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Full Council Meeting Minutes
May 23, 2006
This meeting was attended by: Beth Mork, Ann McCully, Barbara Yates, Meg Thomas,
Jamie Cooper, Nancy Dougherty, Cindy Murphy Kelley, Sue Dion, Dan Wielinski, Vicki Thrasher Cronin, Michelle Thole, Heidi Malloy, Jamie Cooper, Wendy Nielson,
Karen Jorgensen-Royce, Marie Johnson, Kathleen Corley, Brenda Haugh, Deborah Fitzwater-Dewey, Claudia Freund, Sandy Heideman, Jesse Schunk, Charlotte Nitardy, Sheryl Wennermark, Lora Kussman, Liliana Padilla, Tosca Grimm, Catharine Cuddeback, Linda Garrett-Johnson.
This meeting was facilitated by Dan Wielinski
Minnesota Early Learning Fund (MELF)
Barbara Yates reported that the legislature passed several pieces of early childhood related funding. How about that John Hottinger? Send him thank you notes. The legislature passed $1 million for a pilot of QIRS.
Barb has received 149 funding proposals for the 27 million dollars in the Minnesota Early Learning Fund. They hope to let people know about their requests for funding mid July. They are doing feasibility studies to see about further fundraising and hoping to raise about 30 million which will be used to fund proposals that met the goals of the MELF but couldn’t be covered under the 27 million they currently have and to fund proposals the group may request to cover gaps in the current set of RFP’s.
The timing is right for legislative change. There’s been lots of conversation and interest from our business partners. They are ready to move on getting kids ready for kindergarten. They have a hard time seeing how we are all coordinated. We need to show them how we can all work together in order for this to move forward. It is time now to do this. We’ll know over the next 18 months whether we can get significant movement forward on getting kids ready for kindergarten.
We also need to keep an eye on school age. The language we are using is invest in early childhood and protect that investment by having good school age programs.
The MELF board has broadened their scope to include prenatal programs and issues.
Announcements:
SuperConference The deadline for exhibitors to qualify for the “early bird special” is June 1st. After that date the price per booth/table will increase @ $25.
The MnAEYC Director’s Credential has been recognized by NAEYC as one of the few states that offers a college based program that will meet the new accreditation standards for administrators.
It was suggested that to remind participants at the full Council meeting of the goals and meeting procedures that we post a copy of the “Guiding Principles” that were established by the Structure Workgroup and agreed upon by the full Council.
A reminder that if any organization has an event they would like to post on the website under “Mark your Calendar” please go to http://www.mnaeyc.org/events/MarkYourCalendar.html and fill out the form.
Work group reports:
Core Competencies:
Claudia Freud gave the following report:
The Birth through 8 Core Competencies took many years of revision and work.
The School Age Core Competencies are just out. In the process of creating this we learned new things and added family child care and diversity language.
The core competencies are being used across the field for many purposes. Trainers are using leveling in a variety of ways. One director took the whole thing apart and put it on a bulletin board make parents aware of the standards they can expect of the staff. These are two examples of the many innovative ways this document is being used across the field.
The next major piece we are working on is the alignment of the board of teaching licensure standards with the core competencies. The first meeting of a task force to work on this was on March 31. Many people attended this meeting from a wide variety of geographical areas and institutions.
We’ve also have been looking at user guides for the core competencies.
In addition, The Development Corporation for Children (DCC) just finished work on business skills that need to be added to the core competencies. It is now our job to take these out for review. Copies were passed around with a review sheet so that council members could give feedback.
Practitioner Professional Development and Delivery workgroup
Nancy Dougherty reported:
This workgroup has struggled over the last year or more with vision and overarching goals. We are excited to be moving forward with a clear vision and goals.
Purpose: To create dialogues among key stakeholders in early childhood and school aged care and education that build relationships and respect among individuals and communities; and lead to a collective agenda and shared action leading towards an environment that supports skilled culturally proficient care for all children.
Overarching goal: Ensure that training and support for all people who care for and educate children will equip them to make ethical and intentional instructional decisions to meet the needs of every child so that, all children are ready for learning and life and all caregivers are ready for all children.
As Barb mentioned, we’ve struggled in our field to be on the same page and working for same goals. Our goal is to use this work to move us in that direction.
Our plan is to hold focus groups on some baseline questions with key decision makers.
Our trial run at CCR&R network conference went well and we learned a lot.
We are planning two sessions at the SuperConference; one for decision makers and one for others who are interested in these issues.
There is an article in our MnPDC Review that explains what we are doing and lays out the questions. You can read the article at http://www.mnpdcouncil.org/PDC%20Review/MovingTowardsExcellenceinTraining.html
This work is emergent. We need to be flexible and see opportunities.
DHS Update
Linda Garrett Johnson and Catharine Cuddeback presented the following:
DHS has hired two consultants to help guide their process.
They see this as truly transformational change. They know where they want to get to but not how to get there.
There are three components to the overall scan:
- Scan profile of trainers and trainings, what we have and gaps
- Scan system for accessibility and (including DHS)
- Integrating scan into system change.
Looking forward to results but process is also important. When the year is over, DHS will have system in place for communication etc that is transparent.
Linda: Coming up with a map of what’s happening out there. Focus groups also help her to see how everyone thinks about a coordinated PD system and to look at systems and infrastructure. This work will inform DHS workplan and RFP process and use these to see how each group can work together/coordinate. They are headed towards a unified voice.
At the end of the day our work must benefit and impact all children and families in Minnesota. We can work backwards from this to what we do with professional development system.
Timeline:
The work had a late start. It started in January not December
The scan will end around September/October
Assessing access will be completed around July
They hope to be putting together a final report in February but they have until June to come up with a final product.
They are still hoping for full implementation by July 08 (fiscal year 09)
The question came up of how Linda’s work and Jesse’s work intersect? Linda and Jesse have not yet met.
Catharine Cuddeback clarified that DHS still sees these tools (Jesse’s work) as a vital part of the system. The Core Competencies are still foundational and delivery is still foundational.
Another question was will the report address duplication?
Yes. There is duplication that’s good and duplication that isn’t. Linda doesn’t see herself making recommendations about what to get rid of, but rather reporting on what is out there and leaving that sort of decision to DHS.
The change process leadership team is an important part of this process. It will meet 4-5 times during the life of the project to look at some of this. The group will take a first look at the model and will inform the final report.
Two more questions were asked:
What about programs that aren’t child care? (Chrysalis, Southside etc.)
Is this in any way going to connect with early childhood services that aren’t housed in ‘DHS any more.
Yes and No. Linda has already spoken to Head Start and some other agencies. They will be mapping out what isn’t connected to DHS (best attempt). The change process leadership team will help look at that map and see what’s missing.
DHS has to start with Child Care and get their own house in order but recognize that children don’t go to Child Care in a vacuum. They must connect with other players.
There was another question about focus groups.
They are not inclusive of everyone; otherwise she wouldn’t ever be able to finish them. The change process leadership team will help with this.
Charlotte Nitardy pointed out that the Wilder workforce study will look at direct care providers.
Linda replied: We are working with them. Catharine Cuddeback commented that she is really excited about this. DHS has had a grip on who the Family Child Care providers are but not center staff.
Dan Wielinski pointed out that the Wilder workforce study looks as though it will be pretty thorough and gather a significant amount of information on professional development.
Workgroup report:
Communication and Resource Development workgroup:
Marie Johnson gave this report:
Sample bookmarks were passed out. These will be on the website for you as collaborators to download and print. Funding to print them is an issue. For now you will just have to print your own. Use them and let us know how you are using them and what feedback you are getting. Someone asked about the font size on the bookmarks? We are working on this but it is hard to make it larger and still fit everything on a bookmark.
The website continues to be developed. We are looking for funding to help us do this.
The workgroup is looking at some web meeting options. One option would be a web cam choice. The group is excited about this and thinks it’s the way to go. This could be somewhat costly depending on the hardware already available to people. The next step is to see if people are comfortable using this and how it would work. We are truly missing folks who should be able to be involved in this process. The group is going to be looking for feedback on this soon. Watch for a survey via Survey Monkey coming soon.
Someone wanted to know what kind of hardware would be needed for this. Anyone with a newer computer can accommodate mikes or webcams.
Is this similar to Webex? Yes, but it’s faster with less gaps.
Linda Garret Johnson reported that she is going to be using something similar to this, for meetings that need to happen in winter when it’s hard to travel. This system won’t require web access, just a computer and a telephone. It’s called Ready Conference.
Report on Chrysalis:
As the host of the meeting Cindy Kelly-Murphy shared the following information about Chrysalis:
Chrysalis started out as a cooperative. At first they made all decisions as a group by consensus. This lasted about a year and then they became a more typical 501c3. There are about 60 staff now.
16,000 women and their families are served annually.
Some of the services Chrysalis provides are:
Full service mental health service
Outpatient mental health for women in their own homes. These women get services for their families as well.
Services to families with a member diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome
Legal services for women.
Many services for children. There are services for children included in all programs as well as two child care programs. There is a group family child care program on-site and drop in child care from 8 am -8:30 pm for moms using services at Chrysalis. There is a parenting time program for parents involved in the courts that need to see their children in safe environment.
The Minnesota R&R Learning Continuum
Jesse Schunk gave her report:
Background for new people:
This is a framework for organizing and supporting the learning and professional development of all who provide child care to Minnesota’s children. They used documents already in use in the state as well as best practice.
This work is all about delivery.
Jesse worked in St. Louise County. They recognized that delivery of child care training in their area was not working effectively. ITTI was the only training that was funded so the area was saturated with ITTI training. Brand new providers and people who had been providers for 30 years were taking the same trainings. There was a high turnover rate among those in their first 3 years in the field. They wanted to create a stages model of training that would promote retention. Right as this model was getting on its feet, DHS/CCR&R folks began to look at creating more consistency statewide. St. Louis County applied for a grant to apply their process to a statewide model.
Jesse met with many people statewide.
They came up with levels of learning based on the Minnesota Core Competencies.
The model had to look at teaching strategies for different levels. What you need coming in isn’t what you need after you’ve been in the field 20 years. You always want instructors to be a level above where their students are. Evaluation tools are also different at different levels.
The bottom line is that this is all about kids.
Jesse and Nancy Dougherty are working on a self assessment tool currently called the “Individualized Training Needs Assessment” tool (ITNA). This is a set of yes and no questions that people can answer that will direct them to the class they need to fill their gaps.
Sheryl Wennermark pointed out the strength of this tool. Jesse commented that providers are liking it.
Karen Jorgensen Royce pointed out that we need to look carefully at the Health and Safety portion of core competencies and making sure it’s included.
Remember, these are all recommendations to DHS. DHS will make the final decisions about which are implemented.
The idea is that we will have continuity across CCR&R training system. We will have bundles. Based on what licensors are telling us, the first block needed as people come in to the field would be health and safety, next would be child development. This tool also helps us look sensibly at translation so that information across the core competencies is translated. Jesse and DHS are also looking at how relationship based training fits with this, since we know how effective relationship based training is.
In closing, Jesse reminded us no to expect this to be delivered to us in a neat package in the next year. Expect it to show up in about 5 years with lots of tweaking. The work is now transitioning to the CCR&R system and out of Jesse’s hands. As of July 1 the CCR&R network will take the lead on this. This is an exciting transition. Jesse is moving on to a new job.
The MnPDC extended its thanks to Jesse for all the work she has been doing with the Council and with the Resource Development and Communications Workgroup. We’ll miss Jesse a lot.
Workgroup report: Articulation
Heidi Malloy gave this report:
This workgroup has developed a PowerPoint presentation for students in community and technical colleges. They have done presentations at several colleges and are now training others who can do the presentation at other colleges. They have clarified the PowerPoint for use by new people, adding notes and comments. They are working with ACCESS (the professional organization for faculty at community and technical colleges) to find other trainers who can use the PowerPoint in their own classes as well as working with people who already do trainings who could incorporate this information into the work they already do.
This workgroup has also been involved with the alignment of the board of teaching licensure standards with the core competencies. They are hoping this work will make it easier to set up articulation agreements as more and more standards are aligned with the core competencies.
This workgroup also has submitted a proposal to the SuperConference for a workshop explaining career development related to higher ed. There would be a panel and a resource table. The resource table would be a place for articulation agreements to go out.
Structure:
Michelle Thole gave this report:
This workgroup has less work as council grows and develops. After much discussion we decided that structure should be chaired by council chair as a sort of an “advisory group” to the Executive Committee. Many thanks to Charlotte for all of her work on the Structure Workgroup.
The Structure Workgroup is recommending the formation of a “diversity task force” to look at issues related to ethnic and cultural diversity within the Council and also in our professional development system. Michelle asked the council for recommendations for this task force.
The Structure Workgroup also recognizes that there are geographical issues for Council and for our professional development system. It charges the Resource Development and Communications group with tackling geographical issues within the council.
Legislative update
Ann McCully summarized the session:
We owe a huge debt to John Hottinger and to Eric Haugee who worked so hard on child care issues this legislative season.
The good news is that a little of everything that was in the bill got in.
There is a new absent day policy that clarifies some part day issue and makes sure parents are notified when they are getting close to their absent day cap.
It’s very exciting to see the accreditation differential put back into place. The differential used to be 10% and now it is 15%!
The legislature passed a 6% increase in the child care sliding fee rate. We would have needed 11% to catch up but at least we’re more than half way. The rate is still frozen, but there is some hope for getting that taken care of next year.
Many child care programs found money to help parents with huge co-pays and then found out legally they couldn’t give parents that help. There is now legislation that clears the way for that help to continue.
Quality enhancements:
The Senate and house compromised. Instead of increasing FCC training hours to 12 they will increase to 8, but new FCC providers will need to have at least 2 hours of child development in the first year.
CPR video training proved to be as effective as face to face so it is now allowed. There is a hope that this will allow many parents to end up with CPR training.
Only 1 million was allocated to QIRS training instead of 2.5 million but it’s a start.
Crib safety item. 85 out of 87 counties allowed variance on cribs so legislation was passed that makes it consistent statewide.
Kindergarten assessment money not what we’d wanted, but it’s a start.
More $ for ECFE.
Stunned to know this package made it through.
We would like to thank Barbara Yates, Linda Garrett-Johnson, Catharine Cuddeback, Jesse Schunk, Ann McCully and the Workgroup Chairs for their reports and updates. |
