In an event organized by Adele Berzinis, a Bucksport ECEC parent, preschool and elementary aged children at the Jewett School got to explore a 26-foot U.S. Coast guard boat, try on life jackets, and read stories about water safety. Each child also received books to keep.

The Coast Guard members were: Chief Timothy Chase; Cameron Morgan, Joe Tkaczuk, Anna Layman, Kevin Grant, Matthew Santana, Joe Holt, Tara Frey, Sami Jasser, Jason Gwiazdzinski, Sean Larranaga, and Joshua Schmidt.

Check out our Facebook Photo Album of the event (and . . . → Read More: Boat and Water Safety at Bucksport ECEC]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/boat-and-water-safety-at-bucksport-ecec/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/cfo-congratulates-linda-shepard-for-her-35-years-of-service/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/cfo-congratulates-linda-shepard-for-her-35-years-of-service/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:07:16 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1608 On March 30th 2012, Linda Shepard of the Stonington Early Care and Education Center, also known as Island Head Start, was honored at the Child and Family Opportunities, Inc.  All Staff celebration for her 35 years of service.   Linda, a former Head Start parent and grandparent, has helped support generations of Stonington and Deer Isle children through her dedication to early education.  She has been a mentor and strong supporter of  teachers, families, and community members throughout her years. Some of her former students are now teachers with her at CFO!  Congratulations and Thank You to Linda for all of her wonderful years of service!

Doug Orville congratulating Linda Shepard on her 35 years of service at CFO's All Staff . . . → Read More: CFO Congratulates Linda Shepard for her 35 Years of Service]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/cfo-congratulates-linda-shepard-for-her-35-years-of-service/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/childrens-health-fair-sponsored-by-healthy-peninsula-a-program-of-cfo/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/childrens-health-fair-sponsored-by-healthy-peninsula-a-program-of-cfo/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:43:45 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1595 By James Straub, April 2, 2012 – The Ellsworth American

STONINGTON — For two dozen youngsters, it was nothing but fun.

Little did they know the games they played were part of valuable health, developmental and dental screenings offered at an Early Childhood Health Fair last Saturday.

Amy Vaughn, director of Healthy Peninsula, said the health fair sponsored by Ready by 21 attracted 23 children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years, their families and dozens of community members and health-care providers.

Vaughn said the enthusiastic turnout makes it certain that other health fairs will be held in the future.

“Each family left with a new book, plenty of early literacy and kindergarten readiness materials, a recipe . . . → Read More: Children’s Health Fair in Stonington a Success]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/childrens-health-fair-sponsored-by-healthy-peninsula-a-program-of-cfo/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/aloha-rdc/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/aloha-rdc/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:21:29 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1582

CCO Resource Development Center 1987-2012

On March 30th 2012, the Child Care Opportunities Resource and Development Center ( CCO-RDC ) will officially close its operations due to loss of funding through DHHS.  Child Care Opportunities is a program of Child and Family Opportunities, Inc. and has been in operation since 1987.  Other services offered by CFO such as Head Start, Early Head Start and childcare are not impacted by this cut and will continue as usual.

The CCO-RDC is a child care resource and referral agency serving Hancock and Washington counties and has provided a single point of access for parents seeking child care or information related to child care, as well training, technical assistance and consultation to child care providers.

DHHS has instructed . . . → Read More: Child Care Opportunities Resource Development Center Closing Operations March 30th, 2012]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/child-care-opportunities-resource-development-center-closing-operations-march-30th-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/legislators-worked-hard-to-protect-maines-children/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/legislators-worked-hard-to-protect-maines-children/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:10:59 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1555

From the Kennebec Journal on March 9th, 2012

Kudos to Maine’s state legislators for their hard work to protect services for our state’s youngest, most vulnerable children.

As law enforcement leaders, we strongly support the Legislature’s effort to pass a budget that avoids cuts to Head Start, home visiting and child care subsidies for low-income working parents. Looking after our youngest kids and offering them a better future is a key ingredient to safer and healthier communities.

Research has shown that kids who participate in high-quality early learning programs are better prepared as they enter kindergarten. Better students are more likely to graduate on time and are more likely to be employed as adults and less likely to be . . . → Read More: Legislators worked hard to protect Maine’s children]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/legislators-worked-hard-to-protect-maines-children/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/c-morrison-vision-for-the-long-term/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/c-morrison-vision-for-the-long-term/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:15:43 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1551

By Charles “Chip” Morrison Published on Saturday, Mar 3, 2012 at 12:12 am | Last updated on Saturday, Mar 3, 2012 at 12:12 am

I am drawn to recent comments of Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass about the skills gap in Maine (Feb. 19). Sadly, it is true that some Maine employers are offering good jobs at high wages but cannot find workers with the skills to do those jobs. Even before the recession, a national survey of employers revealed businesses were facing major deficiencies in the work force, with many new employees lacking communication skills, a sense of professionalism and the ability to think critically under pressure.

Although we need to train and retrain current workers, we also need to have the vision for a long-term strategy to . . . → Read More: C. Morrison: Vision for the long term]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/c-morrison-vision-for-the-long-term/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/head-start-goes-to-augusta-2/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/head-start-goes-to-augusta-2/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:27:08 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1523 On February 22nd Child and Family Opportunities, Inc. Head Start parents and staff attended Head Start Goes to Augusta, a day of honor and learning in the State capital.  On this date representatives from Head Start programs throughout Maine visited State Legislators in Augusta to share their stories about the positive difference this program makes in the lives of families. The group also toured the Senate and House of Representatives to learn about government and ways to participate in the legislative process as citizens. Participants were also invited to engage in a mock-hearing to learn about the legislative process.

This event was the second Head Start goes to Augusta visit for Stephanie Moores, a past Head Start Parent and . . . → Read More: Head Start Goes to Augusta]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/head-start-goes-to-augusta-2/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/st-francis-fair/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/st-francis-fair/#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:21:16 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1519 Mark your calendars for the St. Francis Fair! Spring is right around the corner, and its time to start choosing which items to include in your spring cleaning. The St. Francis Fair is a wonderful place to donate your books, art, jewelry, furniture and more. Every year St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill hosts this spectacular yard-sale event, and selects a local non-profit partner to share in the work and the proceeds. This year Child and Family Opportunities Inc,  which operates nearby Head Start centers in Sedgwick, Bucksport, Stonington and Ellsworth, has been chosen to be the partner for the 2012 fair. The Gentleman Grillers will create delectable food items for purchase, and there will be children’s activities with . . . → Read More: St. Francis Fair]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/st-francis-fair/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/take-a-break/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/take-a-break/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:17:55 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1507 . . . → Read More: Take a Break]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/take-a-break/feed/ 0