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Welcome back families! We have been busy moving into a new building and preparing for our upcoming service year. To celebrate the start of the new season, we're planning fall pizza parties in three different locations. Plan to come to the event nearest you to meet with service coordinators and snack on pizza. Here are some important dates to remember:
- Services begin Monday, September 11
- West Fall Pizza Party, September 28 from 4-6 pm at Emerald Park, 1400 Lake Drive, Eugene
- Central Fall Pizza Party, September 28 from 4-6 pm at Washington Park, 2025 Washington St., Eugene
- East Fall Pizza Party, October 3 from 5-6:30 pm at Brattain Elementary, 425 10th St., Springfield
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Open House and Val's Retirement Party
After 35 years co-leading our agency, Val Close is retiring and moving on to new adventures. While she will be deeply missed, we are excited to wish her well in a new chapter of life. Val has made a positive impact on countless families over the course of her career and has made an enormous impact on our community. Please join us in celebrating her work — and viewing our new building — on
Thursday, October 19 from 4:30-6:30 pm
, at our new office building, 1500 West 12th Avenue in Eugene.
More Goodbyes
This summer we've also said goodbye to a handful of other staff. Of special note are longterm employees Peggy Leeds, a teaching assistant with us for 20 years, and Kristin Jensen, a speech language pathologist for 23 years. Program Coordinator Kelly Oatman also retired in June after 25 years with our organization, and a 41-year-career as an occupational therapist. We are thankful to all of these women for their years of dedication and service to our organization.
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We've Moved!
Last March, we purchased the former Eugene Hearing & Speech Center (pictured above). After months of planning and renovations, we have finally moved in. Our new home is located at 1500 West 12th Avenue in Eugene. We're very excited to have more adequate parking and office space for our 150 employees — we're upgrading from a 9,000- square-foot office building to 23,500 square feet.
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Welcome New Administrators
We're happy to welcome Michelle Oliver on board as our new Assistant Director. Michelle received her bachelor’s degree from UO in Communication Disorders and Science and her Master's degree from the UO in Special Education with an Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) credential. She has almost two decades of experience working with EI/ECSE children, first as a teacher and then as an administrator. For the last four years she has been the Director of the Early Start program and several regional ECSE classrooms for the Santa Clara County Office of Education in San Jose, California. She is passionate about early intervention and early childhood special education and is eager to work in Oregon in the seamless EI/ECSE system. Her roots are in Lane County including her mother and many friends.
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Tamie Prociw is our new Program Coordinator for our SouthWest region, covering south Lane County, Bethel, River Road/Santa Clara, and the surrounding rural area. Tamie received one bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders from Utah State and one from the University of Oregon in elementary education. She received her Master’s degree from UO in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education and she has her Administrative license in Oregon. Tamie started out as an elementary teacher in Alaska and Washington and soon realized that her real love was in early childhood special education. She has spent the last four years as EI/ECSE Coordinator for InterMountain Education Service District, serving four counties in Eastern Oregon. Tamie is happy to be back in Eugene, having grown up here. Tamie has a commitment to high quality services for EI/ECSE children and families in Oregon!
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Adventure! Playdate
Join us for a playdate at Adventure! Children's Museum on Wednesday
September 13 from 9 am - noon
. The museum is opening an hour early for us, so we will have it all to ourselves until 10 am. They have generously offered to give us an admission discount. Cost will be $3/person (ages 0-1 are free). Let them know you are with Early Childhood CARES — if 20 or more children come from our group, chaperones will receive free admission. Adventure! is located at the top of the escalators in Valley River Center.
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Sign up for text message reminders
If you would like to receive text message reminders about upcoming events, including our monthly parent chat & playgroup, visit this link to sign up today:
remind.com/join/eccares
You can also sign up by texting @eccares to the number 81010.
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Full Scholarships for Parents Available for Early Childhood Conference
On October 4-6, 2017, the Division for Early Childhood will bring together a passionate group of dedicated individuals who work with or on behalf of young children (0-8) with special needs and their families. Leading experts will gather from all over the world to unite with other participants and attendees who are invested in early intervention, early childhood special education, and related disciplines.
Two of our service coordinators, Cathy Hyslop and JoEllyn Peterson, will be presenting. Family members of young children with special needs (ages 0 to 8) are able to receive free admission to the conference.
Check here for more details and to register.
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And the Winner Is....
Thank you to all who returned our Parent Satisfaction survey in June. We value your feedback! Congratulations to Angie Carrillo, the winner of a $50 gift card to Fred Meyer. Congratulations also to Marion Bauer from Vivian Olum Child Development Center, who won a $25 gift card to Discount School Supply for returning our Community Partner survey.
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Please join us on
Saturday, October 21
from 10-noon for our first Parent Chat of the service year. The topic is "Strategies for Feeding Picky Eaters."
Free childcare, coffee and light refreshments will be available.
Register by calling our front desk at 541-346-2578 or by email to [email protected].
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Check
here
for the latest updates on events with ARC Families Connected.
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10 Reasons to Read to Your Child
1. Because when you hold them and give them this attention, they know you love them.
2. Because reading to them will encourage them to become readers.
3. Because children's books today are so good that they are fun even for adults.
4. Children's book illustrations often rank with the best, giving them a lifelong feeling for good art.
5. Books are one way of passing on your moral values to them. Readers know how to put themselves in another's shoes.
6. Because, until they learn to read themselves, they will think you are magic.
7. Because every teacher and librarian they ever encounter will thank you.
8. Because it's nostalgic.
9. Because, for that short space of time, they will stay clean & quiet.
10. Because, if you do, they may then let you read in peace.
from
Unabashed Librarian
Number 39, Page 19
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Your Family's Resource for Connecting with the Community!
- Informative parenting articles.
- Monthly calendar of activities to do with your kids.
- Connect with resources across Lane County.
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Early Childhood CARES Resource Guide 2017-2018
Our annual Resource Guide lists relevant community resources for young families including library storytimes, play groups, childcare options, and more. If you would like a copy of the 2017-2018 Resource Guide — newly updated in August 2017 — visit our
website
to download it. If you need a paper copy, contact your service coordinator or Carla at [email protected].
Free Screening for Siblings
Parents of children receiving services from Early Childhood CARES may request a free developmental screening for younger siblings. Simply call 541-346-2578. Spanish speaking families can call 541-346-0742.
Sensory Storytime
The Eugene Public Library offers a sensory-friendly storytime on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. This is for kids of all ages with sensory integration issues or other special needs. 100 W. 10th Ave, Eugene.
Imagination Library
Families who live in the Eugene library district, you can sign your child up to receive a free book by mail every month from birth until he or she turns 5. Details available at the
Eugene Public Library website here.
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Early Childhood CARES
provides early intervention and early childhood special education to infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children in Lane County. Services are individually designed to address the needs of the young child with developmental delays or disabilities. All services are free of charge to eligible children.
Early Childhood CARES
541-346-2578
800-925-8694
1500 West 12th Ave Eugene OR 97402
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