Monday, May 12, 2008

How can we empower childcare providers in Northfield?

The Northfield ECI is interested in coordinating a Northfield Childcare Providers Group/Network/Association?
How could a group like this help you as a provider? Please post opinions below.
Thank you!

Help us build the future by supporting early childhood! Join us!

The mission of the Northfield ECIC is to educate, activate and mobilize the entire community on the issues affecting young children from birth to age five. ECIC is a community-based campaign to assure that every young child in the Northfield community has the support they need to have a solid foundation for life. Current efforts focus on nine projects including: Booker Booster, Getting School Ready, Kindergaren Screening, Childcare giver support, and other early childhood resources.

New members including parents, community and business leaders, teachers, grandparents, or others are invited to get involved. You can help with outreach to families, publicity and marketing for special events, donating basic supplies for new parents, developing a community resource list, providing financial contributions, assisting with clerical tasks, verbal and written translation, building community partnerships, web design, child care assistance, and planning upcoming events.
Current ECIC members represent a variety of organizations including: CommonBond Communities, Northfield Public Schools - Community Services Division, City of Northfield, Southern MN Initiative Foundation, Northfield Public Library, Child Care Resource and Referral, Head Start, St. Olaf College, and Americorps.


Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month 4-5:30 pm at the Northfield Community Resource Center (NCRC). Free child care is available.

Northfield ECI -what we are about!

We focus on early childhood. From birth to age 5. We want Northfield children to succeed in school and to do that they need a strong foundation of learning to build on. Parents and caregivers are the most important "teacher" a child has.

*Our children are ready to go to kindergarten
*Early success leads to higher achievement, less grade retention & higher graduation rates
*Adult workers have skills that sustain a growing economy