Alliance 2019-2021 Steering Committee

At the Alliance meeting on November 7, our members elected a slate of officers and steering committee members. The following members will serve on our steering committee:

• Jennifer Quaye-Hudson, CT Voices for Children - Co-Chair
• Izzi Greenberg, Middlesex Coalition for Children - Co-Chair
• Georgia Goldburn, Hope for New Haven - Vice Chair/Treasurer
• Edie Reichard, Sleeping Giant Day Care/State-Funded Director's Forum -Vice Chair
• Eva Bermudez-Zimmerman, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, Advocacy Chair
• Cindy Bryan, Educational Playcare, Membership/Nominating Chair
• Liz Fraser, CAHS, Fiscal Agent
• Amy Cubbage, CAEYC, Steering Committee Member
• Julie Giaccone, CREC, Steering Committee Member
• Joanne Kelleher, Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, Steering Committee Member
• Jill Marini, Hartford Region YWCA, Steering Committee Member
• Sue Radway, Riverfront Children's Center, Steering Committee Member
• Jade Thomas, All Our Kin, Steering Committee Member
• Gail Nolan, Alliance for Bloomfield's Children, Ex-Officio Member
• Karen Rainville, Waterbury School Readiness, Ex-Officio Member

World Premiere Video Talks Toxic Stress

The Center on the Developing Child has released a new video on toxic stress: "Stress and Resilience: How Toxic Stress Affects Us, And What We Can Do About It."

We know that healthy development can be derailed by excessive or prolonged activation of stress response systems in the body and brain. We know that toxic stress can have damaging effects on learning, behavior, and health across the lifespan. But what can we do when someone we care about is affected by toxic stress?

In this video, learn more about what toxic stress is, how it can affect you, and what you can do—both by yourself and in connection with your community—to deal with what you're experiencing.

To watch via YouTube, click on the screenshot below.

More Attacks on SNAP - This Time, Through SUA

From the Coalition on Human Needs: Under current law, SNAP takes into account the utility expenses of each SNAP household. States adjust household benefits based on a state-specific Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) calculated by the state and approved by USDA. The current policy allows variances in SUAs to accommodate for differences in utility costs and rates, and allows states flexibility in how they calculate those costs. The Trump administration’s proposed rule would standardize and cap SUA calculations across the country based on inadequate survey data ― substantially cutting essential benefits for 7.2 million Americans in the process.

Tell Sec. Perdue: This rule change would exacerbate the struggles of millions of low-income Americans. The proposed rule is flawed and must be withdrawn.

You can take action HERE. This brief by Food Research and Action Center is also helpful for background information.

CTAEYC to Host "Resilience" Film in Hamden

The New Haven Chapter of CTAEYC will be hosting a free screening of "Resilience," on Tuesday, December 3, at Hamden Middle School. Dinner will be at 5:30 p.m., movie and discussion from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. RSVP to [email protected]. The showing is free, but please consider bringing non-perishable food items to be donated to the Hamden Food Bank.

CT DOTS Intermediate Pilot

From the Office of Early Childhood Division of Quality Improvement: If you have been using CT DOTS already and attended an OEC approved CT DOTS Introductory Training, consider registering for the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System Intermediate Pilot.  See attached flyer for details on a two part training to be held Nov. 25 and Dec.16 at C.E.S in Trumbull. These sessions are provided at no cost, thanks to support from the RESC Alliance and funding from the OEC Division of Quality Improvement. The flier can be found HERE. The registration link should be accessible through the flier. If not, click HERE. Click on the link to "register or view course offerings" (mid-page), then scroll to the section on Early Childhood.

Childhood Conversations/Together We Will Request for Presenters

The 2020 conference is seeking presenters for Friday, April 3, 2020, at the Hartford-Windsor Marriott. The conference theme is: "Together We Will...Explore the Landscape of Equity and Bias Through the Lens of Social-Emotional Learning." The conference planners are seeking workshop proposals that provide participants with the opportunity to learn about relevant and timely topics related to equity and bias in the context of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Proposal deadline is Friday, November 29. The RFP can be found at http://childhoodconvo.wpengine.com/

Support for the Alliance comes from of our members and our funders: Alliance for Early Success, Children's Fund of Connecticut, Connecticut Community Foundation, CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, a project of CT Council of Philanthropy; Community Foundation of Greater New Britain; Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and the Partnership for America's Children.