Applications must be submitted to the applicants Google folder no later than 3 p.m. on June 16, 2016, and include all required items in order to be reviewed.

Q&A for Section 32p(4) Home Visitation Grants
What is intended with the requirement for participation in a learning community and CQI?  Is this local or something that is budgeted for a statewide meeting?  What is required to budget for Training and TA?  Do you mean what is required for the model we choose?

The Section 32p(4) Home Visitation Grants funding will create programs that are part of the Michigan Home Visiting Initiative, and as such, staff should be prepared to work with the Michigan Public Health Institute to understand and implement CQI projects by participating in training that is conducted at a central location, as well as connecting via whatever means is offered (webinar or teleconference) to participate in learning with other sites that have selected a similar focus for improvement. Local teams may require some funds to do this work. In addition, funds should be set aside for attendance at the annual conference, this year being held in August at Detroit Renaissance Center. The total cost of these training and technical assistance activities will vary by site due to the amount that will need to be invested for travel supports. In addition, it is reasonable to also expect to have approximately $7,000, plus staff costs to participate, available for the various training events. This is in addition to any Training and TA that is required by the national office of the selected model. Any training, certification and/or other TA are needed to implement and/or expand the selected model you will need to budget appropriately for those items in addition to the other items mentioned previously.

GSRP Slot Allocations for FY17
Several Great Start Collaboratives have expressed that they have been experiencing some significant challenges locally, due to the timing of the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) slot allocation notification and pre-school registration. Thankfully, this issue has been addressed by the Office of Great Start, and Intermediate School Districts have been notified that they will have the same amount of funding for GSRP that they had this current year (FY16), next year (FY17).

If you have questions about this issue, or others related to GSRP, please contact your regional GSRP Consultant. If you are unsure about how to contact your Consultant, please click here.

EARLY LEARNING

STEM Workforce Skills
As we know, a growing body of research suggests that developing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) proficiency starts much earlier than high school, middle school or even elementary school. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Evidence is mounting about the importance of teaching math in preschool and kindergarten…if children don’t have good instruction and effective teachers in early grades, they are more likely to struggle later when they face more complicated concepts.”

Mission Readiness and Ready Nation recently released a report that focuses on support from the business community and the military on why they think a preschool investment strategy is good for helping communities address the STEM workforce gap. This report was done for Pennsylvania but the information certainly applies to all states/communities.

The Path for Math: The Learning Trajectories Perspective
What are the mathematical and educational building blocks of early mathematics? What role should these building blocks play in a developmentally appropriate setting? Join two of the most preeminent early math experts in the country, Dr. Douglas Clements and Dr. Julie Sarama, on June 15 at 2 p.m. for a webinar where they will describe research-based learning trajectories as the core of all aspects of the educational enterprise. These learning trajectories include three components: the mathematical goals, developmental progressions of children’s learning, and educational activities and teaching strategies (based on finding the mathematics in, and developing mathematics from, children’s everyday activity).

PHYSICAL HEALTH

MDHHS Invites Public Comment on Title V Block Grant Application 
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) invites the public to comment on the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant application. Title V of the Social Security Act of 1935, as amended, provides funding to states to improve the health of mothers and children.

Per federal requirements, a five-year needs assessment was completed in 2015 and a summary is included in the application. Based on the assessment, the seven priorities for the State of Michigan for fiscal year (FY) 2016-2020 aimed at improving the health of mothers and children are:

• Reduce barriers, improve access, and increase the availability of health services for all populations;
• Support coordination and linkage across the perinatal to pediatric continuum of care;
• Invest in prevention and early intervention strategies, such as screening;
• Increase family and provider support and education for children with special health care needs;
• Increase access to and utilization of evidence-based oral health practices and services;
• Foster safer homes, schools, and environments with a focus on prevention, and;
• Promote social and emotional well-being through the provision of behavioral health services.

These priorities are linked to eight national performance measures across six population domains: women/maternal health, perinatal/ infant health, child health, adolescent health, children with special health care needs, and cross-cutting/life course. In 2016, Michigan also set five additional state performance measures, which are discussed in the application.

Michigan’s Title V application is for services from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017, and includes a report on services provided in FY 2015.

To view the Title V draft application, visit the MDHHS webpage.  MDHHS welcomes comments on the application, which must be received by June 20, 2016, and can be submitted to daviss11@michigan.gov.

Data-Driven Summer Safety Tips
It’s that time again – time for the release of everyone’s summer safety tips, and  Child Trends, compiled a unique list, based on data!  What they have found is that first, your suspicion is correct: June, July and August are more dangerous for children than other month, at least if you look at deadly unintentional injuries as the measure. Nearly one-third of all fatal child injuries occur during these three months.

Second, despite media coverage, some things are not worth the same amount of worry. Deaths resulting from contact with bees, hornets, and wasps (1 fatality in 2014, the most recent year available), powered lawnmowers (1), fireworks (0), sharks (0) or dogs (10) are so few they barely register statistically. And keep in mind that children have a lot more exposure to dogs than to the other animals. Deaths caused by falling down stairs (5) and being struck by lightning (3) are similarly unlikely.  Take a look to see what you should statistically be paying attention to this summer!

Sun and Water Safety Tips from the American Academy of PediatricsArticle Body

In addition to Riley Alley, the directors of the departments of Environmental Quality, Health and Human Services, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, or their designees, will sit on the board.

“I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members to further understand and address this statewide threat,” Mr. Calley said in a statement. “Preventing childhood lead exposure will be a significant step in helping young Michiganders have a healthier future. The governor has appointed a top-notch group that is truly focused on getting this done and I’m anxious to get started with them.”<

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

Reducing Disparities in School Readiness
A high proportion of Hispanic children are entering school without the school readiness skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. Compared to children of other races and ethnicities, Hispanic children at age four have the lowest vocabulary, literacy, and math skills, which are linked to deficits in later school achievement.

Though recent research has documented positive outcomes for those Hispanic children who enroll in center-based early care or pre-K, a recent report from CLASP identified racial disparities in the use of three programs meant to provide affordable early care and education to low-income families: Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care subsidies. A new blog post from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families sheds light on possible explanations for these findings, and solutions.

INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Why Michigan Businesses are Investing in Early Childhood Development
Last week at the Mackinac Policy Conference, a panel discussion co-hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and The Kresge Foundation discussed the role of business in early childhood education and development and the role of policy in improving conditions for children and families in Detroit and across Michigan.  The conversation has been recorded and is available here.

Early Childhood Data Reports Now Available
As part of Michigan’s RTT-ELC efforts, the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) has created two Early Childhood reports, “Early Childhood Count of Children Receiving Early Childhood Programs and Services” and “Count of Kindergarten Students receiving Early Childhood Programs and Services in the Prior Year”.  These reports were released on Early Childhood page of the MI School Data website earlier this year.

• Child Count-Shows the number of Michigan children enrolled in Early Childhood Programs by programs or demographic report category.
• Participation in Kindergarten-Shows how many kindergarteners attended early childhood programs by location, school year, program type and demographic information.