In January of 2011, I joined the Coach Mentor team at Child and Family Opportunities, Inc. (CFO) in Ellsworth, Maine. At the time, this was a new project to CFO, and it was funded by the Administration for Children and Families as an innovative nationwide approach to improve the quality of teaching in Head Start classrooms, promote positive, sustained outcomes for children, and promote career development for early childhood professionals working in Head Start classrooms.  The funds that CFO was awarded from this highly competitive grant were used to support our team of three Early Learning Mentor Coaches who provided on-the-job guidance, coaching, training and technical assistance to classroom . . . → Read More: A Reflection on a Year of Coach Mentoring]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/a-reflection-on-a-year-of-coach-mentoring/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/head-start-goes-to-augusta/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/head-start-goes-to-augusta/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:33:18 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1453 Please join other CFO Staff and Parents in Head Start Goes to Augusta

We will meet with our local legislators, tour the State House, learn about the legislative process, and enjoy meeting other parent from around the state.

For more information, please talk with your center’s staff or contact Ellen Savage at 667-2995.

Brain Hero: Following a two-year collaboration with the Interactive Media Division of the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California to develop and test new ways of communicating the science of early childhood development, the Center on the Developing Child has released the collaboration’s first product, “Brain Hero.” The three-minute video depicts how actions by a range of people in the family and community can affect a child’s development. Based loosely on such games as “Guitar Hero,” “SimCity,” and “The Game of Life,” the video adapts the visual sensibility of interactive game models to a video format and portrays how actions taken by parents, teachers, policymakers, and . . . → Read More: Brain Hero]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/brain-hero/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/five-numbers-to-remember-about-early-child-development/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/five-numbers-to-remember-about-early-child-development/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:12:47 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1434 From the Center on the Developing Child of Harvard University:

This feature highlights five numbers to remember about the development of young children. Learn how the numbers illustrate such concepts as the importance of early childhood to the learning, behavior, and health of later life and why getting things right the first time is easier and more effective than trying to fix them later.

View their interactive feature or download the PDF from the Center on the Developing Child’s website.

How Our Brains are Wired

Like building a house, the architecture of the developing . . . → Read More: Invest Early for 2020 Building the Foundation for Maine’s Future]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/invest-early-for-2020-building-the-foundation-for-maines-future/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/maine-veteran-sherriffs-and-jail-administrators-ask-augusta-to-support-head-start/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/maine-veteran-sherriffs-and-jail-administrators-ask-augusta-to-support-head-start/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:57:27 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1420 BY LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF TODD BRACKETT, CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF KEVIN JOYCE, SAGADAHOC COUNTY SHERIFF JOEL MERRY, YORK COUNTY SHERIFF MAURICE OUELLETTE AND TWO BRIDGES REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATOR MARK WESTRUM

From The Times Record on January 20, 2012

Leaders in Augusta are mulling over tough fiscal choices to ensure Mainers get a budget written in black ink.

As veteran sheriffs and jail administrators, we have a request to help prevent future crime: Do not make deep cuts to Head Start and home visiting programs.

These programs offer us an excellent opportunity to cut crime and save public money because crime itself is so expensive.

Make no mistake: Corrections spending is necessary for ensuring that our communities are safe. But funding . . . → Read More: Maine Veteran Sheriffs and Jail Administrators ask Augusta to Support Head Start]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/maine-veteran-sherriffs-and-jail-administrators-ask-augusta-to-support-head-start/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/support-early-education-with-the-st-francis-fair/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/support-early-education-with-the-st-francis-fair/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:13:32 +0000 Rachel Nobel http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1376 Mark your calendars for the  St. Francis Fair!  This summer fundraiser is a great way to attend an annual community event,  find new furniture and treasures for your home, and support early education programs  in your community. This year the date will be Saturday, August 11th, 2012.

Every year St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church in Blue Hill Maine hosts a spectacular event with books, tools, hand crafted items, art, furniture, boats, and more.  The Gentleman Grillers create delectable food items for purchase.  There are also children’s activities with crafts and other projects.   St. Francis also selects a non-profit partner to share in the work and the proceeds. This year Child and Family Opportunities, Inc. has been chosen to be . . . → Read More: Support Early Education with the St. Francis Fair!]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/support-early-education-with-the-st-francis-fair/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/early_education_a_sound_investment/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/early_education_a_sound_investment/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:18:59 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1385 By Bill Miller and Dan Tremble

As with any new year, 2012 will be greeted with well wishes for a bright and prosperous future. But if you’re part of Maine’s business community, you may not share that sentiment.

Unemployment across the state remains historically high, above 7 percent, with more than 50,000 residents looking for work. And just as troubling, the wellspring of Maine’s work force, our education system, continues to struggle with poor academic performance.

Consider these facts: 68 percent of fourth graders in our state read below grade level. More than 60 percent of eighth graders perform below grade level in reading and math, and more than one . . . → Read More: Early education a sound investment]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/early_education_a_sound_investment/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/%e2%80%9cready-by-21%e2%80%9d-ids-assets-goals-for-healthy-growth-of-children-to-adulthood/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/%e2%80%9cready-by-21%e2%80%9d-ids-assets-goals-for-healthy-growth-of-children-to-adulthood/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:35:52 +0000 Rachel Nobel http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1368 Deer Isle

Originally published in Island Ad-Vantages, December 22, 2011 “Ready by 21” IDs assets, goals for healthy growth of children to adulthood

by Jessica Brophy

When it comes to raising and educating area children into healthy and prepared adults, “no single group or program can be solely responsible,” said Healthy Peninsula director Amy Vaughn. Parents, schools, community members and organizations all need to “work together toward a common vision,” continued Vaughn at a Ready by 21 meeting on Thursday, December 1.

Vaughn explained that Ready by 21’s aim is to develop that common vision and set of shared goals with measurable outcomes. Ready by 21 grew out of a Healthy Peninsula work group on substance abuse.

More than 40 . . . → Read More: “Ready by 21” IDs assets, goals for healthy growth of children to adulthood]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/%e2%80%9cready-by-21%e2%80%9d-ids-assets-goals-for-healthy-growth-of-children-to-adulthood/feed/ 0 http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/test-your-%e2%80%9cbrain-architecture%e2%80%9d-knowledge-and-its-impact-on-maine%e2%80%99s-future/ http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/test-your-%e2%80%9cbrain-architecture%e2%80%9d-knowledge-and-its-impact-on-maine%e2%80%99s-future/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:50:30 +0000 Tim Hilton http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/?p=1353 Brought to you by the Maine Head Start Directors Association:

Take the test by viewing the link below:

Brain Architecture IQ Test (PDF)

Quote/Email Statements:

»        Human capital is and always has been one of Maine’s greatest natural resources.

»        “Birth to five early childhood education for disadvantaged children is a cost efficient and effective investment in preventing downstream problems in education, health, social and economic productivity that place large burdens on local, state and national budgets, as well as weaken our global competitiveness and security.”  ~ James Heckman, Economist, Nobel Prize Winner

»        Successful States invest in building equity. In economics, achieving equity is to build lasting value that builds upon itself.  Investment in people builds stronger equity on . . . → Read More: Test your “brain architecture” knowledge and its impact on Maine’s future]]> http://www.childandfamilyopp.org/test-your-%e2%80%9cbrain-architecture%e2%80%9d-knowledge-and-its-impact-on-maine%e2%80%99s-future/feed/ 0