September 2024
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.
Stay Tuned for the Next Partners Meeting! 

Please join us virtually in November for our next quarterly PYC member meeting. We are excited to provide update about the work happening in Island County! Stay tuned for more info!
Whidbey Community Foundation Welcomes PYC Coordinator
Whidbey Community Foundation is excited to welcome Katie Watkins to the WCF team! Katie will serve as Coordinator for the Partners For Young Children in Island County Coalition. This role will work to strengthen families and support developing children early in life prenatally through age eight in Island County.
Bright By Text Now Available In Island County
Island County has received a grant from the Department of Children, Youth & Families to further the Help Me Grow work by purchasing a subscription to Bright By Text.

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.

Does your organization have a community message to share with local parents? By partnering with local organizations, we aim to expand access to medical, educational, and social services, benefitting children, caregivers and communities.
Help Us Complete The New Help Me Grow Resource Directory For Island County!
We're excited to share the recently launched Help Me Grow Island County website! Please review the Resource Directory and add or update resources in Island County
Advocacy & News
Help Me Grow Strategic Plan Updates: Lunch & Learn Webinar
Partners are invited to attend the 2024 Help Me Grow Impact Report Lunch & Learn on September 27th at 12pm where you will hear an overview of progress made in the last year on the Help Me Grow 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. Register for the virtual webinar below.
Participate In The Family, Friend and Neighbor Child Care Survey
Participate in the Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Child Care in Washington Project survey and get $25 for sharing your experiences! Ballmer Group and Stolte Family Foundation are funding Mathematica to learn more about practices in informal child care provided by Family, Friends, and Neighbors in Washington state. Informal child care is child care arrangements for children that take place outside of licensed child care centers and home-based family day cares.

Participants will be asked to complete an online survey to share their experiences about FFN child care. The survey should take about 10 minutes. Participation is voluntary and all responses will be kept confidential. 
Community Cares Program Series For Local Families
Positively Linked is excited to announce Open Enrollment of the Community Cares: Focus on the Family Series for Island County Families.
 
For the 2024-2025 Season they are looking for families who have at least 1 child in 5th or 6th grade and who may experience one or more of the following:
  • Child exhibits difficulty in school
  • At risk or high risk family
  • Youth or Adult Mental Health Challenges
  • Low income
  • Physical Health Challenges
  • In need of community or social support
DCYF Hosts Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Collaborative Forums
DCYF is hosting in-person, regional Collaborative Forums open to anyone with a shared interest of supporting and strengthening families to prevent child welfare involvement. There will also be Statewide Virtual Town Hall meetings. 
Collaborative Forums are open to community providers, nonprofits, state and local governments, tribal partners, caregivers, and more.

These meetings will include:
  • An overview of FFPSA and recent federal policy updates 
  • Active participation and collaboration
  • Guiding the implementation of prevention services funded by FFPSA
  • An opportunity to provide feedback to help guide the new 5-Year, 2025-2029 Prevention Plan. The original plan was created in 2020 and will expire this year (2024). 
Childcare Aware Statewide and County Data Reports
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.  
Campaign For Childcare
Imagination Library Now 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. 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 1,300 children since December 2022!
New Opportunities
Registration is open for the Washington Institute for Parent Leadership and Advocacy (IPLA)
Washington Family Engagement is pleased to unveil its new Washington Institute for Parent Leadership and Advocacy (IPLA). Parents have been asking for a program that teaches leadership, K-12 education and local legislative advocacy. Please let your networks know that registration is now open for our brand new IPLA. Please forward this information to parents you know!

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. 

Registration is now open for English and Spanish classes. Classes begin October 5th and end December 14th 2024.
In-Home Child Care Business Opportunities!
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.
Funds Available to Kids for Projects Spreading Kindness
Kindness Grows Here is a grassroots organization on a mission to create a kinder world by fostering kindness in youth. Through Kid Kindness Grants, support is provided to kids between the ages of five and 18 who have ideas for spreading kindness. The intent of these grants is for young people to be involved in developing and carrying out their own ideas dedicated to solving problems in their community by spreading kindness. Applications must be written and submitted by someone who is five to 18 years old. Both individuals and groups of kids may apply, including a group of friends, a school club, a classroom, a scout troop, or a sports team, etc. Individuals may apply for up to $250. Small groups (two to four kids) may apply for up to $500. Large groups (five or more kids) may apply for up to $800. All applicants must have an adult supervising their project.

Applications accepted September 1 to November 1 annually.
Free Grant Notices
The GrantStation Insider is GrantStation's weekly newsletter filled with the latest information on grantmakers, upcoming grant deadlines, and news that will assist the serious grantseeker. When you read the GrantStation Insider each week, every link will take you to updated and relevant information.
 
The GrantStation Insider is filled with the latest national and regional grant opportunities, as well as upcoming federal deadlines delivered directly to you each week on Thursday.
Testing For Lead in Child Care Drinking Water
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.
Earn Your Short Certificate In Early Childhood Education At SVC
Working Families Tax Credit
Washington State Early Learning Coordination Plan
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.
Workshops, Trainings & Events
Educator Workshops Through Sno-Isle
STARS Training Series: Bye-Bye Biting! Strategies for Prevention & Response
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Online through Sno-Isle

Biting is common, especially in early childhood. This training offers valuable opportunities to learn how to address biting in a safe, supportive, and effective way. Presenters will provide practical strategies to prevent biting, how to respond to bites, and communicate with families effectively.

TWO Stars Credits are available for participants of this class. 
FREE
Educator Workshop: Library Basics for Elementary Educators
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Online event through Sno-Isle

A 90-minute workshop for elementary educators to discover resources and partnership opportunities available through Sno-Isle Libraries. Educators who attend this program will learn about:
  • Print and digital resources available to support teaching and learning.
  • How library resources align with curriculum and enhance student outcomes.
  • Ways to partner with Sno-Isle Libraries to impact student learning

Washington state clock hours (1.5) are available through NWESD 189 at the completion of the workshop.
Educator Workshop: Library Basics for Secondary Educators
Thursday, October 3, 2024 
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM 
Online event through Sno-Isle

A 90-minute workshop for elementary educators to discover resources and partnership opportunities available through Sno-Isle Libraries. Educators who attend this program will learn about:
  • Print and digital resources available to support teaching and learning.
  • How library resources align with curriculum and enhance student outcomes.
  • Ways to partner with Sno-Isle Libraries to impact student learning

Washington state clock hours (1.5) are available through NWESD 189 at the completion of the workshop.
Family/Caregiver Supports
Working Connections Child Care
Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) helps eligible families pay for child care. When a family qualifies for child care subsidy benefits and chooses an eligible provider, the state pays a portion of the cost of child care. Parents may be responsible for a copayment to their provider each month.
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.
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.
Do you have updates or resources you'd like to share with the broader network?
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


Child Care Provider Health Coverage - Employees of licensed child care facilities now have access to a NEW Health Care Premium Assistance Program through Washington Health Benefit Exchange. LEARN MORE

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


Check out our new website!
Questions? Contact us at PYC@whidbeyfoundation.org
PYC is a fiscally sponsored program of Whidbey Community Foundation.