on the exhale, saying, "Thank you." Repeat this five times.
Exercise #5: Establish a Plumb Line
To construct a vertical wall or a door jam without using a level, carpenters first establish a plumb line. A plumb line is a straight vertical line. There's a plumb line in the body too. In an upright seated position, gaze with both eyes at the tip of your nose. As you do this, place your awareness on your "third eye" region in the center of your forehead, about an inch above your brow. This practice may take a little trial and error, but you'll know when you get it. Once you do, you can establish a plumb line quickly whenever you need it.
Exercise #6: Call Forth the Observer
When there's chaos on the surface, sometimes you need to seek higher ground. When you are out of Center, place your awareness about six inches above the crown of your head. Become an observer and watch your thoughts, feelings, and sensations from above. This is a powerful practice. It can provide space between you and whatever drama might be happening in your ego. Maintain this observer perspective for as long as it's comfortable for you.
Exercise #7: Find Stillness in Movement
Sometimes standing or sitting still makes your internal chaos worse. In these cases, try mindful walking. Walk as slowly as you can, staying present with every step. Keep your breathing slow and steady. Try to sync your breathing with each step, for example, a two-count for each small stride. Try this for a minute or two. If it feels good, do it for longer. If possible, walk in nature to further assist the centering process.

Four Tips for Help You Maintain Your Center

One of the many gifts of mindfulness meditation is that it can help train your mind to remain in a state of nonjudgmental awareness. The challenge most meditators have is they separate their meditation practice with the rest of their daily lives. To remain in the Center, you want to make this state more available throughout the day.

Since centering is a skill, you can improve your ability to stay in your center with practice.
1) Pay Attention Inside You
Before, during, and after you do these practices, pay attention to your mental, emotional, and physical state. Notice any changes that take place during and after you use these exercises. Attention builds awareness. Awareness precedes transformation.

Some people turn exercises like these into a chore-something they should do. I've done this many times. I've tried certain exercises for the sake of doing them-simply to feel better about myself. If you turn an exercise into a chore, it creates resistance in your unconscious mind. As a result, you'll quickly forget to use any methods and stay off-center.
2) Adopt a Beginner's Mind
Any ideas or preconceived notions you have about being centered will reduce or block the effectiveness of these practices. Your mind will try to discount the value of these practices and the Center itself. So when you practice, adopt a beginner's mind. Stay curious and open-minded. Practice with a child-like innocence.
3) Run Lots of Experiments
Each time you try one of the above exercises, hold it as an experiment. You are the subject of the experiment and the scientist making the observations. See what you discover. After running an experiment, are you more in the Center or not? Can you detect any new sensations? Are you more present in your body? Is your mind calmer?
4) Be Playful with these Exercises
I have a tendency to act serious, so I'm writing this as a reminder to myself and to the part of you that's serious too. Seriousness is another sign you're out of your Center. Seriousness creates internal tension. When you're in the Center, you're relaxed, alert, and spontaneous-all of which are signs of positive mental health. So have fun with this process and enjoy feeling centered.

The Power of the Center

The Center is a dynamic point of equilibrium within us. When you access your Center, it brings you to the present. Once you know how to center yourself, you can access the Center at will. Your center is only a breath away.
So how centered are you right now? Run experiments with these exercises and see what works for you. I'm interested to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

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How to Center Yourself Within 60 Seconds

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Looking back on the past 24 hours, were you mainly calm or reactive? As you worked, were you focused or scattered? In the evening, did you feel nourished or depleted? I've noticed when I interact with others, I'm often scattered. Lost in my own thoughts, I'm anxious.

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1) Start tracking funding in legislature and make plan to find ways to reach out to our legislators/county/city.
2) Have a coordinated strategy for communication. This should be an larger discussion for the whole group and planning/details to be done in a separate meeting by the advocacy group.
3) Social media push or coordinated call plan for our legislators. Highlight that early learning is only 1% of the budget, but has a deep impact on our families and young children.
4) Make decisions about how often an advocacy meeting should occur.
5) If possible - a Early Learning Fair(s) in Summer or Fall 2021.

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4-6 hours/month includes:
2 hour meeting translation via ZOOM
1-2 hours prep time for each meeting
1-2 debrief time to prepare for next meeting

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1) Coordinate with HMG/Ayudame a Crecer Central WA work group
2) Information-sharing with group about State-of-the-Community with developmental assessmests (the state is working on a registry for developmental assessment data);
3) share information out on immunization status and need to stay current
4) Review child health indicators quarterly

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1) How to integrate technology into connecting with families?

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We make the connections Washington families need to be healthy.

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Lindsay Boswell, YVCF
Stacy Hackenmueller, YVFWC
Cindy Cholico, ESD
Claudette Lindquist, HU
Marilyn VanOostrum, Nurse Family Partnership
Dinora Lopez, Catholic Charities
Tracie Hoppis, Children's Village
Seleni Bueno, Catholic Charities
Trissa Schiffner, Catholic Charities
Peter Finch, WVSD
Minerva Pardo, WVSD
Danielle Rasmussen, Catholic Charities
Dianne Trevino, YVFCW
Michele Cawley, Comprehensive Healthcare
Tomi Barragan, Easter Seals/Jane's HOuse
Amy Gutierrez, ESD 105
Angelina Willett, Children's Village
CIndy Taylor, DCYF
Sandra Capi, ESD 105
Sandra Linde, Astria Healthcare
Stacie Marez, ESD 105
Deb Stilson, Yakima Valley Libraries
Andrea Romero, La Casa Hogar
Carina Gonzalez, Within Reach
Maria Lozano, La Casa Hogar
Rebecca Knox, Catholic Charities
Mikeal Allenbaugh, Memorial Early Learning Center
Alma Castillo, Community Health Plan of WA
Cecilia Gonzalez, La Casa Hogar
Victor Cardenas, Catholic Charities
Lynn Harlington, ESD 105
Maggie Mendoza, ESD 105
Derek Johnson, Catholic Charities
Megan Foster, Catholic Charities
Gloria Jones Dance, Heritage University
Sabrina Miller, Yakama Nation Child Care Development Fund

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Guaranteed Basic Income in Washington State: Design Phase - Perigee Fund

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Guaranteed Basic Income in Washington State: Design Phase Early experiences matter, and a child’s earliest relationships with caregivers – starting prenatally – profoundly shape child development and caregiver wellbeing. Infant and early childhood mental health is a field with the goal of supporting…

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Brandi @ applevalleyinterpreting@yahoo.com

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1 - Advocacy & Awareness
2 - Family Engagement
3 - Health & Wellness
4 - Home Visiting
5 - Professional/Workforce

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Across the nation, Help Me Grow offers families seamless access to community services and supports so they can easily connect to the resources they need, when they need them.

The Help Me Grow Washington network represents a growing, powerful coalition of communities and individuals invested in building an organized system of community resources to help children grow up healthy.

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The Help Me Grow Washington network represents a growing, powerful coalition of communities and individuals invested in building an organized system of community resources to help children grow up healthy.

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Help Me Grow State wide Action Team Meeting-11/17

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Help Me Grow State wide Action Team Meeting-11/17

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Why Liberatory Design?
We are all living in challenging times that our past experience and training has not sufficiently prepared us for. Too often, well intentioned equity efforts do not succeed-and even produce unintended consequences. This can lead to frustration, hopelessness and cynicism.
It's important to consider why so many equity efforts stall or fail to achieve intended outcomes:

They do not employ a deep enough equity lens-for example, a diversity and inclusion focus as opposed to interrogating deeper causes produced by systemic oppression.

They take the form of traditional linear, hierarchical plans that focus on strategies, goals, timelines, metrics and accountability. These efforts don't recognize the messiness and complexity of the challenge, so they often are ineffective and, sometimes, even backfire.

They are created in the context of dominant white culture, in traditional structures (e.g. committees, task forces), or in teams that don't have an effective approach to the work. Common problems include:

group members unable to engage in authentic critical dialogue;

lack of trust, especially across role/power and identity difference, that undermines team efficacy;

the process doesn't bring forward sufficiently creative thinking;

urgency leads to hasty, misguided decisions;

creative and potentially powerful solutions are not accepted by leadership.

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Liberatory Design - National Equity Project

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Addressing equity challenges and change efforts in complex systems with liberatory design. Learn more about this process or register for an upcoming course.

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The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007.

ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

Governor Jay Inslee holds final authority for policy decisions.

The council has adopted a Racial Equity Framework through which it conducts its business as an advisory board to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Members

The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) members are a diverse group of people whose role is to provide DCYF with input and recommendations to inform DCYF's work.

ELAC includes parents, child care providers, health and safety experts, legislators, representatives of Tribal Nations, independent schools, K-12 and higher education, and others who are interested in creating a statewide early learning system that helps all children realize their full potential.

Some ELAC members are appointed by the Governor. Others are appointed by various entities as required in the legislation that created ELAC.

Meetings

The Early Learning Advisory Council has six regular meetings each year, held on the first Tuesday of odd months. At each meeting, ELAC members get updates on DCYF's work and provide input and recommendations to DCYF.

Members of the public are welcome to attend ELAC meetings. Public comment periods are offered throughout each meeting. The locations and times vary for each meeting.

2022
December 6, 2022 August 2, 2022 October 4, 2022 June 7, 2022 April 12, 2022 February 1, 2022
At the time of the meeting, please join the Zoom meeting via the link below.

9:00am-3:00pm

Meeting number (access code): 824 9183 1069
Meeting password: 904723

Join by phone: 1 253 215 8782 US Toll
Passcode: 904723

2021
December 7, 2021 October 5, 2021 - Joint Early Learning Advisory Council, Provider Supports Subcommittee, and Parent Advisory Group Meeting August 3, 2021 June 1, 2021 - Joint Provider Supports Subcommittee Meeting March 30, 2021 - Joint PAG Meeting February 2, 2021

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Department of Children, Youth & Families

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The Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) was created by the Legislature in 2007. Read the statutory language ELAC representatives from around the state meet regularly to provide input and recommendations to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) so our strategies and actions are well informed and broadly supported by parents, child care providers, health and safety experts and interested members of the public.

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#allinWA Child Care Initiative Grants - opens Dec 7 for center-based licensed care

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#allinWA Child Care Initiative Grants - opens Dec 7 for center-based licensed care

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All In WA launched the Vaccine Equity Initiative to support equitable access and uptake of vaccines by funding community-based organizations that can conduct linguistically and culturally-specific vaccine education and outreach to those most impacted, especially in Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color.

From April 2021 to January 2022, we provided over 400 grants totaling more than $7.8 million to support vaccination efforts, including education, outreach, communications campaigns, pop-up vaccination clinics and other events, as well as address transportation or technology barriers. These flexible grants have been distributed to organizations serving regions and communities across Washington with the highest need to ensure everyone has equitable access. All grantmaking for this initiative is complete.

A list of all Vaccine Equity Initiative grantees are listed below:

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Grants + Grantees - All In WA - Child Care Initiative

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All In WA launched the Vaccine Equity Initiative to support equitable access and uptake of vaccines by funding community-based organizations that can conduct linguistically and culturally-specific vaccine education and outreach to those most impacted, especially in Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color.