The Early Learning Initiative Strengthening Supports for Early Learning in Pierce County
The mission of this grant is to support everyone who impacts children ages 0-6 and improve programs that will lead to continued quality of care and resources for young children.
A child’s early environment plants the seeds for future growth
Who is eligible for services under the Early Learning Initiative?
- All young children, their families, and child care providers in Pierce County
Families and parents are a child’s first teacher
How does the Early Learning Initiative support families?
- FREE workshops and reading materials for parents; also available in Spanish and other languages
- Information on early language and literacy; healthy child development
- Access to the website called Early Literacy Outreach Project (ELOP) and their specific e-newsletter with a special parent section
- Flyers on early childhood development and school readiness
- Referral sources and links to community agencies and mental health providers for children with special needs
- FREE family museum passes to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma from Pierce County Libraries and Tacoma Public Library
- Interactive Museum exhibits for families and children at regional Pierce County Libraries
Teachers enrich children’s lives for lifetime learning
How does the Early Learning Initiative support teachers?
- FREE web-based instruction for child care providers through the Early Literacy Outreach project (ELOP)
- Training and Consultation on:
- Implementing research-based literacy curriculum for children 0-6 years
- Using the Washington State Early Learning and Development Benchmarks for quality programming
- Working with English language learners
- Supporting children with challenging behaviors and/or special needs
- Partnering with families and parents
- Administering screening tools for healthy child development
- Resources and links to partnerships with mental health providers trained on infant mental health
- On-site coaching and consultation for teachers
The community in which you live has an important impact on young children
How does the Early Learning Initiative support Pierce County?
- Supports and strengthens existing programs
- Brings community organizations together for a common goal
- Builds partnerships that provide services to families
- Develops training models that extend and keep research-based programs in Pierce County
- Enhances capacity of the county’s mental health therapists to work effectively with young children
How can I find out about programs and upcoming trainings for parents and/or child care providers?
Contact:
Ann Libby, ELOA Project Director
(253) 926-6815, Ext. 5018
alibby@psesd.org
For additional parenting resources and information about the Early Learning Initiative visit our websites: www.psesd.org and http://earlyliteracy.psesd.org
For a current list of trainings, check out: http://www.psesd.org/ecfs/eli
