Who's Caring for the Kids 2008 Update of the Illinois Early Childhood Workforce

Because you count...make sure you're counted! The McCormick Tribune Foundation is sponsoring a 2008 update of Who's Caring for the Kids? The initial report was published in 2001 as a joint effort by the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership and the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA). This report helped set the stage for many innovations in Illinois, including the development of Gateways to Opportunity, Preschool for All, and other educational opportunities for early childhood professionals like you.

Illinois directors --- If you haven't already completed and returned the director's survey that was sent to your center, please take ten minutes out of your busy schedule to answer some questions about different aspects of your professional role. You can access the survey online. The survey should be completed by the on-site administrator who has the primary responsibility for planning, implementing, and evaluating the early care and education program. Thank you.

The 2008 report will be shared with policymakers, leaders of state agencies, and practitioners. It will be available online in September.

Research Notes (Winter 2008)
The Dynamic Relationship Between Child Care Work Environments and Learning Environments

The child care industry has long struggled with poor working conditions, low wages, a lack of benefits, and low status, all contributing to an unstable and undereducated workforce. Research has shown that the ability to recruit and retain qualified teachers is impacted not only by wages and benefits, but the quality of the work environment. There has been little empirical research, however, on the relationship between the child care work environment and classroom global quality. What is the relationship between program administration and global quality? What is the relationship between organizational climate and global quality? What is the relationship between a program's administrative practices and staffs' perceptions of organizational climate? These questions were the focus of a recently published study, Child Care Work Environments: The Relationship with Learning Environments, by researchers Lower and Cassidy. Read more »

Online Discussion with Kathy Modigliani
Family Child Care: Providing Quality Everyday
March 3-8, 2008

Join early childhood professionals from across the country for a week-long online discussion with Kathy Modigliani. Dr. Modigliani is director of the Family Child Care Project in Arlington, MA. She has studied family child care for 25 years; consulted with numerous national organizations, foundations, and governmental agencies; and evaluated over 50 community family child care initiatives. At Wheelock College's Centers for Child Care Policy and Training, Kathy led the development of the provider accreditation system for the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). Beginning Monday, March 3 participants can go to our Web site to join the discussion.

Full-Day Technology Workshops

The Center is offering two full-day technology workshops this spring. The registration fee of $45 will be waived for the first 15 early childhood administrators who sign up. Funding is provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). To register, download a brochure and complete the registration form or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056 or debra.trudesuter@nl.edu.

Learning the Essentials of Web Design – Last Chance to Register!
Black Hawk College Outreach Center, Quad Cities (Map and Directions)
Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Begin the process of creating a Web presence for your program. Learn the basics of HTML, Web authoring tools, graphics, and design principles that you can immediately put to use. This full-day, interactive workshop will be held at the Black Hawk College Outreach Center from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A lunch break will be provided.

Exploring the World of Digital Photography
John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL (Map and Directions)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Bring the world of digital photography to your center. Learn about pixels and image sizes; capturing, storing, and sharing images; editing images; and displaying your images in marketing and promotional materials. This full-day, interactive workshop will be held at John A. Logan College in Room F111 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A lunch break will be provided. Participants may receive undergraduate credit for attending the workshop.

Leadership Connections Conference
The Westin Chicago North Shore (Map and Directions)
May 15-17, 2008

Simply the best conference in the country for early childhood administrators. Three jam-packed days of skill-building sessions, networking, and fun. Return rejuvenated and ready to take your program to a new level. Total conference package is $400. The discounted rate for groups of 10 or more is $375. Participants can now register online. For more information including sponsorship opportunities, download a conference brochure or contact Donna Jonas at (800) 443-5522, ext.5058 or donna.jonas@nl.edu.

Optional Preconference Activities – Limited Space, Register Soon!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Chicago Children's Museum Tour and Documentation Workshop: Explore the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier and enjoy a workshop on documentation. Box lunch and evening dessert reception included. There is an additional $70 fee for this tour and pre-registration is required.

Belmont-Cragin/Gertrude B. Nielsen Child Care and Learning Center Tour: Explore the Reggio inspired Belmon-Cragin Center in Chicago then tour the premiere Gertrude B. Nielsen Child Care and Learning Center in Northbrook. Box lunch and evening dessert reception included. There is an additional $70 fee for this tour and pre-registration is required.

Getting Ready for the PAS: This session provides an overview of the Program Administration Scale (PAS). The PAS is designed to measure the quality of leadership and management practices of center-based early childhood programs. After completing this training, providers will have a basic knowledge of the PAS, be able to use the tool for program improvement, and know how to prepare for a PAS assessment. This training is required to apply for star levels 3 and 4 of the Illinois Quality Counts: Quality Rating System. There is an additional $15 fee for this session and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Terese Amidei at (847) 640-9590 or tamidei@childrenshomeandaid.org.

Taking Charge of Change – OUR 16TH YEAR!
National-Louis University, Wheeling, Illinois Campus Annex (Map and Directions)
Summer Institute: August 4-9, 2008

Join the ranks of over 400 directors in Illinois who have taken part in this extraordinary professional development experience. Taking Charge of Change is guaranteed to transform how you think about your role as an early childhood leader. Training begins with a six-day residential institute August 4-9, 2008 at the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership in Wheeling. Topics focus on individual and organizational change and the director's role as change agent. A comprehensive model for improving the quality of early childhood programs is presented. A follow-up retreat will be held November 13-15, 2008 where participants report on their progress in implementing a program improvement plan. Taking Charge of Change culminates with four days of training in conjunction with Leadership Connections in May 2009.

This training opportunity is limited to 28 participants. Priority is given to early childhood administrators of DCFS-licensed and license-exempt programs serving low-income children. Funding has been provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Participants' portion is only $400 for all housing, food, texts, and materials. Application deadline is June 23, 2008. For more information, download a brochure or contact Debra Trude-Suter at (800) 443-5522, ext. 5056 or debra.trudesuter@nl.edu.