ESU 13: Valuing Partnerships During Week of the Young Child

Partnerships in Early Childhood Education

The week of April 6th through April 12th is a nationally recognized week celebrating early learning, young children, their care and education professionals, families, and communities. All week long we intend to showcase the ways ESU 13 values partnerships with families and early childhood professionals in doing the work of caring and educating young children in our region throughout the year.

Ali’s Story: A Partnership in Early Childhood Education

Ali Manley is a working mom of two-year-old Otis. Ali works for ESU 13 as a Services Coordinator for the Early Development Network (EDN). She trusts her partnership in raising Otis with her child care provider Bert Sayaloune at Country Bear’s Daycare in Scottsbluff. Ali’s story is a wonderful example of partnership and highlights the importance of celebrating Week of the Young Child at ESU 13.

Building Trust through Rooted In Relationships

Bert Sayaloune, the owner of Country Bear’s Daycare, understands the significance of building trust with the children and families she serves. She became a partner with Rooted In Relationships, an initiative focused on the social emotional wellbeing of young children. Through professional development and coaching, Bert has been able to build a strong healthy relationship with Otis and his parents since he came to her as an infant.

Investing in Early Childhood Professionals

Child care professionals play a crucial role in the development of young children. All licensed child care providers are required to have 12 hours of continuing education every year. ESU 13 provides these professional development opportunities through a program called Early Learning Connections. This program is funded by the Nebraska Department of Education and the Child Care Development Block Grant, and it aims to provide learning opportunities throughout the 11-county region. By investing in their own growth and learning, child care professionals can better care for children and support their brain development.

Achieving Quality Standards

Bert’s family home child care program has achieved a Step 5 rating in Nebraska’s quality rating system, Step Up to Quality. This is the highest rating a child care program can receive and is based on various quality indicators, including education, program practices, and interactions with children. Sixpence Sprouting Success has supported Bert in navigating the rating process and provided coaching and learning partner events to help her improve her program. Funding from Sixpence has also helped Bert set goals for her program’s environment.

Partnerships for Future Success

Otis is fortunate to have so many partners who support his growth and development. As he prepares to start preschool at Scottsbluff Public Schools, Bear Cub Preschool, Ali trusts them to be a partner in raising Otis and further developing his brain. The practices, language, and experiences he has gained with Bertie will continue to benefit him in his new learning environment.

Celebrating Partnerships in Early Childhood Education

ESU 13 celebrates Week of the Young Child by recognizing the partnerships that contribute to the success of early childhood programs. These partnerships extend beyond the story of Ali and Otis and include collaborations with Head Start, Early Childhood Multi-tiered Systems of Support, Coach Consulting, community child care providers, University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension’s Early Childhood team, Western Nebraska Community College, Chadron State College, early childhood trainers for the Early Learning Connections, and school district early intervention teams and PreK Planning Region support. These partnerships are essential in ensuring the well-being and development of young children in our communities.

A Grateful Acknowledgment to Parents

To the biggest partners of all, the parents, who trust us every day to help raise the next generation of citizens in the panhandle, thank you!

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
• Indicator 4.2.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age who are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being, by sex.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
• Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age, and location.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: ruralradio.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.