June 12, 2002
 Minutes of the June 12, 2002 Steering Committee Meeting
 
Attendance:                 
Karen Schneider , Jeanette Fleury , LouAnn Gregory , Sharon Thorp , Liza Ing, Leona Moreno , Linda Bolton, Elizabeth Kruger, Becky Johnson, Cindy Maans , Julie Vanhala, Michelle Gabalis, Brenda Kailing, Diana Bongard , Danielle Marek, Pam Forbes , Darcy Lokers, Joyce Harmsen, Stan DeVoir, Betsy Cope , Sherry Marks, Linda Myers, Cindy Bay-Barron and Trina Hooker.
 
I.          The meeting was opened with a welcome from Fleury.
 
II.         Update: Schneider reported:
a.       Enrollment status to date is 828 families, including 1107 children
b.       Budget carryover for both Year 1 and Year 2 has been approved. There is currently no Year 3 funding available.
c.       Evart’s Coordinator, Thorp, has accepted a teaching position in the Chippewa Hills School district , and will be leaving the ASAP-PIE program the end of June.  Gregory, Coordinator in the Reed City School District will assume Thorp’s administrative responsibilities in Evart.  The position of office assistant in Evart will be terminated.
d.       Contract renewals for Year 2 are complete.
e.       On board with us through December, 2002 are two social work students from Ferris State University , Jennifer Lasala and Latonya Williams.  Lasala and Williams will be working closely with our parent educators as they plan family fun nights, play groups, and attend home visits with a family assisted by a parent educator.  The interns will also attend collaboration and other meetings associated with the program.
f.        Ing and Schneider attended a session on state-wide evaluation recently.  Requirements for evaluation of the ASAP-PIE program are threefold—school readiness, reduced special education, and family stability.  A progress report is to be issued in September, 2003.  Ing stated that a broad-scale survey will be sent out through FSU to parents in the Mecosta-Osceola school districts asking such questions as: Do you know what ASAP-PIE is?  How did you come to find out about this program? Are you involved in the program, and if so, what do you think about it?
 
III.               Database Demo:  A schedule for database training demonstration was handed out.  These trainings are scheduled to train staff and to prepare them for the ability to download and upload case information through the use of their Palm Pilots.
 
IV.       Collaboration Grants – Summer Events:
a.       In efforts to reach another segment of the population, in collaboration with ArtWorks, grandparents and “kids” (not necessarily their own grandchildren) will have an opportunity to work together on art projects.  Meetings will take place at the Sr. Center gazebo on Wednesdays, culminating in a collaborative family fun night on August 7.
b.       New in year 2002 is the Big Rapids River Days.  This event will take place from Thursday, August 29 through Saturday, August 31.  Thursday begins with food and activities and Cajun music at Ferris State University . Friday will hold a classic car parade, a bed race, a sock hop and Stage M’s Show Boat. Saturday will again have Stage M at both 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.   ASAP-PIE will work with   puppeteers in helping children create their own puppets (age-appropriate) with some showing their puppets off in a puppet show.
 
V.        Other Happenings:
a.       Paperwork has been submitted to Family Support America for accreditation and certification of Early Success – Right from the Start.  With this certification we will be recognized as a program of quality work in strengthening families and the local community; will show foundations and the state that we are a part of a national network of programs with a proven strategies to work toward strengthening families; will indicate that we are a model of how families can be supported; and links us to a national network of recognized quality family support programs. Please visit www.familysupportamerica.org.
b.       A focus session with our Parent Educators will take place on June 20, 2002 .  Jackie Wood , Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education will be on site to visit with our staff and discuss issues surrounding home visiting and young families.  We look forward to her visit.
c.       An interagency sharing day (Meet the Agency Day) will take place August 6 from 10-3 in the Miller Wing.  We plan to have six agencies come in with literature a brief talk describing their agency and how we can best work together.  A Q&A session will take place after all agencies have presented.
d.       Cheryl Hall , M.A. from the Michigan Department of Education’s Early Childhood and Parenting Programs attended our season’s final Michigan School Readiness meeting last month, where cross county/cross program dialog was shared.
 
VI.       Schedule for 2002-2003 Steering Committee Meetings, Moving to Quarterly:
                  Meeting on Wednesdays,  8:30 – 10:00 a.m. , Miller Wing      
                  September 11, 2002 (selection of new officers and workgroups)
                  December 12, 2002
                  March 12, 2003
                  June 11, 2003
           
Schedule for 2002-2003 Steering Committee Executive Board Meetings, Moving to Quarterly:
                  Meeting on Tuesdays,  8:30 – 10:00 a.m. , ASAP-PIE Office 
                  September 3, 2002
                  December 3, 2002
                  March 4, 2003
                  June 3, 2003
 
VII.      Other Discussion:
a.       Tot’s Place has filed for daycare accreditation.
b.       Hearing and vision screenings will continue this fall, when school is back in session.
c.       Hats!  Baseball caps, crusher caps and visors with the Early Success – Right from the Start logo are available for purchase at $8.00, $8.00 and $6.00, consecutively. Contact us at 592-9605 for purchasing.
d.       Harmsen of Kent 4-Cs passed out a flyer entitled “Children Staying Alone Need Guidance” regarding summertime child care needs, and a flyer regarding Zoning Referendum—“Support Child Care Vote NO”.
e.       Bay-Barron reported that 29 people attended the Love & Logic, Train the Trainer training last week. Of these 29, 14 have signed up to be available to conduct classes.  The first session of Love & Logic classes will run for five weeks beginning July 9 (call for more details).  Sessions are free with childcare and a meal included. 
f.        Kailing reported that the District Health Department has on staff a head lice specialist.  Referrals can be made by calling (231) 592-0130.
g.       Kailing also reported that through the matching donation of car seats by Early Success – Right from the Start, 96 car seats are available through the Health Department for those in need.  Car Seat Clinics will be held at the Osceola Fair on June 18 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and on June 22 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Barryton Church of Christ.  Please pre-registration through the Health Department (231) 592-0130.
 
VIII.     District Reports:
a.       Reed City :  Gregory stated their June and July family fun nights will offer hearing and vision screening. Dinosaurs is the theme of the next family fun night, June 18 at G. T. Norman.
b.       Evart:  Thorp reported her last day of work with Early Success – Right from the Start is June 28.
Family fun night “Outdoor Olympics” will take place at Evart’s Riverside Park on June 12.
                  c.   Morley/Stanwood: Family fun night will be held at the Buffalo Park on June 27 with a carnival theme. Elizabeth Kruger and Linda Bolton, program “parents” commented on the advantages and how pleased they are with the program and home visitors in the Morley Stanwood district.
c.       Big Rapids: June 11 family fun night brought in some new faces. Group sizes are smaller, but feel this may be result of spring/summer family activities.  Playgroups are growing with 11 held per month at various locations in the district.  Trina Hooker, program “parent” in the Big Rapids district also spoke of the contribution Early Success – Right from the Start has made with her family and how pleased she is being a part of the program.
d.       Chippewa Hills: The district office will be moving this summer into Barryton Elementary School . The next family fun night will be held at the Wheatland Township Park in Remus on June 25 with kids games and bubble fun for all.  Hearing and vision screenings will continue at all family fun night functions in this district.   Twelve playgroups are also held during each month.
e.       MMCAA is closing their daycare, “Storybook” effective July 1, 2002
f.        WIC is authorized to register people to vote in all elections.
 
VII.      Adjournment:  This meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
 
 The next Executive Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2002 at the Right from the Start office (Alt Ed Building), starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.
 
 The next Steering Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2002 at the Miller Wing, starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.
 
Original signed by Karen Schneider
 
Distribution:  All Committee Meeting Members