Inside this issue
- Message from our CEO
- Resource: Message of Hope for Children's Mental Health
-
The Update: Early Childhood Development Health Systems: Evidence to Impact Center
- Upcoming Events: 2023 Conferences
-
What We've Been Up To: NHSA Conference, Making School Lunches a Priority, Hopes and Dreams Conference, Discussing Tough Issues at OneSouthCarolina Forum, Talking Child Advocacy at PASOs Event, A Tribute to Henry C. Harrison
-
Bulletin Board: Board Member, JoKeitha Seabrook Featured in SouthCarolinaVoyager magazine
| |
|
What's in store?
A new look!
More impact! Brighter futures!
| | |
|
A Message from Our CEO, Jamie Moon
In early 2022, The Institute for Child Success merged with EC PRISM. Over the past year we have been hard at work reshaping our organization to become an even stronger force impacting
early childhood for the better. A central component of that work has involved deep introspection regarding the type of organization we aspire to be and what you, our many stakeholders, continue to challenge us to be.
| |
|
Through this process, we have refined our mission to reflect the growing number of ways we support young children and their families to thrive:
Our Mission: ICS advances human-centered and equity-focused practices, partners, and policies to transform systems that impact young children and their families.
Our New Look
| |
To reflect our work and our values, we are proud to launch a new look that represents the expansion of the work we do, and reaffirms our approach of early childhood expertise with a human touch. Our new logo contains a symbol reminiscent of an abacus, a tool of early learning, as well as a symbol of the connections we aim to build across early childhood.
Our New Website
ICS has refreshed our website to reflect the many supports and resources we offer. This spans policy research, measurement and evaluation support, strategic financial advising, professional learning, and systems change.
|  | |
Launch Event with the Board of Directors
We celebrated the launch of our new mission statement, look, and website with the ICS Board on May 17. We discussed how these exciting changes will help propel ICS forward, toward our goal of supporting the success of all young children across the United States and beyond. The ICS team and Board appreciate the support of everyone in the ICS community—thank you for being part of our journey!
| (l to r) Director of Science Communication, Katie Hammond, MPH and Director of General Communications, Lisa Maronie show off promotional items. | Annette Ricchiazzi, Principal Consultant with MissionLab facilitates a meeting with the ICS Board and staff. MissionLab is leading the organizational development and cultural integration process of our merger with EC PRISM. | |
Stay in the Know
Keep up to date on our work in different areas of early childhood. Sign up for the updates you’d like to receive from us.
| |
|
by Caroline Martin, PhD, ICS Research Specialist, Impact & Practice
*Trigger warning: suicide*
Excerpt:
“The world needs to know.”
That was 11-year-old Austin’s response when asked why he decided to share his personal mental health story on the national stage. Austin and his mother appeared on 60 Minutes to share their family journey as Austin–9 at the time–struggled with depression, isolation, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. His advice for other children and teens struggling with their mental health: “If you are going through [it] by yourself, try to contact someone. Your friends. Your family.”
Austin is right. The world does need to know. Mental health problems among children and teens have risen dramatically over the past decade and have only intensified since the pandemic1. Even among the nation's youngest children, it is estimated that between 10-16% of children from birth to five experience a mental health condition2,3. In fact, for young children whose mental health is inextricably linked to the well-being of their caregivers, the pandemic has created numerous challenges as families have faced increased isolation, economic stress, and their own mental health difficulties2,4....
Read the full blog for valuable resources and suggestions for being aware of children's needs.
| |
The Impact and Practice team's work on the Early Childhood Development Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact Center has involved developing visuals supporting the science translation of the evaluation for the Health Resources and Services Administration and internal partners. This is a funding opportunity that requires refining evaluation instruments and protocols. | |
The Impact and Practice team has been busy developing education content to provide technical assistance supports to independent and partner organizations during 2023 conference events. | | |
|
|
Sep.
19-20
Minneapolis, MN
| |
| |
|
|
Nov.-Dec.
28-1
Minneapolis, MN
| |
|
|
Members of the ICS team attended the 2023 National Head Start Association Annual Conference on May 8-11 in Phoenix, Arizona. The event hosted over 4,000 Early Head Start/Head Start managers and directors, teachers and staff, parents, and community and policy leaders.
Drs. Aimée Drouin Duncan and Caroline Martin (from the Impact & Practice team at ICS) hosted an exhibitor booth that had over 600 visitors across three days. They promoted the IMPACT Measures Tool and ICS’s work in early childhood assessment, providing educational information and engaging activities. This event is the largest national conference devoted to all things Head Start, and this year Head Start celebrated its 58th year. The team enjoyed connecting with educators and staff, and having some fun with wooden sticks and shaker eggs!
| |
ICS Makes School Lunches for
SC Children a Priority
| |
|
ICS held a joint press conference on May 2 with Wholespire, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC, and Save the Children Action Network, urging SC lawmakers to enact a ban on meal shaming in schools.
If enacted, no longer could a school prevent a student with a meal debt from going on field trips, or give kids who qualify for free lunches a different meal than paying students.
Also on the agenda was ensuring that the 100+ schools that are eligible for the Community Eligibility Program participate in the schoolwide and districtwide free meals.
How Many Children Affected
Studies show that "one in seven kids in South Carolina is not properly nourished." Any child suffering from not having enough to eat and trying to concentrate on their lessons is too many.
View WIS News coverage of the event
| |
ICS Expresses Aspirations at
Hopes and Dreams Conference
| |
|
Members of the SC Early Childhood Common Agenda coalition met in Columbia, SC for the annual Hopes and Dreams Conference on May 3. The event is hosted by Family Connection of SC which promotes inclusion for those with disabilities and special healthcare needs.
ICS Palmetto Engagement and Policy Director Deborah DePaoli shared "Engagement and Advocacy for All" with the audience.
The coalition met with staff from Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham's offices, and from Representatives William Timmons and Joe Wilson’s offices during in-district congressional visits. Leaders of the coalition are ICS, Save the Children Action Network, and SC Infant and Mental Health.
The SC ECCA coalition requested full funding of the Child Care Development Block Grant—$12.4 billion.
| |
Addressing Complex Community Issues
at the OneSouthCarolina Forum
| |
Top left: Juan Johnson and Linda Brees, right: Linda and Cathy Stevens of The Riley Institute, and bottom left: Members of the SC Early Childhood Common Agenda. | |
|
The Riley Institute at Furman University held its second annual OneSouthCarolina Forum on May 10 in Columbia, SC. The purpose of this event was to take on complex challenges in our communities. Speakers included Secretary Dick Riley and Juan Johnson, Facilitator of the Diversity Leaders Initiative at The Riley Institute. Representing ICS were Senior Fellow Linda Brees, Palmetto Engagement and Policy Director Deborah DePaoli, and Policy Intern, Citlaly Rojo.
Learn more about the OneSouthCarolina Forum.
| |
ICS Talks Child Advocacy at PASOs Event | |
PASOs builds a stronger South Carolina by supporting Latino communities with education, advocacy, and leadership development. Recently, the organization virtually held, Abogacía Para Niños, across the state on May 6. ICS Palmetto Engagement and Policy Director Deborah DePaoli delivered "Abogacía Para Niños," or Advocacy for Children. | |
A Tribute to Henry C. Harrison,
for a Life Served Protecting Others
| |
The SC State Legislation Education Committee celebrating the memory of Henry H. Harrison. | |
|
On April 18, the Institute for Child Success (ICS) hosted the Education Committee of the South Carolina General Assembly, sponsored by the family of the late Henry C. Harrison. Mr. Harrison died on December 12, 2021, at the age of eighty-nine years old. He dedicated his life to protecting others throughout his career as a highway patrol officer and later, as the CEO of American Services. Mr. Harrison used his influence to bring people together to find solutions to issues affecting the citizens of South Carolina, especially children.
Mr. Harrison was very active in politics hosting many events for candidates representing both parties. Known as a strong non-partisan advocate for children, his family honored him through this sponsorship.
| |
Image credit: Smithalee, LLC | |
|
ICS Board Member, JoKeitha Seabrook Featured in SouthCarolinaVoyager magazine
JoKeitha recently appeared on the pages of the online magazine in an article entitled, Exploring Life & Business with JoKeitha Seabrook of 3FG Consulting, LLC.
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry and back again. JoKeitha describes her journey...from pursuing a teaching career to the winding paths that led her to what she does now, empowering organizations in her work with her consulting firm, 3FG.
Read her fascinating story.
| |
|
ICS works on behalf of children from prenatal to age 8.
You can support our work by helping to
fund our research and advocacy.
| | | | |
