MS Early Childhood Development Coalition October Updates

OUTREACH EFFORTS

In October, the Mississippi Early Childhood Development Coalition (ECDC) shared our materials, including new brochures and business cards, with the following groups: 

• Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
• Good Shepherd Community Center/Preschool
• Mississippi Early Childhood Association
• Mississippi State Department of Health
• Midtown Partners
• Crossgates Methodist Children’s Center
• Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s early childhood education program
• Delta Diaper Bank
• Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
• The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi
• business leaders at Mississippi Families for Kids’ Children’s Golf Classic
• American Academy of Pediatrics – Mississippi Chapter
• other child care programs

ECDC members staffed tables and shared information about the coalition at the following events: 

• Mississippi Early Childhood Association Conference
• Disability-Friendly Day at the Mississippi State Fair

At the Mississippi Early Childhood Association Conference, three of our members also facilitated a presentation about the coalition and our resources. 

Through the Mississippi State Department of Health’s BLOOM Network, we added the ECDC to the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center & DARTS Transportation Community Resource Manual. 

MAKING CONNECTIONS

In October we provided the following connections:

• Connected the American Academy of Pediatrics – Mississippi Chapter with Help Me Grow Mississippi and Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center around early childhood resources
• Connected a member to other coalition members who could support with early educator survey efforts
• Connected members with others who may want to help promote their work
• Connected a member with organizations that provide Individualized Education Program (IEP) support
• Connected families with an opportunity to participate in a task force related to child care

MEETING ACTIVITIES

Our October full coalition meeting included two Spotlight Speakers:

• Melissa Luckett, MSU’s Social Science Resource Center – Early Childhood Math Guide
• Cheryl Dexter, The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi – Risk & Reach Report

At this meeting, we introduced changes to our bylaws and a new policy statement on advocacy and signing requests, shared several proposed action items to follow up on our recent 20-question member survey and planning team retreat, facilitated a networking activity, and highlighted a Planning Team Member of the Month.

JOIN US TODAY!

Want to become a member of the ECDC? Find out more and join us: https://mffk.org/ecdc/.