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.
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Stay Tuned for the Next Partners Meeting!
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Please join us virtually in January for our next quarterly PYC member meeting. We are excited to learn more about Bright By Text! Stay tuned for more info! |
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Bright By Text Now Available In Island County |
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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. Partnering with local organizations, they expand access to medical, educational, and social services, benefitting children, caregivers, and communities. This use of text messages is driven by their prompt nature, cost-effectiveness, and ability to reach marginalized populations, aiding 93% of low-income adults who rely on cell phones.
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Help Us Complete The New Help Me Grow Resource Directory For Island County! |
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Parent of A Preschooler? You Can Contribute to Understanding Outreach Messaging |
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Statewide during the past 12 years, Washington has gained over 15,000 slots and decreased by 2,300 providers. The increases in capacity are a result of more family child care closures and larger centers opening. Since 2022, Washington has seen an increase of 400 family child care programs and 70 centers. Current gains in providers are encouraging, however we have significantly less providers than 12 years ago. The trend of less providers and more capacity being available at large centers has contributed to child care deserts, as the number of child care locations has decreased. |
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Childcare Aware Statewide and County Data Reports
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Statewide during the past 12 years, Washington has gained over 15,000 slots and decreased by 2,300 providers. The increases in capacity are a result of more family child care closures and larger centers opening. Since 2022, Washington has seen an increase of 400 family child care programs and 70 centers. Current gains in providers are encouraging, however we have significantly less providers than 12 years ago. The trend of less providers and more capacity being available at large centers has contributed to child care deserts, as the number of child care locations has decreased. |
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Island County Community Health Assessment Workgroup |
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Imagination Library Now Available to all Children under 5 In WA |
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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. Created in 1995 by renowned entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library has a proven track record of promoting positive home literacy environments and increasing vital early literacy skills. Early reading is critical for every child.
Since Dolly’s special visit to Washington in August, we have rapidly experienced significant growth in the number of children signed up to receive their free monthly book – a 25% increase across our state! Whidbey Island has already enrolled over 1,250 children since December 2022!
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In-Home Child Care Business Opportunities! |
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Island County Public Health, in partnership with the Center for Retention and Expansion of Childcare – NW & the Whidbey Community Foundation, is presenting informational sessions on how to launch a licensed child care business. Sessions will be presented in English and Spanish.
Sessions will cover licensed child care regulations, business start-up information, and the licensing process along with resources and assistance available. Each session will include a Q&A session with C-RECC, as well as follow up support for participants that choose to pursue their own child care business.
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Initiatives Improving the Quality of Life in Washington State Supported |
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The Muckleshoot Charity Fund, funded with profits from the Muckleshoot Casino, awards grants to organizations in Washington State that address the unique local and regional issues facing the population. Funding priorities include education, health and human services, arts and culture, communities of color, Native American programs, the environment, and civic/community advocacy. Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and public schools are eligible to apply.
Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis and successful applicants will be notified when funding is approved.
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JAMS Foundation/ACR Initiative for Students and Youth |
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The JAMS Foundation-ACR Initiative for Students and Youth supports conflict resolution education and training for preK-12 students and youth. The 2024 funding cycle focuses on the use of conflict resolution education and training to increase the resiliency skills in youth ages 14 to 18, enabling them to cope with violence they may encounter in school or other gathering places and de-escalate the violence. Preference is given to proposals that bring existing programs or exciting new ideas to a level of scalability and sustainability on a regional or national basis. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies working in conjunction with nonprofit educational institutions or organizations.
The initial project idea description must be submitted by January 12, 2024.
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Grants Aim to Improve School Food Supply Chains |
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Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) will fund eight projects led by groups of local partners advancing systemic and equity-driven approaches to transforming school food supply chains. PLANTS is funded by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service's Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative and is administered by the Chef Ann Foundation in partnership with the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Kitchen Sync Strategies Collaborative, and the National Farm to School Network. PLANTS will fund projects that seek to build and strengthen relationships among community-based food system stakeholders and school districts as well as expand scratch cooking in schools in order to build healthier school meal programs.
Application deadline: January 22, 2024
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K-12 Education Projects Building Global Perspectives Supported |
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The Longview Foundation supports K-12 education projects in the U.S. that build global perspectives in teachers and students. The Foundation provides one-year grants focused on increasing global dimensions within K-12 education in the U.S. in the following strategy areas: Internationalizing Teacher Preparation grants support efforts to expand preservice teachers’ global knowledge and skills. Preference is given to teacher preparation institutions that are connected to state or urban systemic efforts in order to have a greater impact and to those using online courses for pre-service education or professional development.
Application deadline: January 18, 2024, for letters of inquiry
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Testing For Lead in Child Care Drinking Water |
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Children six years old and younger are the most susceptible to the effects of lead exposure. Licensed child care programs in Washington are required to test their drinking water for lead and copper when seeking licensure and every six years after (WAC 110-300-0235). Child care programs must test fixtures that supply water for drinking, cooking, or preparing food or formula.
DOH offers free water testing through the Environmental Protection Agency’s WIIN Grant. The Department of Health (DOH) has identified over 5,500 licensed childcare programs serving approximately 178,000 children. Register for our free lead and copper testing program. DOH staff will follow up with additional details. If you have questions or want more information about the free testing program, contact us at leadfreekids@doh.wa.gov or 564-669-1098.
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Earn Your Short Certificate In Early Childhood Education At SVC |
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Working Families Tax Credit |
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Washington State Early Learning Coordination Plan |
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Washington’s statewide Early Learning Coordination Plan (ELCP) is a tool to help the many people who care about children and families to coordinate and prioritize actions.
The ELCP was created to strengthen the capacity of Washington state’s parents, caregivers, early learning professionals, community partners, Tribal Nations, state agencies, and policy makers to foster healthy development and school readiness among our state’s youngest children (from prenatal to age eight); support the families of young children; eliminate systemic racism and oppression from our early learning system; and elevate the providers and professionals who serve the state’s children and families.
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Workshops, Trainings & Events |
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Stars Trainings Through Sno-Isle |
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STARS Training Series: Mastering Challenging Behaviors
Saturday, January 20, 2024 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Are you seeking effective early childhood inclusion strategies to address challenging behavior in your classroom? This training is perfect for early childhood educators, child care providers, parents, and people who want to effectively address challenging behavior in an inclusive environment.
2.5 STARS credits.
FREE
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STARS Training Series: Best New Picture Books
Saturday, January 27, 2024 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
In Person at the Oak Harbor Library through Sno-Isle
So many picture books are published each year – how do you know which ones to choose for children? Join Sno-Isle as they explore the best new picture books to use with toddlers and preschoolers.
1.5 STARS credits.
FREE
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Educator Workshops Through Sno-Isle |
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Library Resources For Research
Thursday, January 18, 2024
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
A 60-minute workshop about library resources to support student research projects, specifically in middle and high school. Educators will learn:
- What authoritative, vetted online resources can look like.
- How to find the most appropriate database for a specific project.
- How library staff can assist students and classrooms with projects.
Washington state clock hours (1) are available for this class.
FREE
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Family/Caregiver Supports |
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Diaper Related Payment benefit to TANF/SFA households |
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Diaper Related Payment benefit will begin Nov. 1, 2023. The Community Services Division will automatically issue $100 each month to a TANF/SFA household that has an eligible child under 3 years old to support with child-related necessities as diapers, pull-ups and wipes. The passage of SB 5838 (2022 session) and subsequent funding under ESSB 5187 (2023 session) has made the creation and implementation of the Diaper Related Payment benefit possible. |
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Island County Parent to Parent Support & Social Groups |
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There are many support and social groups now open again to the community. Learn more below about these opportunities. |
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The Fleet & Family Support Center |
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Island County Public Health Resources
New Mom’s Group is an extension of the New Baby, New Family Program. This is an informal gathering of new mothers and their infants. There is no registration or fee. Learn More.
Breastfeeding Class - Monthly Every Third Tuesday from 2:00-3:00 pm. Class location: 1791 NE 1st Avenue Oak Harbor, WA 98277. This is a free class taught by a Nurse and Lactation Consultant. Learn More.
Island County Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs - CYSHCN is a federally and state funded Title V Maternal-Child Health Bureau program offered through Island County. It provides: Linkages and coordination of services for all children with special needs as well as limited equipment and supplies to those families that meet financial and other program eligibility requirements. Learn More.
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Do you have updates or resources you'd like to share with the broader network? |
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Community Corner: Resources and More!
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Now Available on Whidbey! - All children under 5 in Island County are not eligible for free books mailed monthly to their homes. LEARN MORE - DOWNLOAD A FLYER
Virtual & In-Person Storytimes -
Whidbey Island Essential Needs Program - now available to help Whidbey Island friends and neighbors with practical needs like housing set-up expenses, utilities, and one-time extraordinary expenses like car repairs. LEARN MORE
Healthy Island Youth Initiative Scholarships - can be requested to cover registration fees, equipment vouchers, and other expenses that are a barrier to a child/youth pursuing an organized physical activity anywhere throughout Island County. LEARN MORE
Mother Mentors of Whidbey Island FREE Parent Support Circle - A new Parent Support Circle is a FREE community offering on Monday mornings twice a month from 10:30 - 11:30 via Zoom (in-person gatherings coming soon in North and South Whidbey). For more information, follow their Instagram page.
New Parent Support Home Visitation Program - The New Parent Support Home Visitation Program (NPSHVP) is a team of professionals providing supportive and caring services to military families with children 0-36 months of age. This program offers expectant parents and parents of newborn and young children the opportunity to learn new skills as parents and to improve existing parenting skills, in the privacy of their own home. LEARN MORE
Island County Human Services Referral Form - The pandemic has impacted everyone in our community in one way or another. For many this has led to difficulties with increasing stress, finding childcare, parenting, housing, anxiety, depression, substance use, or in a number of other areas. We are in this together and there is help! Please complete this form, or call our Help Line at 360-678-2346 and someone will contact you to see how we can help. LEARN MORE
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Check out our new website!
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Questions? Contact us at PYC@whidbeyfoundation.org
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