July 2016 Newsletter

Building Direction for Families

Upcoming Events 7/4/16 Independence Day, BDF office closed 7/6/16 12:00p Fayette Co. Substance Abuse Coalition, Upper Iowa University, Fayette 7/7/16 5:00p Delaware Co. Mobile Food Pantry, New Life Assembly of God Church, Manchester 7/9/16 10:00a Fayette Co. Mobile Food Pantry, Valleyview Wesleyan Church, West Union 7/12/16 12:00p Delaware Co. Interagency meeting, Pin Oak, Manchester 7/13/16 5:00p Oelwein Mobile Food Pantry, Oelwein Community Plaza, Oelwein 7/19/16 1:30p Fayette Co. Homeless Council, Oelwein Community Plaza, Oelwein. 7/19/16 3:00p Fayette Co. Interagency meeting, Oelwein Community Plaza, Oelwein 7/23/16 12:30p Buchanan Co. Mobile Food Pantry, Living Water Church, Independence 7/26/16 11:30a Delaware Co. Drug Abuse Coalition, Pin Oak, Manchester 8/1/16 12:00p Buchanan Co. Homeless Council, St. James Episcopal Church, Independence 8/2/16 1:30p Buchanan Interagency meeting, Buchanan Co. Healthy Lifestyles Center, Independence 8/3/16 12:00p Fayette Co. Substance Abuse Coalition, Upper Iowa University, Fayette 8/4/16 5:00p Delaware Co. Mobile Food Pantry, New Life Assembly of God Church, Manchester

Foster Youth Graduation Celebrations a Success! Through generous community donations, Building Direction for Families was able to assist area youth living in foster care or independently with graduation celebrations. Depending on their individual wants and needs, these deserving youth received items such as party supplies and refreshments, household items including bedding, quilts, towels, microwaves, crock pots, kitchen utensils, and school supplies along with personalized “wish list” items. The support we received from the community was overwhelming and enabled us to supply laptops for four graduates who are going on to college next fall. All four youth were very grateful for the gifts they received. Building Direction for Families would like to thank the following for their support of our Foster Youth Graduation Celebrations project: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Independence); Norma Gates; Manchester Chamber of Commerce; Glenda Schweitzer; LeRoy & Colette Greenley; First United Methodist Church (Independence); Keith & Julie Pitzen; Bank Iowa; Susan Garber; Kwik Trip Stores, Inc.; Pin Oak Links; Immanuel Lutheran Church (Independence); Judy Doyle; Jeff & Carla Harder; Margaret Ownby; Fareway Stores (Independence); United Methodist Women (Jesup); Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice – Sweet Treats by Angela Weepie; Aunt Emmy’s Gourmet Cake & Cupcakes; United Methodist Women (Brandon); Kathy’s Kakes; Bill’s Pizza and Smokehouse; Scratch Cupcakery; and Buchanan County Salvation Army. Without generous community support, this project wouldn’t be possible.

If you would like more information about our Foster Youth Support projects, please contact Erin Monaghan or Beth Ownby at Building Direction for Families, 105 2nd Avenue N.E., Independence. Our phone number is 319-3345105 and our email is [email protected].

Fundamentals of Prevention Training August 29, 2016 9am – 4pm Learning Objectives Participants will:    

Learn effective core skills for meeting facilitation, such as encouraging participation, managing conflict, keeping groups on task and ensuring outcome-based meetings Learn effective skills for public communications, including how to develop media relationships, how to develop a marking/communications plan, and selecting appropriate media venues Review prevention theory behind our strategies, and how to ensure what we are doing is working Understand the relationship between substance abuse and mental health, including specific substances that can increase risk for mental health disorders as well as which substances are often used by individuals with various mental health disorders

6.0 CEUs have been approved for this training by the Iowa Board of Certification

Senior Farmer’s Market Coupons Available at the Indee Senior Center The Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program provides qualified seniors aged 60 and over with coupons (checks) that can be exchanged at farmer’s markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs for fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey. The checks can be used until October 31st at participating vendors. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging has begun distributing Farmer’s Market Checks throughout the 18 county service area, including the Buchanan County Senior Center, located at 400 5th Ave. NE, Independence. Checks are available here Monday and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. or by appointment. Call 319-334-7011 for more information.

Eligible participants in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program must: • Be 60 years of age or older at the time of this application, born in or before 1956 • Live in the service area of this Area Agency on Aging • Have a yearly household income less than $21,978 for single or $29,637 for married couple

Each eligible participant receives 10 checks with a total value of $30.00. A person can only receive checks one time per program year.

Secondary Story Headline

ECI and Iowa AEYC Release On-Line Career Pathways Tool The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children (Iowa AEYC) and Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) announce the launch of a unique career pathway website designed to assist the Iowa early care and education workforce to make decisions regarding training and formal education needed to develop a dynamic career. As a result of a dsmHack grant, five website developers, a website designer, and a database specialist joined together as a team to volunteer their time and expertise to develop the interactive website during the 48-hour hack-a-thon. dsmHack.org is a not-for-profit organization which centers its work on the idea of “Build. Learn. Give” to elevate and strengthen the Des Moines community by building technology solutions and relationships, learning new skills and thought processes, and giving time and skills. Using a grant application process, they select non-profits who need, but cannot afford, necessary technology solutions f or their agency and those the agency serves. Iowa AEYC was one of ten selected non-profits selected to benefit from this opportunity. To learn more, visit http://dsmHack.org Iowa AEYC is a non-profit organization that represents over 1,100 members, works to improve teaching and learning, promotes leadership and professional development in early childhood education, supports accreditation and excellence in child care programs, and builds public awareness through advocacy and outreach. To learn more, visit www.iowaaeyc.org. The early care and education workforce in Iowa includes approximately 20,000 adults who earn among the lowest wages of any profession in Iowa. Low pay is a widespread issue that increases turnover and decreases quality in child care and other early childhood programs. The new website provides the workforce with needed information to move forward on a career pathway to increase their knowledge and skills, which can lead to increased wages. Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) was founded on the premise that communities and state government can work together to improve the well-being of children ages birth - 5. ECI efforts unite agencies, organizations, and community partners to support, strengthen, and meet the needs of all young children and families in Iowa. Early Childhood Iowa Area Boards enable local citizens to lead collaborative efforts involving education, health, and human services programs. To learn more, visit http://www.earlychildhoodiowa.org. Visit www.ecieducationpathway.org to learn more about a career in early care and education in Iowa. Contact [email protected] with questions.

USDA Summer Meal Sites The USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. This summer, USDA plans to serve more than 200 million free meals to children 18 years and under at approved SFSP sites.

Nearby USDA Summer Meal Sites

Little Husky Learning Ct. Parkside Elementary School Wings Park Elementary School Starmont High School

Address

Dates Open

Days of Operation

Breakfast

Lunch

Site Phone Number

317 8th Ave SE Oelwein, IA 301 6th Ave SW Oelwein, IA 111 8th Ave NE Oelwein, IA 3202 40th St. Arlington, IA

June 6thJuly 29th

Mon-Fri

7:30a-9:00a

11:30a-1:00p

319-283-3015

June 6thJuly 29th

Mon-Fri

7:30a-9:00a

11:30a-1:00p

319-283-0484

June 6thJuly 29th

Mon-Fri

7:30a-9:00a

11:30a-1:00p

319-283-3015

June 6thJuly 1st, Aug. 1st-12th

Mon-Fri

8:00a-8:30a

11:30a-12:00p

563-933-2238

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES: Surviving a Catastrophe

A Disaster Poverty Simulation Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere. Attorneys and other disaster responders are invited to participate in a Disaster Poverty Simulation, sponsored by Iowa Legal Aid and created by the American Bar Association. Participants will take an interactive approach to learning about the legal problems and other pressing needs that arise after a disaster takes place, with the experience helping attorneys better serve low-income disaster survivors and their communities. When: Friday, July 22, 2016

10:00am—1:15pm

Light refreshments will be served during a short break at noon. Because participants will be role-playing a unique scenario, please plan to be present for the duration of the event.

Where: Human Services Campus, 317 Seventh Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA (2nd Floor Conference Room) Cost: FREE! Space is limited! Visit www.probono.net/iowa to register. Questions? Contact Lisa Gavin at 1-800-532-1503 or [email protected] Approved for 3 hours of Attorney State CLE Credit (including 1 hour of ethics).

What is a Poverty Simulation? Participants take on the role of a person living in a low-income community. They are given a packet that tells them what their family structure and circumstances are, and also gives them the family’s financial situation. Participants must get through four 15-minute “weeks” and do what families everywhere do: Go to work if they have a job, get any kids to school, feed the family, pay the bills, keep the family safe. Challenges arise over the course of the “month,” to which families must also respond. After the “month” is over, participants engage in an extensive debriefing discussion to discuss what they learned.

Emerging Drug Trends (Basics) Training August 12, 2016, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Human Services Campus, 317 7th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids

EC-PBIS offers

Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool Reliability Training July 19-20, 2016

Who Should Attend:

TPOT results can be used to:

Educators, healthcare providers, social workers, parents, human resources personnel, substance abuse treatment & prevention.

 reinforce interactions that promote social-emotional

competence in young children

Facilitators: Erin Foster, Linn County Prevention Director

 implement strategies to prevent and address

Curt Wheeler, ASAC Prevention Specialist

challenging behavior

Objectives: Participants will learn emerging drug trend information. Participants will learn steps in working to prevent substance use in their communities.

 compare implementation across early childhood

classrooms, teachers, and programs  guide training and coaching for teachers

Cost: $60 per person; $30 for current ASAC staff and interns. Lunch will be provided. CEUs: 6 hours of ATOD specific CEUs are pending with the Iowa Board of Certification. Certificates of completion will be provided to others seeking CEUs in other fields. Registration:

Online registration is open until July 29, 2016.

Participants must attend both days of the training. The TPOT Reliability training is essential to programs that are implementing PBIS to ensure they are administering the TPOT correctly and are considered “reliable” within our state. For more information or to register: https://www.educateiowa.gov/event/tpot-reliabilitytraining

Office of Head Start Launches Dual Language Learner Toolkit The Office of Head Start (OHS) was proud to participate in the White House summit on dual language learners (DLLs) earlier this month. At the launch, the U.S. Department of Health and Human services and the Department of Education released a joint policy statement on Supporting the Development of Children Who Are Dual Language Learners in Early Childhood Programs. Concurrently, OHS released a Dual Language Learner Toolkit for programs, early educators, child care providers, and families.

About the DLL Toolkit The resources in the Dual Language Learner Toolkit can help staff better support the skills and development of young children who are learning their home languages and English. The toolkit is divided into three sections: Administrators and Managers Program managers and administrators can build systems and develop policies to improve practices across all service delivery areas. They work to identify and implement a planned, intentional approach to language use in the classroom. Classroom Language Models: A Leader's Implementation Manual [PDF, 3.0MB] describes a number of ways to support home language use in early childhood education programs.

Teachers, Caregivers, and Family Service Staff All early childhood program staff want to understand what young DLLs need in order to thrive in Head Start and beyond. The resources in this section give teachers, caregivers, and family services staff the support they need to foster the learning and development of young children.

Families Parents and families are key to holding high expectations and supporting home language development for their young DLLs. They can promote positive experiences for children by emphasizing their strengths, including cultural and linguistic strengths. They also provide learning supports necessary to succeed in school. These DLL Toolkit resources can assist families in supporting the learning and development of their young children.

Access the Toolkit Select the link to access the complete DLL Toolkit: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/ttasystem/cultural-linguistic/Dual%20Language%20Learners/toolkit

Program Seeks to Keep Foster Care Kids from Crossing Over By O. Kay Henderson A juvenile court officer who’s based in Sioux City says she’s engaged in a “fundamentally different” way of working with troubled foster care kids, to try to keep them out of the prison system. Lisa Nelson is part of what’s called a “crossover team” in Woodbury County. “We are continually reminded that this work is a living relationship and that each case brings a set of unique needs,” Nelson says. “The fact that there are ongoing struggles and, at times, failures may lead individuals to question the process or the effectiveness of the model, but overall we believe the model forces a fundamentally different way of thinking and working with this population.” The team includes law enforcement and court officials like Nelson as well as staff in group homes for foster care kids and mental health therapists. “We were also able to employ an educational specialist who tracks educational transcripts for every child in our system who enters care,” Nelson says. One of the team’s goals is to keep foster care kids from being sent from a foster care group home to juvenile detention, because it means the kid then gets a criminal record. “If they’re in a facility and they’re not doing well and they’re acting out, we don’t want to criminalize that,” Nelson says, “and so we tried to help them come up with levels of intervention and things they could do absent of calling law enforcement and having that child detained.” About one-third of the foster care kids who wind up in the prison system got there because they were involved in some sort of incident in a group home. Nelson’s team has been working with Georgetown University on this project since 2008. Nelson made her comments during recent testimony at a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. More than 415,000 American kids are in foster care today. Iowa ranks among the top 10 states in the percentage of its children in foster care.

Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education A video by the Office of Child Development discusses results of a recent scan to assess if and how parents and teachers discuss race with young children, to determine what developmental issues exist as they relate to positive racial identity, and to generate recommendations and encourage collaborations around this important issue.