January 2025

Katie's Korner: A message from your PYC Coordinator

Happy New Year from PYC!

I hope this message finds you all well and ready to tackle 2025. In our role as a collaborative network, we strive to bring resources together that will help elevate, and amplify the work you are already doing. My hope is you will lean on our partners coalition as a resource when faced with questions, opportunities, information gaps, and new challenges.

I am excited to bring some new communication pathways and collaborative efforts this year that align with what you are already doing so that we may pull from our group wisdom and expertise. It is my strong belief that we are all better together.

Cheers to Peace and Togetherness in 2025,

Katie

Partners for Young Children (PYC) is a coalition focused on improving the wellbeing of children and families in Island County.

Through PYC, Island County organizations and individuals come together to achieve the vision that all children thrive in nurturing relationships and healthy families. Together, partners are cultivating community action to strengthen Island County families.

~LAST CALL FOR SURVEY INPUT~

It's not too late! Last chance to make your voice heard and be a part of shaping PYC's future. The survey will close at the end of this week!

PYC sends a huge thank you to everyone who has already completed the survey. Your feedback has been so valuable. We will be presenting a proposal at the PYC Partners meeting on February 11th, so be sure to join us. (see below)

~Join us for our Quarterly Partners Meeting~

Registration for our February PYC Partners Meeting is open! Follow the link below to register.

And don't forget to put our 2025 meeting dates on your calendars!

Bright By Text - January Tips for Families

Bright by Text tailors three to five weekly text messages to caregivers, providing evidence-based content on developmental milestones, brain growth, emotional health, nutrition, and resilience.

Does your organization have a community message to share with local parents? Submit your messages here and we will help get the word out!

Help Me Grow Updates Coming!

Stay tuned for Help Me Grow Island County News in early 2025!

We would like to send a HUGE thank you to everyone who has been reviewing their directory listings, helping to get family feedback, and supporting our Help Me Grow project!

Help Me Grow - Island County is a dependable and interconnected system that puts families first – making sure resources are accessible to every child and every community.

PYC Announces Vroom Brain-building Tips

Partners for Young Children is excited to announce another unique and FREE parenting tool being sponsored through Washington Communities for Children (WCFC).

Vroom provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments® through printed resources, a text service, and a free mobile app. . Click below for more information as well as ways to engage with this incredible resource!

Imagination Library Available to all Children under 5 In WA

Imagination Library of Whidbey Island—a local program partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, strives to send a new book every month to Whidbey Island children from birth to age five.

Thanks to all of your help in promoting this great program, Whidbey Island has already enrolled over 1,400 children since December 2022! We are also so proud to be a growing piece of Dolly's dream. Look at these end of year numbers!

Katie has bookmarks and other outreach materials. Contact her here!

Advocacy & News

This legislative session, Washington Communities for Children (WCFC) requests $4 million to maintain and strengthen the WCFC network infrastructure across Washington state. The WCFC Network has become a critical component of our state's early childhood system thanks to our coordination of cross-sector partnerships at the state, regional, and community level. Find out more at WCFC's advocacy page here.

All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.

In collaboration with our region of partners, Northwest Early Learning Coalition, we are providing this ongoing list of resources for our families, friends and neighbors in the immigrant community. Please check back for more resources as they are gathered. And let us know if you have additional resources by emailing pyc@whidbeyfoundation.org!

Order Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) Red Cards here for free!

Call to Action to Save 1,800 ECEAP Slots!

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is proposing to the Governor’s Office that 1,800 slots be dropped from ECEAP - that is more than 10% of children served by the program.

San Juan County has provided a wonderful impact sheet to illustrate the importance of these spots. Click below to learn more about how you can advocate to help save them.

Help Me Grow Diaper Bank Workgroup Outcomes & Resources

The Resource Management team at WithinReach has completed reviewing the diaper resources provided by the Help Me Grow Diaper Bank workgroup members. As a result, they have added 67 additional diaper banks to the Help Me Grow WA resource directory, bringing the list to a total of 150 statewide!

Below are links to a map of the locations and names of all diaper banks in the HMG WA directory and a heat map showing the number of diaper banks in our directory by county. You can find more details about individual diaper banks through the Help Me Grow Washington Parenthelp123 Resource Finder.

Do you have information on additional diaper banks? Let PYC know!

New Opportunities

2025 registration is open for the Washington Institute for Parent Leadership and Advocacy (IPLA)

Washington Family Engagement continues to offer its Washington Institute for Parent Leadership and Advocacy (IPLA). This 10-week, 18-session, transformative, and empowering course is based on social justice and will help you understand how local and state systems are structured, how to become fully engaged in your community and Washington public schools, and how to speak confidently with decision makers to advocate for what matters most to you. 

Please let your networks know that registration is now open for 2025 sessions. 

Winter cohort begins February 15th!

In-Home Child Care Business Opportunities!

At the Center for Retention & Expansion of Child Care Northwest (C-RECC NW) we work to sustain, strengthen and expand child care in Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties.



We develop collaborative partnerships between business organizations and community members across all sectors, while providing current and aspiring child care providers with financial and technical assistance.

• Are you interested in entrepreneurship opportunities such as opening a child care business?
• Are you a seasoned child care professional preparing to expand—or retire?
• Are you an employer looking into offering any type of child care benefits?

Free Grant Notices

Earn Your Short Certificate In Early Childhood Education At SVC

Workshops, Trainings & Events

Focus on Children 2025 Conference Registration

Calling all Early Childhood Educators and Service Providers! Registration is open for Belling Technical College's Focus on Children 2025 Conference!

Earn 6 STARS hours or 6 Clock Hours!

HMG Skagit Offers Healthcare Provider Training

Supporting Behavioral Health in Young Children: Tools for Healthcare Providers

Join Help Me Grow Skagit for a comprehensive training focused on enhancing pediatric behavioral health. Develop practical skills and strategies for your practice that will hep you respond to behavior concerns and support young children’s mental health and family well-being.

More information and how to reger here!

Educator Workshops Through Sno-Isle

STARS Training: Supporting Language Learning and Multilingualism

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Online through Sno-Isle

Children are born with an incredible capacity to learn language – even multiple languages at a time! Join Amelia Bachleda, PhDAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 in every 36 children. This means early childhood educators will likely have a child with ASD in their classroom every 2-3 years. This autism training will give you the knowledge and skills to understand and support any young child with ASD.



TWO Stars Credits are available for participants of this class. 

FREE

Introduction to Proposal Writing

Thursday, February 20, 2025

11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Online event through Sno-Isle

Join Sno-Isle for an overview of how to write a standard project grant proposal to a foundation. The class will cover the basic elements of a proposal; the “do’s” and “don’ts” of writing and submitting a proposal; and how to follow up whether the answer is yes or no.

Family & Caregiver Supports

Upcoming Sno-Isle Family Events

PSE Offers Discount Programs

 Our Bill Discount Rate program provides you with ongoing help on your monthly energy bill. Depending on your household income and household size, you can save 5% to 45% a month on your bill. There is one simple application to fill out. In most cases, no proof of income is required to apply and the application only takes a few minutes to complete online. If you’ve received energy assistance in the past, it’s likely you qualify

Working Connections Child Care

Island County Parent to Parent Support & Social Groups

There are many support and social groups now open again to the community. Learn more below about these opportunities. See the flyers below for upcoming events!

Island Transit Updates in Service

 Island Transit is implementing some important service changes that will take effect on January 5, 2025.

Click below for downloadable service guides for your offices and families.

The Fleet & Family Support Center

Island County Public Health Resources

New Baby, New Family is a local home visiting program. They provide supportive care for families with a newborn and pregnant mothers.

Fun Reads & New Listens!

All The Way Authentic With Kevin P. Henry



Delve into profound narratives covering a spectrum of topics, including diversity, inclusion, mental health, and beyond. All The Way Authentic is your compass for enhanced learning and heightened awareness, equipping you with the tools to deepen your understanding of the human experience.

This podcast amplifies the voices of the marginalized, creating a platform for essential conversations that challenge perspectives and ignite action. To foster genuine change, it begins with YOU.