Weekly News - January 7, 2019
Changes Coming to the Office of Early Childhood, DCF
You may have seen the email that the Alliance sent out last Wednesday, with an article from the Hartford Courant announcing a change to the CT Office of Early Childhood. Each incoming administration decides who it wants to lead various departments, and last week, news came of a familiar name chosen to lead the CT Office of Early Childhood. On January 9, Senator Beth Bye will not take the oath of office for the 5th Senate District, but will begin the process of becoming the newest commissioner of the OEC (she will need to go through a confirmation process). This now puts the 5th Senate seat back in play for a special election. Several names have been put forth as potential candidates - this CT Mirror story breaks down the race to fill the seat. To read more about Beth's appointment, click HERE. Photo - Sen. Bye named a 2018 Children's Champion by the CT Early Childhood Alliance.
Governor-Elect Lamont has also appointed a new Commissioner to the Department of Children and Families. Vanessa Dorantes is currently a DCF administrator, working in the Waterbury-Danbury-Torrington region. She is one of six regional DCF administrators and has worked in the DCF system since 1992. The Hartford Courant profiled Dorantes, who, like Beth Bye, will have to go through the confirmation process. Click HERE to learn more about her.
The CT Mirror published a story on legislators who have taken new positions within the Lamont Administration. In total, three senators (Bye, Gerratana and Larson) and two representatives (Albis and Soto) have been appointed to new jobs within the administration. Senators Bye and Larson will need legislative confirmation.
Read moreWeekly News - December 10, 2018
QRIS Presentation from Alliance Meeting Available
Michelle Levy of the CT Office of Early Childhood presented on the Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS) at our December Alliance meeting - her presentation is attached. As expected, there were a lot of questions and we ran out of time to answer them all. The QRIS document itself may be ready by the end of the year for review. The presentation is available HERE and we have set up a Google form for questions to be submitted and answered by the OEC.
Read moreWeekly News - November 26, 2018
Alliance Meeting Features Presentation on QRIS Plan
On Thursday, December 6, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the CT Early Childhood Alliance will hold its monthly meeting at Graustein Memorial Fund in Hamden. Our guest presenter will be Michelle Levy from the CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to talk about the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) plan. Non-members are allowed to attend two meetings of the Alliance before considering membership. If you would like to attend the December meeting and see what the Alliance is about, please RSVP HERE. Please be ready to start at 9 a.m., as we need to be out of the meeting room promptly at 11 a.m.
The Alliance Steering Committee will meet following the regular meeting.
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