9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Registration

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
David C. Hollister, Early Childhood Investment Corporation Executive Committee Member and Judy Y. Samelson, Chief Executive Officer, Early Childhood Investment Corporation

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Keynote Address
Education Begins at Birth: Implications for Practice & Policy (video recording)
Harriet Meyer, M.A., Strategic Initiatives, Ounce of Prevention Fund
http://www.ounceofprevention.org/home/index.php 

Description:  Broadly speaking, the early childhood field knows ‘what it takes’ to improve outcomes for young children at risk of school failure. And yet, the field has made only incremental advances through 20th century interventions for these children – advancing glacially toward its aim of putting all children on equal footing at kindergarten’s door. To deliver ‘what it takes’ will require the field to make changes in our practice, systems development, and at the state and federal policy level. Ms. Meyer will discuss strategies for closing the gap between what we know and what we do – across practice, systems development, advocacy, and communications - in order to achieve exponential impact.

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch & Networking

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
LEARNING LABS (sessions and descriptions below)

What is Quality? (Child Care)
Presenters: Brooke Rains, Direct Services Specialist, Child Care Network; and Jill Lawler, Capital Area Community Services Head Start Area Education Supervisor

Description:  Participants will experience what quality looks and feels like for infants and toddlers, preschool age children, and school age children. Presenters will share information about quality environments and participants will engage in demonstrations and discussions related to developmentally appropriate materials and other quality elements. The session will conclude with a facilitated discussion focused on lessons learned, how to utilize Great Start CONNECT, and using social media for dissemination.

MATERIALS:  Relationship Powerpoint Presentation

Utilizing P-8 (prenatal through grade 3) Data to Improve Quality, to Build Collaboration, and to Demonstrate Outcomes (Early Education)
Presenter: Sharon Ritchie, Senior Scientist and Director of First School, FPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Description:  How is your community using data across early childhood and early elementary settings? This session will highlight effective practices and local successes utilizing data as a mechanism for improving quality in early learning and care settings, as a systemic tool for demonstrating educational outcomes, and as a catalyst for building local collaboration. Participants will have the opportunity to hear national, state, and local perspectives---as well as engage in dialogue about potential options for their community.

MATERIALS:  Branch Head Start Data,Saginaw County EC to Career Data System, GSC Saginaw P20 Data System, Saginaw Home Visitation Common Intake Form, Saginaw Consent to Share Form, First School Powerpoint Presentation, Mason Lake ReImagine Early Years, Mason Lake Graphic Wheel,

Poverty 101 (Family Support)
Presenter: Dr. Donna Beegle,Ed.D., President, Communication Across Barriers
Description:  The focus of this learning lab will provide an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of the impact of poverty and learn some effective strategies for working with people living in poverty. Participants will learn about the internalized impact of poverty and the differences in priorities, language and relationships that are affected. Participants will also learn how to develop a welcoming climate and how to implement changes in communication, teaching and learning styles to enhance connections and success.

MATERIALS:  Breaking the Iron Cage of Poverty, Understanding Communication Styles, The Crossing

Implementing the First Steps of Medical Home (Pediatric & Family Health)
Presenters: Jametta Lilly, Manger, Wayne Children’s Healthcare Access Program; Maureen Kirkwood, Manager, Kent Children’s Healthcare Access Program; and Rebeca Velázquez, Operations Coordinator, Kent County First Steps

Description:  Ensuring all young children are connected to a medical home is a goal that many counties are interested in pursuing. The implementation of medical home can appear overwhelming and may prevent GSCs from moving forward. This session will provide detailed information and activities for the beginning steps of implementing medical home including developing partnerships, collecting and analyzing data, and developing plans to secure funding. The new medical home toolkit focused on the CHAP (Children’s Healthcare Access Program) model will be used as a resource for this session and participants should plan to spend some time thinking about how they can use the information in their own community to begin implementing medical home.

MATERIALS:

Strengthening Families: Protective Factors (Parenting Leadership) (video recording)
Presenters: Joyce Bos, Director for Western Regional Resource Center; Donna Lackie, Co-Director, Oakland Great Start Collaborative; and Maggie Sprattmoran, Executive Director, Leelanau Children’s Center

Description:  This session will present an overview of the body of work from Strengthening Families, known as the Protective Factors. Participants will learn what the five protective factors are and why they are important in early childhood development. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how the Protective Factors have been incorporated into a Michigan high quality early learning environment, as well as, how Oakland’s Great Start Collaborative is outreaching to underserved families through the Parent Café model. Participants will practice some hands on learning and be given time to see how to integrate these tools into their own community.

MATERIALS:  Why and How? - The Five Protective Factors at Work in Leelanau County (Powerpoint); Mobilizing Partners, Communities and Families to Build Family Strengths, Promote Optimal Development and Reduce Child Abuse and Neglect (Powerpoint)

Kicking it Up a Notch for Children’s Social-Emotional Health! Infusing Simple Strategies into Local Systems (Social-Emotional)
Presenters: Mary Mackrain, Consultant, Michigan Department of Community Health; and Lisa Sturges, Project Specialist, Oakland GSC

Description:  Participants will be introduced to practical tools that have been successful in promoting public awareness of social-emotional health at the state and local level; including standardized training & coaching, focus group messages, screening tools, and other resources for building social-emotional knowledge. Furthermore, participants will learn about additional resources to help sustain this knowledge and change practice-preventing negative outcomes for children at risk. Join this interactive session and take time to reflect, discuss and plan for how to engage new practices in your local community efforts, and "kick it up a notch" on behalf of infant & young children's mental health!

MATERIALS: Click here to view materials

“Stand Up, Speak Out” (Public Education & Public Will)
Presenters: Teri Banas and Brenda Brissette-Mata, ECIC Communication Staff

Description:  Communication requires two key participants – a person with something to say and a willing listener. Learn how you can effectively stand up for young children and grab the ear of a variety of people – Legislators, business leaders, philanthropists, the media and the general public – about the issues that matter to you most – our children! This session will help you to tailor your talk to fit your audience. Learn how to deliver your message with confidence, and respond to difficult or opposing opinions. Yes, you can!

MATERIALS:

Making the Most of Your GSC & GSPC Meetings! (Group Governance & Leadership)
Presenters: Stephanie Wagner, Great Start Consultant - Capacity Building Team, ECIC; and Linda Steigenga, Director of Instructional Services, Mason-Lake-Oceana ISD

Description:  This session will focus on increasing the productivity of collaborative groups through skilled facilitation. Hands-on activities and group discussions will push past theory into a practical and detailed menu of tools, strategies, and protocols for successful group development. Concepts such as the Two Types of Communication, Assessing and Using the 7 Norms of Collaboration, and Meeting Success Strategies will be introduced. Included will be time for reflection and planning for the practical application of information.

Boosting Local Investment in Early Childhood (Group Governance & Leadership)
Presenters: Gerald Lindman, J.D., Senior Lecturer and Director, Center for Nonprofit Management, Lawrence Technology Institute; Stephanie Van Koevering, Interim CEO, Women’s Caring Program; and Michelle Wooddell, Chief Operating Officer and Campaign Director, Detroit Historical Society

Description:  Learn how to build local monetary, practical and grassroots support for the needs of young children in your community. This session will teach you to:

• Develop effective fund development strategies
• Identify and connect with funders
• Prepare winning presentations, and
• Use your public relations/outreach activities to support fundraising efforts.

Participants will leave with practical, tested strategies and lists of possible partners in their own communities, along with the basic elements of a local fundraising plan. In addition, hands-on practice in "making the ask" will be offered, with one-on-one feedback from a small panel of foundation staff.

MATERIALS:  Boosting Local Investment Powerpoint, Social Media and Fundraising Powerpoint, Creating a Fundraising Plan Exercise

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Break

5:00 p.m.
Conclusion

Day II - Tuesday, March 15, 2011

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Networking Breakfast for New GSC or GSPC Staff
Presenters: Great Start Capacity Building Team - Michele Chenier, Rachel Mellema, Lisa Temple, and Stephanie Wagner
Description:  Are you new to your position with the GSC or GSPC? Would you like an opportunity to ask questions and meet others who are new to their positions as well? The Great Start Capacity Building Team will host a breakfast session for those GSC and GSPC staff who are new to their positions within the last year. It will be an informal Q&A and networking opportunity designed to help you make connections with your peers and the team of Great Start Consultants who provide orientation and consultation through the helpline

8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Share Your Success Stories!

Description:  In a video adaptation of the "Story Corps" segment on National Public Radio, a booth will be open for participants to share local successes. Please bring a member of your team to the booth and answer the question "How has the work of the Great Start Collaborative, Great Start Parent Coalition, or Regional Resource Center positively impacted the lives of young children in your community?" The videos will be edited and several will be shared on Wednesday during the conference.

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction of Keynote

8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Keynote Address
Investing in Kids: Why It Pays Off for State Economies (video recording)
Tim Bartik, Senior Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and author of
Investing in Kids: Early Childhood Programs and Local Economic Development
www.upjohninst.org/staff/bartik.html

Description:  Nationally renowned economist, Tim Bartik shows in his new book that investing in children at an early age has similar economic impacts as commonly used economic development tools including tax incentives. After a brief presentation touching on some of the arguments and common misconceptions and objections to early childhood investment, participants will engage in an interactive conversation and learn how local communities can best convey the importance of early childhood to a variety of target groups particularly local.

10:30 a.m.
Table Discussions
Description:  Participants will engage in discussion at their table building off of the keynote address and identify next steps for how they will apply knowledge gained in their own communities.

11:30 a.m.
Break

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch and Fierce Heart Awards

Great Start Fierce Heart Award Recipient - Donna Lackie

Pay It Forward - Great Start Fierce Heart Award Recipient - Lucy McClintic

The Great Start Fierce Heart Award was established in December, 2009, by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. 

• Understands and embraces the need to work collaboratively with many partners, at all levels, in order to deliver on the Great Start promise
• Sees barriers as an opportunity for innovation and works tirelessly to improve the lives of infants, toddlers and preschoolers in his or her community and across the state
• Often labors in relative obscurity because he or she is more interested in improving the future for Michigan’s youngest learners than in seeking personal recognition
• Never forgets that true success is not measured by one’s title or position, but by the difference that he or she makes in the lives of young children.

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Keynote Address
What Are We Learning About Collaborative/Coalition Effectiveness? (video recording)
Pennie Foster-Fishman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology; Senior Outreach Fellow,
University Outreach and Engagement, Michigan State University

Description:  Michigan State University has been engaged in a year-long evaluation of Great Start at both the state and local levels. Pennie Foster-Fishman, a national expert on coalition building, will provide an overview of the evaluation results from a statewide survey conducted last year. The data presented will respond to three primary questions: 1.) To what extent are the Great Start Collaboratives and Great Start Parent Coalitions effective? 2.) What factors influence their effectiveness? 3.) What does the data suggest are next steps for the local work?

MATERIALS:  Building Effective Great Start Collaboratives and Parent Coalitions Powerpoint, Theory of Change Document

2:45 p.m.
Break

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WORKSHOPS (sessions and descriptions below)

Coaching and Consultation (Child Care)
Presenters: Denise Smith, Quality Rating and Improvement System Project Manager, ECIC; and Kristin Tenney-Blackwell, Great Start Child Care Quality Improvement Program Manager, ECIC

Description:  Participants will build knowledge about coaching and consultation methods to improve early learning and care quality. Topics include: what is quality, when is coaching an appropriate method, when is consultation an appropriate method, qualifications to consider for coaches.

MATERIALS:

Administering Child Care Scholarships (Child Care)
Presenters: Pam Smith, Project Leader, Child Care Network; Lori Bush, Director of Family Support, Child Care Network; Lisa Hoffert, Child Care Commitment Coordinator, Women’s Caring Program; and Carol Walters, Member, Women’s Caring Program Board of Directors

Description:  Q & A Session - Participants will build knowledge about current child care scholarship models including operating a scholarship model, and lessons learned. The presenters will provide brief overviews of their models and then answer questions.

MATERIALS:  Women's Caring Program Powerpoint Presentation

How Community Partnerships Can Improve Efficiency and Support Best Practices (Early Education)
Presenter: Elizabeth Villaverde, Early Childhood Consultant

Description:  Early learning communities are based on partnerships between a variety of stakeholders aimed to improve coordination, service delivery, and overall quality of early care and education programs. This session will focus on strategies for effective community collaboration and supporting topic specific strategies such as community wide needs assessments, joint recruitment and enrollment, and engaging non-traditional early learning partners. The session will highlight successful strategies that many communities utilize across Michigan and include examples from specific regions of the state.

MATERIALS:  How Community Partnerships Can Improve Efficiency and Support Best Practices Powerpoint Presentation, NICE Community School District Powerpoint Presentation, Midland County Quality Preschool Partnership Powerpoint Presentation, Brainstorming Sorting Matrix Handout, Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration Handout

Using Developmental Screening to Create System Linkages (Pediatric & Family Health and Social- Emotional Health)
Presenters: Chris Baker, Early Childhood Consultant, Ottawa GSC; Jan Shangle, Coordinator, Ottawa GSC; Catrina Wiskur, Parent Education Facilitator, Genesee ISD/GSC; and Lisa Sturges, Project Specialist, Oakland GSC

Description:  Developmental screening is an essential part of building a local early childhood system. This session will provide case examples from Ottawa, Genesee, and Oakland that show how integrating developmental screening into the existing system not only ensures more children are assessed, but also creates common practices and connections between existing services to better serve children and families. Utilizing both professional and family on line access features from Brookes Publishing allows depth and breadth to common child development information within each community. Both counties will also discuss associated initiatives including social and emotional health training and implementation of Reach out and Read that ensure the systems are prepared to better serve children after the referrals are received.

MATERIALS: Using Developmental Screening to Create System Linkages Powerpoint Presentation 

Using Family Stories as a Catalyst for Change (Parenting Leadership)
Presenters: Teresa Marvin, Parent Liaison, Michigan Department of Human Services

Description:  This session will focus on using family stories as a catalyst for change; in individual family situations, community systems and state policy. Participants will explore their passion for Early Childhood issues and how their personal experience can move others to action.

MATERIALS:

Parenting Leadership Model (Parenting Leadership)
Presenters: Bryn Fortune, Director of Parenting Leadership, ECIC; Jessica Rowland, Parent Liaison, Ionia GSPC; and Amy Zarend, Parent Liaison, Monroe GSPC

Description:  This session will provide an overview of ECIC’s model of parenting leadership as well as local examples that bring the model to life. Participants will gain an understanding of the working model, the background and context it was built from, and why it is critical to effective systems building. Participants will also learn from current promising practice examples in Michigan and have an opportunity to reflect on this component of their work and think about how to move forward in this area.

MATERIALS:  Parenting Leadership Powerpoint Presentation, Monroe County Leadership Model Examples, Great Ideas Handout, Parent Survey, Updated Representative Letters

Coordinating Home Visitation Services – Kent County Welcome Home Baby Program (Family Support)
Presenters: Jill Eldred , Program Manager, Welcome Home Baby - Kent County; and Bonnie Rencher, Clinical Nurse Manager, Welcome Home Baby-Kent County

Description:  Welcome Home Baby is the primary gateway to Kent County’s Early Childhood System connecting with new parents in the first days of their child’s life. It is a universal and voluntary program that provides families an opportunity to have a Maternal Child Nurse visit them in the home. The nurse is able to discuss feeding, taking the baby’s temperature, how access their medical home, and how to access quality child care. Families are offered a menu of community services. This presentation will provide the results from the first 6 months of operation. It will also highlight the process of a community approach in the implementation and coordination of services between home visiting and health care providers. The coordination and alignment of services has indeed created systems changes for Kent County.

MATERIALS:  Welcome Home Baby Powerpoint Presentation

Strategies for Effective Outreach via Traditional and Social Media (Public Education & Public Will)
Presenter: Andy Heller, Media Director, ECIC

Description:  With Michigan running a $1.8 billion deficit, funding for early childhood is most definitely not assured. Local communications and advocacy efforts – including traditional media and social media - will be critical to ensuring that early childhood is recognized as crucial to the development of children and the Michigan economy. This session will provide tips, tools, and strategies for building relationships with media in order to increase media coverage. We will also have a “case study” Q&A, so bring examples of problems you’ve had with media and social media.

MATERIALS:  Media Relations Powerpoint Presentation, 10 Tips for Writing for the Web,10 Tips on Making Your Facebook Page Sing, Andy's Handy Dandy Tips for Writing for the Web, Facebook Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations, Interview Tips, Ounce of Prevention Advocacy, Tips on Being Interviewed, Top 10 Tips for Local Media Relations

Increasing Impact Through Your Local Great Start Strategic Plan (Group Governance & Leadership)
Presenters: Joan Blough, Vice President of System Planning and Evaluation, ECIC; and Alissa Parks, Senior Director for Great Start Consultation and Technical Assistance, ECIC

Description: All Great Start Collaboratives have completed their initial three-year Great Start Strategic Plan and Early Childhood Action Agenda. This local plan is the guiding document for all of the Great Start Collaborative work. Across the state, the quality and depth of strategic plans varies greatly. This session will provide examples of strong Great Start strategic plans and discuss how to improve your plan to make the Great Start work more impactful. Participants should bring a copy of their local strategic plan for review and discussion.

MATERIALS:  Increasing Impact Through Your Local Great Start Strategic Plan Powerpoint Presentation

Integrating the Regional Improvement Plan and the GSC Strategic Plans to Improve Quality (Group Governance & Leadership)
Presenters: Mary Luchies, Great Start Quality Project Technical Assistance Consultant, ECIC; and Alicia Williams, Great Start Consultant, Child Care and Early Learning, ECIC

Description:  This session will share lessons learned and specific examples of integrating the RRC Quality Improvement Plan with the GSC Strategic Plan and Early Childhood Action Agenda to improve early learning and care quality both locally and regionally.

MATERIALS:  Integrating the Regional Improvement Plan and the GSC Strategic Plans to Improve Quality Powerpoint Presentation

5:00 p.m.
Conclusion

Day III - Wednesday, March 16, 2011

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Table Topics – World Café Style
Description: This is an opportunity to connect with your peers like you never have before! Tables will be assigned topics (generated ahead of time) and participants will be able to move between tables to guide their own learning. This may include asking questions, sharing lessons learned, and connecting with your peers with the goal of increased knowledge to use back in your community. This session is a different spin on the previously held “Good Ideas Workshop” and will help you think more deeply about your local early childhood system building work.

MATERIALS:  Table Topics – World Café Notes

10:30 a.m.
Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Role of Business and Philanthropy in Building a Strong Early Childhood System (video recording)
Moderator: Judy Y. Samelson, Chief Executive Officer, Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC)

Description:  What are the most effective ways to engage the private sector? The economic research is clear that quality early childhood programs, with a strong infrastructure connecting them, leads to cost savings, but that information alone is not enough to engage these sectors as true partners. This session will feature two state leaders from philanthropy and business: Ali Webb, Program Director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Peter Pratt, President of Public Sector Consultants and the architect of the Children’s Leadership Council, a group comprised of Michigan business leaders focused on early childhood. In a conversational format, these two Michigan leaders will discuss how local communities can better engage private partners and provide their insight on how the early childhood movement is faring in Michigan.

12:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Judy Y. Samelson, Chief Executive Officer, Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC)

12:15 p.m.
Conclusion