Association For The Education Of Young Children

WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE NEEDS AND RIGHTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA THROUGH SUPPORT OF PARENTS, EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS.

THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. IN FY21, AEYC RECEIVED COVID-19 CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FUNDING FROM LOCAL/FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS. THESE FUNDS WERE USED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS AND TRAINING TO ELIGIBLE CHILDCARE FACILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A TOTAL OF 35 FACILITIES IN KETCHIKAN, JUNEAU AND SITKA BENEFITED FROM THIS SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, IN FY21, 15 PROVIDERS WERE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE IN RECEIVING THEIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL. 4 PROGRAMS RECEIVED ON SITE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ALL SE PROVIDERS WERE GIVEN PERSONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN GETTING ENROLLED IN SEED AND LEARN AND GROW WHICH ARE THE STATE OF ALASKA QUALITY RATING SCALE FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. WE AWARDED EDUCATIONAL WAGE INCENTIVES TO 20 PROVIDERS WHO HAD HIGHER EDUCATION CREDENTIALS. OUR ANNUAL SE EARLY CONFERENCE WAS CANCELLED DUE TO COVID.

HOME VISITATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FROM PRENATAL TO THREE YEARS OLD. SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 115 FAMILIES AND 149 CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY OF JUNEAU, HOONAH AND YAKUTAT. 1110 HOME VISITS WERE CONDUCTED AND FAMILIES RECEIVED DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS AND REFERRALS TO PROGRAMS AS NEEDED. PROGRAM ALSO SPONSORS MONTHLY GROUP CONNECTION MEETINGS, WHICH ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO MEET EACH OTHER AND LEARN FROM A THEME-BASED ACTIVITY. IN FY21, 17 MEETINGS WERE HELD IN JUNEAU (VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID) WITH A TOTAL OF 146 PARTICIPANTS. IN FY21, CIRCLES OF SECURITY PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES WERE HELD VIRTUALLY TO INCREASE PARENTING SKILLS AND PARENT/ CHILD ATTACHMENT. A TOTAL OF 11 PARENTS ATTENDED THE 2 SESSIONS OF EIGHT WEEK CLASSES.

FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ARE ENROLLED EACH MONTH IN USDA FUNDED CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM WHICH REIMBURSES COSTS FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER AND TWO SNACKS FOR EACH CHILD ENROLLED IN THEIR CARE. IN FY21 AEYC PROVIDED REIMBURSEMENT FOR 68,040 MEALS BY 10 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR SLIGHTLY OVER 90 CHILDREN. THE CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO ALL LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS IN JUNEAU, KETCHIKAN, AND HAINES. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES ANNUAL NUTRTION TRAINING SESSIONS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM. INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSIONS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE DURING IN HOME VISITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

PROJECTS RELATED TO PARENTING, LITERACY AND HEALTH PROMOTION. FAMILY NIGHT AT THE TURF FIELD WAS HELD FOR TWENTY SESSIONS WITH TOTAL PARTICIPATION OF 2,400. HEADSTART AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES AND CENTERS PARTICIPATED IN WEEKLY SESSIONS AT THE TURF FIELD HOUSE WITH 1,730 CHILDREN FOR A TOTAL OF 62,300 PARTICIPANT HOURS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITES. BORN LEARNING BULLETINS WERE SENT TO 1300 FAMILIES EACH MONTH FOR 9 MONTHS OF THE GRANT YEAR. DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY HAD 1,500 CHILDREN SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE A BOOK A MONTH AND OVER 16,680 BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED IN FY21. TWO COMMUNITY EVENTS, THE BABY AND PRESCHOOL LEARNING FAIRS WERE HELD WITH ATTENDANCE OF OVER 250 FAMILIES AT EACH EVENT. IN ADDITION 5 WELCOME TO KNDERGARTEN EVENTS HAD OVER 30 PARTICIPANTS EACH NIGHT WHERE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS LEARNED ABOUT THE KINDERGARTEN CLASSES AT THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS. AND AEYC-SEA CONTINUED PARTICIPATING WITH A STATE WIDE PROGRAM CALLED READ ON THE FLY AND WITH THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOKSTORE ARE STOCKING CHILDREN'S BOOKS AT THE JUNEAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THAT THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARE TRAVELING