Transcript Supporting the Educational Needs of Young Children

DCFS School Readiness
Planning Initiative
Insure that all young
children in the
system start school
ready to learn
– Physically
– Socially
– Emotionally
– Cognitively
School Readiness
Developmental Tasks
• Follow directions
• Get along with
other children
• Be away from
parents for a few
hours at a time
• Show an interest in
the world and how
things work
• Ask an adult for
help
• Say and write the
alphabet
• Use words to
express feelings
and thoughts
• Go to the bathroom
independently
Quality Preschool A Priority for Our Kids
• Brain Research – early years critical to healthy
development and school success
• Impact of trauma and / or disruption is magnified
in young children; 0 – 6 year olds most ‘at-risk’
• Our kids are developmentally behind
• Our kids need to feel like ‘normal kids’ – playing,
make friends, get positive attention from caring
adults in a safe environment
Risks to Long Term Success
Developmental
Outcomes
Long Term School
Success
• Emotional stability and
mental health
• Social ability to connect
with others
• Basic physical health
• Cognitive abilities
• Early detection and
resolution of problems
• School achievement
• Special education
• Drop out rates
Children in the Child Welfare System
• Trauma, chronic stress. child abuse and neglect all
impede cognitive and emotional development
• 80% of all children in the child welfare system are
at risk for medical and developmental problems
related to maternal substance abuse
• More than half suffer from physical health
problems
• Over half have developmental delays
• Many experience multiple placements and moves
that compromise social and emotional development
» National Center for Children in Poverty
Step One:
Enroll all wards and children
of wards in quality preschool
•
•
•
Head Start
State PreKindergarten
NAEYC Accredited
Child Care Center
Quality Preschool Contributes to
School Readiness for Our Kids
• Social and emotional
development curriculum
• Experience in a school
environment
• Staff who have worked
with children experiencing
stress or difficulties at
home
• Mental health consultants
Quality Preschool Helps
Foster Parents
• A welcoming environment for parents at all
times
• Help and support with children’s behavior
and parenting
• Services for families in times of need
• Screenings, medical treatments and
therapies on site
• Supervised visits with biological parents
• Opportunities for parents to meet other
parents and get involved
FY 06 Directions
• Preschool will be part of all young wards
educational plans
• Increase capacity of local child care
centers to work with children in the
system including transitions
• Increase family support and mental health
consultation services at local preschools
Strengthening Families through
Early Care and Education Illinois
• Brings together 21 partner organizations
and state agencies from the child welfare,
child abuse prevention, family support and
early childhood fields as well as parents and
community leaders
• Works with early childhood centers so they
work better with families – including foster
families
• Builds relationships between child welfare
agencies and child care centers
5 SFI Pilot Areas
• Lawndale / Pilsen /
Little Village in
Chicago
• Kane County
• Southern 7 + 4
(counties)
• Peoria
• South Suburban Cook
County
DCFS Priorities
• All children in the system ready for school
• Enhance quality of early care and education
programs to do trauma-informed work
• Integrate child abuse prevention efforts
• Strengthen working relationships between
caseworkers & early childhood programs
• DCFS Staff & contract child welfare agencies
see early care and education as part of healthy
child development plan
How We Can Work Together
• Volunteers to provide input and feedback on
materials and strategies for foster parents and
caseworkers
• Help us learn more from foster parents
• Promote value of early care and education among
all foster parents caring for young children
• Foster parent participation in SFI pilot
communities
• Maintain ongoing communication about the
initiative
“Remediating the effects of abuse and neglect
experienced during early childhood at later ages requires
much more intensive, long-term, and costly treatment
than early responses …
The best time to address these important issues is
during early childhood, and the children who
enter the child welfare system in the early years
are those most in need of this early response.”
--
Linda McCart and Charles Bruner
“Child Welfare and School Readiness
Making the Link for Vulnerable Children”
Contact:
Lina Cramer
Strengthening Families Illinois
[email protected]
847-475-2215