Katie's Korner: A message from your PYC Coordinator | | |
Dear early childhood community partners,
Time and time again, this community is proving my theory that the anecdote to the division and loneliness we are presented daily is connectedness and just simply being together. Whether it is coming together over a shared vision or just simply sharing coffee with a cohort, the sinew of our community is strength in partnership. I see this every day and I know many of you experience the same. Simply showing up for ourselves, our organizations and our partners is the good medicine. It is my intention to continue to support and renew this connection.
We have many exciting, joyful and uplifting events and programs planned for our Island County providers in the coming months! Be sure to stay in touch and reach out with any questions or feedback.
Read below to find ways to:
- Engage with Community Partners
- Attend Trainings & Workshops
- Advocate for Families & Children
- Support Local Events
- ...And Be in Community Together!
Warmly,
Katie
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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.
| | Request for Member Data for PYC Impact Report - Now Due May 1st! | | We have moved our request for data until our spring quarterly meeting. Many thanks to those who have already sent their numbers in. We would like to pull together an Island County early learning family resource 2025 impact report to showcase all our early childhood resource community partners. All you need to do to participate is to email Katie with any of your end of your data reports for 2025. The parameters are up to you! Just send us your impact numbers and help us to tell the story of this incredible resource community. Please send data by May 1st! | | Interested in becoming a member of Partners for Young Children Island County? It's simple! Find out more at the link below and simply complete our membership form. | | April/May PYC Partners Shared Resources | | Have flyers, information or resources to share? Drop in our SharePoint folder! | | 2026 PYC Partner Meeting Dates & Notes! | | |
Join us for:
- Presentations on C-RECC Revolving Childcare Loans, Opportunity Council's Energy Assistance Program, Upcoming levies that will affect your local libraries and more!
- Learn about partner impact data, PYC updates and upcoming events.
- Networking opportunities and resource sharing!
- Snacks and beverages provided in-person
- Zoom option for those who cannot attend
| | Sign up for our new PYC Slack Channel! You'll find it under the (also new) Whidbey Community Foundation Slack. Ask questions, share resources, and interact in real-time with other early learning partners in our community! | | Last Month's PYC Programs Report | | Help Me Grow Island County Updates & Supports | |
Email for real-time updates, to add your listing, for questions and to get outreach materials for your families!
Encourage families to Call Help Me Grow at 1(800) 322-2588.
Katie will be contacting resource partners annually for maintenance updates.
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.
| | Lantern 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! | | Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Whidbey Island | | 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. | | Katie has bookmarks and other outreach materials. Contact her here! | | PYC, Coupeville Library & Coupeville Farmers Market Announce 2nd Annual Children's Fair! | | Please share this flyer in your networks! It is also not too late to sign up to table at this event. The only ask is that you provide an activity for young kiddos at your table. Email Katie with your interest! | | Follow and share with your networks! | | Advocacy & Support Opportunities | | Think Babies Hosts Strolling Thunder Town Halls | | |
Join ZERO TO THREE for a series of conversations with families of infants and toddlers from across the country and hear about what really matters to them as they struggle with rising prices, accessing high-quality child care, and more.
Happening on September 18, September 25 and October 1.
| | Workshops, Trainings & Educational Events | | Postpartum Support International Offers Free Maternal Mental Health Forum | |
This year, the 2026 World Maternal Mental Health Forum (May 4–7) marks an important milestone: it becomes our first multilingual Forum, expanding access across languages, cultures, and lived experiences.
Hosted by PSI’s Alliance for People of Color in collaboration with PSI Español, this global event brings together providers, families, and communities to connect research, lived experience, and support systems across cultures.
Free to attend virtually
3 sessions offer FREE CE credits (for U.S.-based providers)
Live captions available in 30+ languages
| | Sno-Isle Libraries Offers Stars Trainings for Providers & Parents | |
STARS Training: Language Development
Saturday, April 25, 2026
9:00am–11:00am
Online event
Language skills help children express needs, regulate emotions, make friends, and follow directions, and the early years are the perfect time to set them up for success. Unlock the power of language to transform your classroom and support every child's growth.
Presented by IMPACT Northwest Center Kids. This training will cover the following topics:
- Support language milestones from infancy through early elementary years, and understand when children typically master different speech sounds.
- Create a language-rich, inclusive classroom that supports dual language learners and fosters communication and connection.
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Address common speech concerns including stuttering, articulation errors, pronoun confusion, and unclear speech with confidence and clarity.
This class is perfect for child care providers, early childhood educators, teachers, parents/caregivers, and P-3 educators.
2 STARS credits
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STARS Training: Supporting Well-Being and Belonging through Anti-Bias Education
Saturday, May 09, 2026
10:00am–12:00pm
Online event
As educators, nurturing children’s healthy social-emotional development and fostering their competence as citizens in our diverse world is a shared goal. Introducing Anti-Bias Education in our classrooms and schools not only promotes social learning for children but also sharpens our own awareness of equity issues. For those uncertain about where to begin or how to build confidence in facilitating Anti-Bias education, this workshop provides a constructive space.
Presented by Hilltop Children's Center. This training will cover the following:
- Identify the 4 Core Goals of Anti-Bias Education
- Explore curriculum examples of how anti-bias education can be integrated into an early learning program in developmentally appropriate ways.
- Engage in self-reflection and apply tools to understand current skill level and identify next steps for implementing anti-bias education effectively.
- Create an action plan for integrating anti-bias education into your own programs/learning environments
This class will also be offered on Tuesday, May 12.
This class is perfect for child care providers, early childhood educators, teachers, parents/caregivers, and P-3 educators.
2 STARS credits
| | Stilly Valley Health Connections Offers Several Parenting Programs for Parents & Caregivers of Infants | | Island County Health Updates | Updates on Vaccine Schedules & Recent Legislation | Last month, the Washington State Legislature passed HB 2242, which ties insurance coverage for immunizations to recommendations from DOH rather than the federal government. The bill was signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 9, 2026. Requested by the governor, the legislation requires insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the state without patient cost-sharing. The intent of the legislation is to ensure vaccines, and other preventive services remain accessible to the people who live here and want them. DOH has created a new webpage titled Vaccine Recommendations. | Family & Caregiver Supports & Events | | Positively Linked Brings Back Community Cares Health & Wellness Festival | | Island County Parent to Parent Provides Education & Supportive Events for Families | | P2P will once again be offering a Sensory Friendly Zone at the Holland Happening Parade on Saturday, April 25th. Our zone is located at Hal Ramaley Park on Bayshore. Look for the signs. We also have designated parking. Parade details will be coming soon. No whistles, horns, loud noises in this area. Plus the parade participants know our group may not want to be approached or witness anything too wild and loud. Great way to test the waters for upcoming events. | | C-RECC Hosts a Child Care Provider Swap Meet! | | Upcoming Local Family Events | | Pamoja Place Offers Resources for BIPOC Families | | |
Pamoja Place is an organization dedicated to growing community and a sense of belonging for BIPOC individuals on Whidbey Island.
Do you know any families who have been impacted by recent immigration pressures? Pamoja Place offers immigrant resources and has representatives who can meet people where they are at.
Email at: pamojaplacewhidbey@gmail.com
| | Langley Whale Center Hosts Free Youth Event | | Upcoming Sno-Isle Family Events | | Storytimes & Family Fun at Oak Harbor Library! | | Storytimes & Family Fun at Coupeville Library! | | Storytimes for our south end libraries! | | Click below for even more family friendly events! | | Do you have updates or resources you'd like to share with the broader network? | | |
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
A Katie Recommendation: This is a bit out of the box this month and not truly early childhood focused, but we will file this one under self-care. I have now read the book and seen the movie and just think we could all use a little more joy. For a heartwarming, hilarious and hopeful story that just "hits", you all need this little injection or the good side of humanity right now.
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Questions? Contact us at PYC@whidbeyfoundation.org
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