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GSC State Technical Conference Agenda 2010
GSC State Technical Assistance Conference
April 15-16, 2010
Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire, MI
The annual GSC State Technical Assistance Conference was April 15-16, 2010 at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan. GSC and GSPC Regional Meetings took place prior to the start of the conference on April 14. Conference materials are available for review and download below.
Agenda (PDF)
About Our Speakers (PDF)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
12-2 p.m. Regional Resource Center Project Leaders Meeting
2:00 p.m. GSC and GSPC Area Meetings
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Welcome - Alissa Parks, Director of GSC Development and Assistance, ECIC
Introductory Remarks - Douglas Luciani, ECIC Executive Committee Member, Executive Director of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Address - Turning Outward: Engaging the Public in Community Collaborative Efforts
Richard C. Harwood, Founder and President, The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation
Harwood speaks about the challenges we face as community leaders and the need to authentically engage the public in community change. The Harwood Institute is recognized nationally for a unique approach to breaking down barriers and empowering people to make progress in improving their communities. Their principles have been successfully applied in the public, private, academic, and non-profit sectors across the United States.
Workshops - Thursday A.M.
Track 1: A Community Based Approach for Authentic Public Engagement and Engaging Diverse Communities
Jan Shangle, Coordinator, Ottawa GSC; Zahabia Ahmed-Usmani, Special Projects Manager, Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance; Sheley Bess, Co-Director, Calhoun GSC
Every Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition is working to engage diverse populations in the work of building an early childhood system. This workshop will present two specific projects from Ottawa and Calhoun Counties and discuss lessons learned thus far in these projects. Ottawa County will review their work with the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance to better collect needs and barriers from diverse communities and Calhoun County will share their local experience of integrating the Harwood Institute work into their early childhood system building.
Session Materials: 3A's of Public Life: Implications, 3A's Survey, 3A's of Public Life: Traps to Avoid, GS Final Survey
Track 2: Initiatives to Improve Child Care Quality (PDF)
Karen Roback, Early Care Specialist, ECIC; Judy Freeman, Director, Kent GSC; Toni Hartke, Director Wayne GSC
Participants learn how two GSCs are implementing initiatives that support child care providers to improve quality. Wayne GSC is implementing a Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) initiative for licensed child care providers and Kent GSC is implementing an initiative supporting family, friend, and neighbor providers.
Track 3: Building Parent Leadership on the GSC (PDF)
Cari O'Connor, Director, Ionia GSC; Jessica Rowland, Parent Member, Ionia GSC
Nancy Thompson, Director, Monroe GSC
This workshop reviews the role and responsibilities of the parent member on the GSC. Presenters will also review strategies and tools that participants can take back to their community for use in building parent leaders. This session is geared both at parent members on the GSC as well as GSC Directors and Chairs who want to learn successful strategies for building parent leadership.
Session Materials: Ionia County's Sixteen Family Centered Values (PDF)
Track 4: How to Make Every Event an Advocacy Event: Creative and Fun Advocacy Strategies
Melissa Pinsky, Coordinator, Washtenaw GSC; Donna Lasinski, Parent Liaison, Washtenaw GSPC; Mary Pat Randall, RN Patient Advocate, Healthcare Coordinates, LLC
This presentation will discuss how every event of the GSC or GSPC can be used for advocacy including creative and fun advocacy activities. Washtenaw County will specifically discuss the many facets of their Advocacy Plan, including building advocates from the ground up, a three part strategy for connecting the community with candidates and strategies for convincing existing groups to become advocates. Participants will walk away with a variety of ideas and strategies for strengthening their local advocacy efforts.
Session Materials: Advoacy Webinar (PDF), Budget Process Flow Chart (PDF), Chronology of the Budget Process (PDF), Elected Officials List, Final Ask Sheet, FY 2011 Budget Decision Makers, Washtenaw Contact-Govt. Officials
Track 5: Using Shared Decision Making to Connect Community Funds to Needs(PDF)
This workshop will explore examples of shared decision making in early childhood funding in Berrien and Jackson Counties. Strategies shared will include a new approach to allocating Great Parents Great Start funds, and using the Local Early Childhood System Assessment and Great Start Strategic Plan to help direct the United Way funding allocation process.
Track 6: Parent Café Conversations: Tips, Tools, and Techniques (PDF)
Donna Lackie, Co-Coordinator, Oakland GSC; Kim Bowyer, Parent Liaison, Oakland GSPC
Come and learn about using the World Café technique to build parent voices, bridge communications and facilitate action to improve lives for young children. The Parent Café technique generates parent input, harvests collective knowledge and transforms it into action. Models will be shared for using Parent Café techniques as an annual planning tool for the Parent Coalitions and a parent engagement and outreach tool using the Strengthening Families framework. Tips, tools, and techniques will be shared and participants will engage in a Parent Café activity.
Additional Materials: Parent Cafe Samples (PDF)
Track 7: The Great Start System = High Quality Programs + Infrastructure (PDF)
Alicia Williams and Marie Sarchet, GSC TA Consultants, ECIC;Holly Wingard, GSPC TA Consultant, ECIC
This workshop is targeted at new GSC/GSPC staff or new GSC/GSPC members and will provide a background to the Great Start Initiative. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the elements of an early childhood system and the fundamentals of building infrastructure toward better results for young children and families.
Workshops - Thursday P.M.
Track 1: The Role and Responsibilities of the GSC Chair
Tom Cook, Executive Director of the Cook Family Foundation, Shiawassee GSC Chair; Joyce Bos, Program Director at Pathways, Ottawa GSC Chair; Douglas Luciani, Executive Director of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, Traverse Bay/Manistee GSC Co-Chair
Hear from a panel of GSC Chairs about their experience, successes, and lessons learned. This workshop is geared for Chairs and Co-Chairs, but open to anyone who may be interested in the role. Participants will gain a better understanding of the responsibilities of being the GSC chair and the skills necessary to fulfill the role.
Track 2: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing Social-Emotional Health (PDF)
Stephanie Peters, Supervisor of Early Childhood Special Education, Ingham Intermediate School District; Fran Jozefowicz, Early Intervention Services Supervisor, Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental Health; Nancy Peeler, Project LAUNCH Administrator, Michigan Department of Community Health; Deborah Griffin, Project LAUNCH Local Young Child Wellness Coordinator, Saginaw County
This workshop will focus on two projects: the implementation of Ingham’s Great Start Collaborative (IGSC) Strategic Plan for Social-Emotional (SE) Health and Project LAUNCH. Areas addressed will include increased SE skills for all providers of children’s services to children from birth to age five (IGSC) and birth through age eight (Project LAUNCH) through cross-discipline professional development; parent focus groups; evidence-based practices; playgroups which provide parents with information on fostering SE development and related experiences for their children; and partnering by existing programs and targeted use of new revenue to increase availability of and access to needed services. Philosophy and principles, successes, lessons learned and challenges will be presented. Participants will be encouraged to discuss their experiences in supporting SE health in their Collaboratives.
Track 3: Building a Dynamic and Diverse Parent Coalition (PDF)
Karen Clark, Coordinator, Newaygo GSC; Rachel Mellema, TA Consultant, ECIC; Michele Chenier, Parent Liaison, Delta County Parent Coalition
This workshop will discuss the successes and lessons learned from two strong Parent Coalitions. Presenters will discuss the obstacles they faced, recruiting strategies, and what draws parents in and keeps them coming back. They will also discuss ways to motivate and keep parents actively involved in advocating for the goals of the Great Start Collaborative and how GSC members support the Parent Coalition.
Session Materials: GSPC-Levels of Engagement (PDF)
Track 4: Effective Strategies for Engaging Media in Election Advocacy (PDF)
Andy Heller, Communications Director, ECIC; Amy Turner-Thole, Communications Director, Kent County First Steps
2010 is an election year and local communications and advocacy efforts will be critical to ensuring that early childhood is recognized as part of candidate platforms. This session will provide tips, tools, and strategies for building relationships with media not only to increase media coverage, but also to ensure that media are asking candidates about their position on early childhood.
Session Materials: Media in a Box (PDF)
Track 5: The Early Developmental Instrument (EDI): A Population-Based Measure for Communities
Joan Blough, Vice President for Great Start Planning and Evaluation, ECIC; Nicole Hamilton, Co-Director, Calhoun GSC; Toni Hartke, Director, Wayne GSC
The EDI is a well-validated, population-based developmental checklist that produces a holistic, measure of early childhood development during the kindergarten year. The EDI measures the health and development of a population of children and geographically maps these results to other community indicators. Community leaders use this information to inform and improve early childhood programs and services, and ultimately school readiness. Two pilots of the EDI, supported by the Kellogg Foundation, are underway in Calhoun and Wayne Counties. Come learn about the potential of the EDI for MI (and internationally) as well as early successes and lessons learned from two GSCs.
Session Materials: 7 Steps for Teach in Preparation for the TECCS, Sample Letter, 2010 Checklist, EDI Fact Sheet May 2009, EDI Implementation Letter of Intent, EDI Role Timeline
Track 6: Implementing the Medical Home Model in Your Community
Maureen Kirkwood, Manager, Children’s Health Access Program (CHAP), First Steps-Kent GSC; Jenny Salesa, Health Specialist, ECIC; Don Trap, Medical Home Initiative Leader, Shiawassee GSC
This workshop will present medical home implementation efforts in two Michigan counties and the successes and lessons learned from each. Participants will gain an understanding of the methods and strategies for implementing a medical home model in their community.
Track 7: New GSC Coordinator/Director Workshop (PDF)
Alissa Parks, Director of GSC Development and Assistance, ECIC; Beth Hackett, Director, Genesee GSC; Lisa Temple,GSC TA Consultant, ECIC (and former Dickinson-Iron GSC Director)
This workshop is for new GSC Directors/Coordinators who have been on the job less than one year. Information on the role of the Coordinator/Director, essential skills for the position, and general information about the GSC Scope of Work will be discussed. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with other new Coordinators/Directors as well as ask any questions they have.
“Good Idea” Networking Workshop (PDF)
This is an open session for all GSC’s and GSPC’s to highlight “Good Ideas” from their work that they want to share with others. Each GSC and GSPC will share at least one good idea at their table and participants can use this time for networking and learning some of the exciting work happening across the state!
The Economics of Early Childhood: A Conversation with Tim Bartik, Senior Economist, The Upjohn Institute
Early childhood investment is well documented in the research as a sound investment. Economists, bankers, corporate business leaders and even Warren Buffet have acknowledged the power of these investments. So why are we still debating the need for early childhood investment in Michigan? Tim Bartik, a nationally renowned economist, will discuss the economics of early childhood investment as well as the key messages that can be used to engage business and other community leaders. After a brief presentation, we will open the session to an interactive conversation between participants and Mr. Bartik who will provide advice and guidance on how to best convey the economic research with a variety of target groups particularly local business leaders, foundations, economic development groups, and legislators.
Session Materials: The Economics of Early Childhood Presentation (PDF)
Day II - Friday, April 16, 2010
Workshops - Friday A.M.
Track 1: Engaging the Business and Faith Communities (PDF)
Michelle Nicholson, Co-Coordinator, Ingham GSC; LouAnn Gregory, Director, Mecosta-Osceola GSC; Anja Wing, Director, Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce; Amy Zarend, Parent Liaison, Monroe GSPC
Discover ways to strengthen the Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition’s connection with your Chamber of Commerce, business and faith community. This session will include ideas for community outreach, communication strategies, and successful partnering which will help your GSC/GSPC successfully engage these important segments of your community.
Session Materials: Great Start Faith Toolkit, Family Friendly Workpace Award, Little Ones Skating Flyer
Track 2: Voices for Action - Michigan's Poverty Reduction Initiative (PDF)
Linda Schmidt, Michigan Department of Human Services; Jeff Brown, Director of the Kalamazoo Poverty Reduction Initiative; Rachel Wade, Director, Berrien GSC
All Michigan counties are struggling with poverty issues. Instead of creating new initiatives to reduce poverty, communities are encouraged to partner with local and regional efforts already working to reduce poverty. This workshop will provide an overview of Voices for Action, Michigan’s Poverty Reduction Initiative, as well as strategies for how your GSC and GSPC can become connected with regional efforts.
Session Materials: Voices for Action Regional Network Lead Contacts (PDF)
Track 3: Building Parent Leadership on the GSC – Future Training and Technical Assistance Needs
Joan Blough, Vice President of Systems Planning and Evaluation, ECIC; Alissa Parks, Director of GSC Development and Assistance, ECIC
This workshop will engage participants in a conversation around the needs of parent members on the GSC. Feedback gained from the workshop will be used to develop technical assistance and resources to build parents as leaders on the GSC in the coming year. This workshop is only open to parent members on the GSC.
Session Materials: Parenting Leadership Resource Booklet (PDF)
Track 4: Holding a Successful Candidate’s Forum (PDF)
Matt Gillard, Early Childhood Advocacy Specialist, Michigan Association of United Ways; Mary Pat Randall, RN Patient Advocate, Healthcare Coordinates, LLC
Sponsoring or participating in candidate forums is a key strategy for building relationships with candidates and educating the public during the election year. This workshop will discuss tip and tools for holding a successful forum as well as pitfalls to avoid.
Track 5: Technology and Social Media: Best Practices and Tools (PDF)
Sommer Poquette, Director, Charlevoix/Emmet GSC; Amy Hesse, Director, COOR GSC; Amy Coulter, Parent Liaison, COOR GSPC
Learn how to use social media the right way to help people keep up to date with what you are doing and how they can become involved. Understand basic terminology and etiquette and discover some inexpensive or FREE tools for using Twitter and Facebook effectively. Learn how you can stay connected to your Collaborative, Parent Coalition, community and stay organized. Technology can be your friend if you know what you are doing!
Session Materials: Free and Low Cost Tools Handout (PDF)
Track 6: Early Care and Education Career Lattice (PDF)
Karen Olsen, Director, Macomb GSC; Lisa Sturges, Project Specialist, Oakland GSC; Toni Hartke, Director, Wayne GSC
“Detour!” “Wrong Way!” “Do Not Enter!” All too often, these are the signs that early care and education professionals run into as they move along their career path. This session will examine the work of a tri-county collaboration (Macomb, Oakland, Wayne) to create an Early Childhood Career Lattice. Presenters from all three counties will share their experiences and lessons learned from creating “STEPS-A Chart for Early Care and Education Career opportunities.” Presenters will also share their next steps as they work to distribute the Career Lattice to the tri-county area.
Session Materials: Are We There Yet TA Presentation_B&W Version, Career Lattice, Career Lattice Intro Letter, How to Use With Script
Track 7: New Parent Liaison Workshop
Bryn Fortune, Director of GSPC Development and Assistance, ECIC; Holly Wingard, GSPC TA Consultant, ECIC; Andrea Mulder, Parent Liaison, Ottawa GSPC
This workshop is for new Parent Liaisons who have been on the job less than one year. Information on the role of the Parent Liaison, essential skills for the position, and general information about the GSPC Annual Plan and connection to the GSC work will be discussed. Participants will have an opportunity to interact with other new Parent Liaisons as well as ask any questions they have.
Session Materials: GSC Phase I Scope of Work in Contract (Implementation Phase FY10) (PDF), Points of Intersection between GSC Scope of Work and GSPC Annual Plan (PDF)
Evaluating the Great Start Initiative
Pennie Foster-Fishman, Ph.D., Leader, ECIC and Great Start Initiative Evaluation, Michigan State University
Michigan State University is currently working on an evaluation of the Great Start Initiative, including the work of the Great Start Collaboratives, Great Start Parent Coalitions, and ECIC. Pennie Foster-Fishman will provide an overview of the evaluation and how GSC’s and GSPC’s will be included in the study. During this agenda item, she will also seek input from GSC’s and GSPC’s to learn how the evaluation can be useful to your local efforts and to ensure that the data collection process fits local needs.
Session Material: Update on the Evaluation of ECIC and the Great Start Initiative (PDF)
Lunch Discussion - Next Steps and Reflections from the Conference
This is a time for GSC teams to discuss knowledge gained and 1-3 items that they will use in their work following the conference. Several teams will be asked to share their next steps and reflections on the conference. Teams should sit together during this segment.
Our Opportunity is Now: Supporting Early Childhood from the Funder’s Perspective
Michael Tenbusch, Vice President, United Way of Southeastern Michigan
With the Michigan budget in crisis, some may ask if this is the right time for early childhood investment. In fact, many would argue that now is the best opportunity to make the case for early childhood and system reform. Michael Tenbusch will talk from a funder’s perspective about why investing in early childhood makes not only moral but economic sense. He will also discuss why funders are interested in early childhood and why each of us must become a champion for early childhood in our communities.