Help Me Grow Skagit

We have launched a new website! Check it out at www.HelpMeGrowSkagit.org. The site is designed to be family-friendly and it is available in English and Spanish!

Gaby Camarena, our Help Me Grow Skagit Family Resource Navigator, is available by phone at (360) 630-8352 Monday through Friday from 9:00am - 4pm. Now, she is also available for in-person appointments! Gaby is onsite at the Children's Museum on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am-2pm to further support families!  

Free eye screening from Cascadia Eye

The North Cascade SDA Church is teaming up with Cascadia Eye's vision clinic staff, Cascadia Surgical, Cascadia Eyewear and Eyewitness Missions, as well as many other medical professionals around our area to provide free vision screening clinic happening Friday, November 4^th and Sunday, November 6^th.

Our goal is to serve those who are under-insured, not insured, or have extreme financial difficulty. The screening exam will include a very short history, uncorrected visual acuity test, intraocular pressure check, refraction and then a glasses fitting and free prescription glasses for those who need them. Spanish translation will be available for those who need it.

Details:

Friday, Nov. 4, 8:30am-3:30pm

Sunday, Nov. 6, 9am to 2:30pm

North Cascade Seventh-Day Adventist Church

800 Peacock Lane, Burlington, WA 98233

People should call 360-755-3853, the direct reservation line, quickly to make an appointment as spots will fill quickly. There will be a Spanish translator available. 

The Incredible Years

Parenting a toddler is rewarding, and often challenging, work! Practice the skills to help decrease frustration and bring more joy to your parenting journey, all while preparing your child for success in school and beyond. 

When: Twice a week from Oct 29 - Dec 17

Saturdays - in person | 9:30-11:30 am

Tuesdays - online over Zoom | 6:15 - 8:15 pm

Cost: Free

Location: In-person sessions are held at the Cedarwood Center | 2100 Hospital Dr., Sedro-Woolley, WA

WIC Breastfeeding Class

Overcome common concerns new parents have around breastfeeding with our friendly and knowledgeable WIC staff. Classes are offered each month in English and Spanish as a low-pressure way to find support, discover tips for feeding, and learn how our staff can help you along the way.

When:

• Thursday Oct. 20 @ 1pm (English)
• Jueves Octubre 20 @ 2:15pm (Español)

Cost: Free

Location: Online - open to anyone pregnant or breastfeeding

HCA - Mental Health Assessment for Young Children Implementation Survey

In January 2022, new policies collectively referred to as mental health assessment for young children (MHAYC) went into effect for children younger than six enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid). The Health Care Authority is launching the MHAYC Implementation Survey to understand how organizations are implementing these new policies, and what additional supports may be needed. It is recommended to work together to formulate their response as an organization. The survey will remain open until Tuesday November 1st, 2022.

Pre-K Inclusion Collaboration Team (PICT) annual convening on Monday October 10th, 2022 (9-1pm) via zoom

This convening will offer workshops to review resources, add insight, and offer recommendations to policy makers and state advisory teams. This convening offers three themes for your participation to share your lived experiences and recommendations:

1.  Relationship Building (Family and Community Partnerships)

2.  Building Sustainable Innovations (professional development, funding, and facilities)

3.  Cultivating Data-driven Decision-making (toolkit, inclusion models, and family partnerships and leadership)

Home Visitor Safety Training – Tuesday, November 1st, 1 pm – 4 pm

Your safety is as important as the work you do to assure the health and safety of Skagit County children and families. Registration is now live for this great training offered at no costs by our wonderful Mount Vernon Police Department team. This training is intended to address the unique health and safety needs of home visiting professionals.

Topics and presenters include:

• Community Service Officer Adam Walker: Personal Safety/Situational Awareness
• Community Service Officer Megan Murphy: De-escalation
• Animal Control Officer Emily Den Hartog: Animal Safety and Awareness
• Sergeant Ben Green: Active Threat Awareness

2022 NAYEC Annual Conference in Washington D.C.

2022 NAEYC Annual Conference will feature over 500 enriching sessions from a variety of topics. Check back on our website regularly for more updates on upcoming sessions!

When: Tuesday November 16th- Saturday November 19th, 2022

Culture. Trauma. Podcast episode

An interview with Dr. Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America on History. Culture. Trauma. “Merrick touches on the importance of public health and what we as a society, do collectively to affect conditions, as well as the importance of positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and of partnerships to achieve prevention.” 

Cutting through the Chaos by Reframing Childhood Adversity

Join the Frameworks Institute Tuesday, October 11^th 9 - 10 am PT for the first in this five-part webinar series on building a 21st-century research agenda for child welfare. For research to make the biggest impact, it is critical to communicate effectively about root causes, equity, and dignity, and how environments shape child and family well-being. 

Early Learning Summit at NW ESD

Join Saturday, November 5^th us for a fun and engaging day of in-person learning with David Matteson, Tim Andrews, NWESD Math Specialist Tina Mott, and others. Our day will be focused on early learning math, writing and literacy, Conscious Discipline techniques, and Universal Design for learning in the classroom. You will leave with an enhanced confidence, a deeper understanding of embedded instruction, and sure-fire ways to support the engagement of every child and family you serve.

Focus on Children Early Learning Conference at Bellingham Technical College

The 2023 Focus on Children Planning Committee is currently seeking individuals and/or organizations who are interested in presenting a workshop at our 39th annual Early Learning conference, which is scheduled to take place in person on Saturday, February 4th, 2023, at Bellingham Technical College. 

Building Parent/Caregiver Leadership into Community, Territory & State System

Start Early is offering a unique learning and coaching series designed to support home visiting leaders to deepen their knowledge, build strategies and access a set of resources that can create a sustainable structure to integrate authentic parent partnerships at a systems level. This learning series, offered free of charge, asks that each state, territory or community interested in participating, select 2-3 systems partners to join the series together as a team.

North Sound ACH Resource Library

North Sound Accountable Community of Health (North Sound ACH) exists to create a just and inclusive culture and the necessary conditions for all community members to thrive. The North Sound ACH Resource Library is designed to make the wisdom, innovations, and best practices that already exist in North Sound accessible–and to link North Sound resources to national frameworks and thought partners.

Indigenous Knowledge Library

The Indigenous Knowledge Library centers Indigenous knowledge on Community Commons by highlighting over 300 newly-curated resources, tools, and stories that advance cultural renewal, intergenerational healing, health equity, and holistic well-being for Indigenous peoples. The library was developed through a landscape analysis of emerging themes in Indigenous knowledge and prioritizes culturally-appropriate work by and/or for Indigenous authors, creators, and communities.

Childcare Aware of Washington Infant Toddler Newsletter

Child Care Aware of Washington is excited to introduce our first regional newsletter specifically geared towards programs serving ages birth to three. The newsletter will highlight our Birth to Three Quality Initiative (B3QI) team, the services we offer, and some resources to support you around a monthly theme. Our vision is for this to be a resource to connect anyone working with infants or toddlers and their families, so please share with your staff and teams

Puget Sound Grantwriters Association

We are a volunteer association focused on providing grant writers in our region with access to professional development opportunities. We offer 3-4 in depth trainings each year, for example a Grantwriting 101 workshop scheduled October 13th.

Skagit Parent to Parent October newsletter now available

The October 2022 Skagit Parent to Parent E-newsletter available now