ELCC: Oversight
The Early Learning Coordinating Council (ELCC) is an interagency group that participated in the National School Readiness Project and now promotes collaboration to ensure that early childhood policy decisions, funding streams, and services are coordinated. The ELCC meets regularly to oversee the development and implementation of the KECCS Plan.
MINUTES OF EARLY LEARNING COORDINATING COUNCIL
Kansas Children’s Cabinet & Trust Fund Conference Room
Landon State Office Building, Room 152
900 SW Jackson, Topeka, Kansas
Thursday, December 10, 2009
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Present:
Mary Baskett, Kansas Head Start Association (KHSA)
Linda Kenney, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
Doug Bowman, Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services
Nancy Keel, Kansas Association of Parents As Teachers
Chris Ross-Baze, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
Jackie Counts, University of Kansas, Institute for Educational Research & Public Service
Rebecca Gillam, University of Kansas, Institute for Educational Research & Public Service
Carol Ayres, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)
Gayle Stuber, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)
Janet Newton, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)
Bobbi Mariani, Kansas Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services (SRS)
Carrie Hastings, Kansas Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services (SRS)
Terry Leatherman, Kansas Association for Infants & Early Childhood Mental Health (KAIMH)
Tracie Lansing, Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL)
Dana Moses, Kansas Head Start State Based TA, via telephone
Leadell Ediger, Kansas Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (KACCRRA) via telephone
Jim Redmon, Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund (KCCTF)
Jane Weiler, KCCTF
Dyogga Adegbore, KCCTF
Welcome and Introductions
Jim Redmon welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked for introductions.
Budget – Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF)
Jim announced that the Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) will not look like this year’s budget next year. FY 2011 will be a somber budget year. Cabinet Chair Melissa Ness and he met with State Budget Director/Secretary of Administration Duane Goossen recently on the Cabinet’s CIF recommendations. FY 2010 budget appears intact although there are no guarantees. Director Goossen did not give a specific percentage on the budget cuts to expect in FY 2011 as it is too early to tell. He did reiterate to Melissa and Jim to convey to the early childhood partners and anyone else interested in CIF to expect cuts in FY 2011. The Cabinet voted to recommend continued funding of all CIF programs, some programs will be funded with qualifying criteria, for FY 2011. ELCC members asked questions about some of the CIF programs.
ELCC Levels of Collaboration Scale
Rebecca Gillam disseminated copies of the Levels of Collaboration Scale among ELCC members. Jackie Counts asked ELCC members to complete the Scale and return it to her and Rebecca soon. The Collaboration scale is part of the KECCS, as well as the LAUNCH, evaluation. Rebecca commented they have started the network analysis and are working with a consultant, and as a result there may be additional collaboration measures that the ELCC will be asked to complete in the coming months.
LAUNCH Grant
Jackie Counts reported a search committee interviewed for the LAUNCH grants’ Program Coordinator. Cristi Cain was selected as the successful candidate to fill the post. The search committee is tweaking the position description for the evaluation coordinator. Jackie and Rebecca participated in another SAMHSA technical assistance call recently. The environmental scan is coming along nicely. They are working with the Garden City partners on a setting up a Survey Monkey survey to collect environmental scan information. In the future, results and mapping of the partner agencies can be linked to the Garden City partners’ website. The LAUNCH grantee meeting is scheduled mid-January in New Orleans.
Rebecca reported the Finney County parenting calendar is completed. Jim brought in his copy of the calendar to show everyone.
The LAUNCH grant will be bringing in $850,000 annually over the next five years. Both state and local team leadership are participating in weekly conference calls with the program officer to talk about technical assistance, grant logistics, and a cross site evaluation.
Update from Kansas Coalition for School Readiness
Mary Baskett reported that the Kansas Coalition for School Readiness issued an alert to thousands of people via e-mail about the positive message from the Governor on early childhood initiatives. Kansas Action for Children Governmental Relations staff will assist with covering legislative news, updates and lobbying. The Coalition is gearing up for next legislative session, particularly the “inspect the rest” campaign that focuses on registered family child care, as well as CIF.
Mary reminded the ELCC of the upcoming joint event for Early Learning Day and the celebration of the Kansas Action for Children (KAC) 30th Anniversary. Activities will be held at both the Maner Conference Center and Kansas Statehouse. Nationally known journalist, Matt Miller will be the keynote speaker for the KAC’S 30th anniversary event. She asked everyone to mark February 4th on their calendars.
KCSR members had started interviewing for the Executive Director post. Someone should be on board by early January.
Update on Parent Research Initiative
Rebecca remarked she is scheduling parent research initiative webinars on January 6 for ELCC members and other interested partners. She is preparing a write up for the ELCC members to refer to and share with their constituents. Rebecca also shared that the Kansas Parent Teacher Association will be hosting their first early childhood conference in February. This is a unique opportunity to learn about how PTA can support parents and communities before kids enter school. More detailed information will be included in the next KECCS newsletter.
Early Childhood Advisory Council Grant Application Status
Jackie reported the ECAC application is in final draft. Jim will be meeting with Governor’s staff about the final product. Jim asked members if they had a preference on whether the Governor signed an Executive Order or a letter establishing the ECAC. Members commented that either official document would work but most preferred the Executive Order. Jackie talked about the three positions originally discussed as part of the ECAC. It was believed that the Professional Development Coordinator could be a half time position who would work with the LAUNCH Grant Coordinator. The Data coordinator position would be full time and housed at KU. A full time program assistant would be hired to help the ECAC.
Pew Grant
Jackie reported that the Institute is working with Early Head Start, Parents as Teachers, and Healthy Families to complete an application for a Research Pew Grant for Home Visitation Augmentation. The research design explores Motivational Interviewing to increase retention and engagement in two comparison communities—Wichita and Hutchinson. The application is due December 21, 2009.
Adjournment
The next meeting of ELCC is scheduled Tuesday, January 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Kansas Children’s Cabinet office.
There being no further business for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.