July 2019 Newsletter
What We've Been Up To
Planning an Impactful Convening
'Til All the Children Are Well
Thursday, September 19th, 2019
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
8777 Georgia Ave. | Silver Spring, MD 20910

Please join us! Highlights for this year include an analysis of Opportunity Zones, lessons learned from the first round of Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act (SIPPRA) applications, a panel that tackles equity and inclusion considerations, and the philanthropic perspective on outcome-driven grant-making and investing.

The day will end with a networking reception. Please review the draft agenda for more details. 
Discounted Student Registration - $75*
*You must register with your .edu email address to receive discount.
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What Last Year's Attendees Said
Featured Clip
United Way of Greenville County: Founding Partner
Video Clip #3

ICS commissioned an informational video to raise awareness of the good things we are doing in the fields of child development, health care and education, as well as in communities (from Capitol Hill to state capitols to city & county councils to homes) to improve outcomes for young children.

We asked our partners and supporters to define ICS and have included a brief clip of the video above. We hope that you look forward to gaining insight on the perspectives of our colleagues across government, academia, non-profit and philanthropy as we highlight a different partner each month.  
Out & About
This is us!

The ICS staff gathered in Asheville, North Carolina on July 10 and 11 for two productive days of reflection and planning during its annual retreat. Although this year’s theme was “Into the Woods,” we stayed “Out of the Weeds” and focused on strategy and capacity building.  

Left to right, front row: Amber Posey, Amanda McDougald Scott, Bryan Boroughs, Mary Garvey. Back row: Megan Carolan, Christina Vazquez, Lisa Maronie and Jamie Moon.
Best Wishes!

ICS wishes our first post baccalaureate Health Policy Fellow, Sean Rusnak, the very best as he concludes his fellowship and heads to Colorado for graduate studies as well as a lifetime of meaningful work! The post baccalaureate fellow position is shared amongst a coalition that includes ICS, the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health at Furman University, LiveWell Greenville, and the Piedmont Health Foundation. At ICS specifically, Sean was a major contributor to the SC Early Childhood Data Book and several other soon-to-be-released publications. Thank you, Sean!

To learn more about the partnership’s new Health Policy Fellow, please see the Bulletin Board section below.

Pictured left to right is Eli Hestermann, Katy Smith, Sean Rusnak, Sally Wills, and Jamie Moon.   
Resources
Guest Blog
Every Child is a Writer: Examining our Perspectives can Change our Messaging
By Anna H. Hall, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in the College of Education at Clemson University

Excerpt: Children are naturally motivated to write at a young age. In order to continue to nurture this desire for written expression, it is crucial that early childhood educators focus their writing instruction primarily on content, process, and meaning (composition) and that families and community stakeholders understand and celebrate the phases of early writing development.

Handwriting instruction is only a small strand of writing development and that proximal stability (core and trunk strength) and distal mobility (coordinated movement of body parts farther from the core) are prerequisite foundations for formal handwriting instruction in the primary grades – two abilities that can be strengthened through play .

Policymakers who are interested in fostering writing skills must focus on more than just the existence of handwriting instruction and ensure that teachers have access to preparatory and in-service trainings to learn the full range of writing skills children should develop.

Continue reading how adults can help ensure that children develop the composition, handwriting, and spelling skills necessary to grow into life-long writers. 
Blog
Digital Decisions: How Policymakers & Families can Navigate Technology for Young Children

By Megan Carolan, Director of Policy Research
Excerpt: By now, you have probably heard that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one hour of screen time per day for children aged 2 to 5 years, and recommends high-quality programming. They also now note that video chatting with loved ones doesn’t count against this time limit, which is good news f or long-distance grandparents and other loved ones.

But what does it mean for technology to be high-quality for children?

Continue reading for technology usage recommendations and ways to reevaluate your approach to technology for young children.
Through August 8, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is accepting nominations for the 2019 Unsung Hero Award .

This award is for individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary care to
enhance the well-being of children in South Carolina’s kinship families. Formal (licensed) and informal (non-licensed) kinship caregivers in South Carolina who have provided care for a relative’s child throughout the preceding year or longer are eligible for nomination (fictive kin are also eligible).
Upcoming Events
Growing Healthy in Nature: Outdoor Learning Lab

ICS is serving as an ABC Quality community partner to help host an outdoor learning lab on August 7. Easley, SC will discover its own version of Scotland "Yard" when guest speaker and internationally renowned Scottish outdoor play expert, Claire Warden, shares and teaches her philosophy of "nature pedagogy" with early childhood educators. 
The Outdoor Learning Lab is an innovative learning opportunity for ABC Quality child care providers wanting to enhance their program's outdoor learning environment. Participants will experience a day of “Forest School." 
Building Resilience Through Relationships to Combat Childhood Trauma Conference

A step for community members to help children and families learn strategies to manage stress and navigate difficult experiences...to improve mental and physical health outcomes. Conference participants will leave with a better understanding of how they can foster resilience in our children through their own actions and through partnering with local community resources to support families. 

Friday, September 6, 2019
8:00 am – 3:15 pm
First Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC
 
Ideal for people who work with children and youth professionally, are church staff, scout leaders, counselors, students, etc.

Children’s Trust Building Hope for Children Conference
 
Children's Trust of South Carolina is hosting its biennial prevention conference focused on building educational, health care and community resources.
September 5-6, 2019
Hyatt Regency
Downtown Greenville, SC
 
ICS Policy Research Director, Megan Carolan and Policy Research Associate, Amanda McDougald Scott will present session, " Using Public Data as a Foundation for Child Flourishing."
 
South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Conference
ICS Senior Fellows will present at the 2019 SCAEYC Conference: Turning the Key for Young Readers , taking place in West Columbia on October 5. Dr. Dee Stegelin will present "Play-Based and Literacy - Rich instructional Strategies and Environmental Supports for Trauma-Impacted Early Learners" at 12:00 pm, and Mary MacKenzie's session, “Running to Read and Write" will be held at 2:30 pm.
Bulletin Board
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ICS is pleased to announce that Caitlin Hay is our new, post baccalaureate Health Policy Fellow. The position is shared amongst ICS, the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health at Furman University, LiveWell Greenville, and the Piedmont Health Foundation. 

Caitlin graduated from Furman University in May with a Biology degree and plans to attend medical school in the future. While at Furman, Caitlin pursued coursework that focused on the role of social determinants in health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. She is excited to incorporate what she learns through her fellowship into her future work as a physician. 
United Way of Connecticut has awarded ICS a contract to provide consulting services to build an early childhood resource investment portfolio, and conduct and produce a feasibility study for scaling the Bridgeport Baby Bundle framework statewide using private and public resources.  
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