April 2010

STATEWIDE MEETING
"It's All About Relationships!"

On April 16, Thrive hosted the first-ever meeting for more than 80 leaders from the Thrive Demonstration Communities and the state's early learning coalitions - including coalitions supported by Thrive as well as coalitions supported by the Foundation for Early Learning.

The theme of the meeting was strengthening relationships so that we can better support families and children. Discussions centered around strengthening internal systems, strategic networking, and the potential role for early learning  coalitions under the new statewide early learning plan.

EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS
Literacy and Learning - Fun for the Whole Family!

This year, Thrive is working with the 10 early learning coalitions it supports to implement a statewide project that focuses on early literacy and family literacy. Through the "Share a Story!" project, friends throughout the early learning community will invite families to create a special Family Story Book. This project,  which runs through Father's Day, will not only underscore the importance of early literacy but also family literacy as well. Goals for this project include:

Thrive worked closely with Humanities Washington, the state coordinator of Motheread, to develop this project.

Learn more about the project here.

THRIVE WELCOMES NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Introducing Sangree Froelicher

On May 10, Sangree Froelicher joins Thrive by Five Washington as Deputy Director, bringing with her an extensive knowledge of early learning in Washington state. Most recently she was part of the leadership team that drafted the statewide early learning plan and the policy recommendations to the governor.

Over the past 13 years, Sangree has held key roles at the Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network, the Department of Social and Health Services and, most recently, the state Department of Early Learning.

Please join us in welcoming Sangree to Thrive!

LEARNING FOR LIFE

Learning for Life airs weekly on Wednesday mornings between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m. on KONG 6/16. This month a number of exciting topics were covered including:

	Postpartum Depression: What it Means for Mom and Baby: Watch Heidi Koss Nobel, executive director of Postpartum Support International of Washington, talk about what postpartum depression is, what to look for, how to get help and what it can mean for baby when mom is depressed during this important period in their growth and development.
	Teaching Languages to Young Children: Watch Jackie Friedman Mighdoll, founder of Seattle-based Sponge, a school that offers language classes for young children, talk about the research that supports exposing young children to one or more languages, the best way to help children learn a new language and the options are available for older children.
	Interview with Founder of Sponge Laungage School: Jackie Friedman Mighdoll, the founder of the Sponge children's language school, explains why learning a foreign language early in life can help your child's language development.
	Investing in Kids Now Fights Crime Later: In this Learning for Life segment, Laura Wells, state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Washington, and Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar help us celebrate national Week of the Young Child by talking about what law enforcement leaders and violence survivors in our state and throughout the country - more than 5,000 strong - are doing to help give kids a good start in life.
	How to Best Discipline Young Children: This week on Learning for Life, Carolyn Pirak of Seattle-based Talaris Institute talks about a discipline approach that's preferred by child experts, what to keep in mind when you are disciplining your child and what to do if you're having trouble getting the behavior you want from your child.

Please send any story ideas about people, programs and work being done to support children from birth to age 5 to molly@thrivebyfivewa.org. All Learning for Life news stories, interviews and specials can be viewed online.

REFOCUSING
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