Montgomery County Child Care Consortium

Meeting Minutes 5/18/04

I. CCRD Advisory Board Meeting

II. Subcommittee Reports

A. Fundraising

B. Quality Issues (includes School Readiness)

C. Health and Safety Issues in Early Education and School Age Care

D. Community Awareness/Stakeholder Involvement

III. Funding for Local Planning

A. $15,000 for remainder of FY 03-04

B. Proposal for DPW for FY 04-05

IV. Resource Inventory Update

V. Staff Update

VI. Upcoming Meetings

I. CCRD Advisory Board Meeting (minutes coming soon)

II. Subcommittee Reports

A. Fundraising – This subcommittee is currently working to contact school districts and private schools in order to promote the school readiness video and brochure. They are also working as a sounding board for upcoming grant proposals. The group recently lost one of its members as she left her last position and is now working in Chester County. They are actively recruiting someone to take her place so if you are interested in becoming involved with the group, contact Toscha Blalock.

B. Quality Issues (includes School Readiness) – The quality group is working on distributing videos that are available to Norristown residents for free. This was a part of the original grant through which the video was created. They are focusing on distributing materials to families who are not involved in the child care system. They have currently identified three pediatricians who will play the video in their waiting rooms. They will also connect with the teen mothers enrolled at Roosevelt and to other families through Norristown churches.

C. Health and Safety Issues in Early Education and School Age Care – This group is working to increase awareness about immunization forms that providers need to fill out. They are currently working to create a packet of information that will be sent to all child care providers in the county.

D. Community Awareness/Stakeholder Involvement – Thanks so much to all of you who provided feedback on the Stakeholder brochure! Much of the feedback has been incorporated and a final draft should be ready to be sent to the printers shortly.

III. Funding for Local Planning

A. $15,000 for remainder of FY 03-04 – We were granted an additional $15,000 from CCRD to be used for the balance of this fiscal year. Once it is received the money will need to be spent very quickly because it cannot be carried into the new fiscal year.

B. Proposal for DPW for FY 04-05 – A brief outline of the proposal was passed around. If you would like a copy, please contact Kathleen. Steering Committee members were given the opportunity to ask questions and give suggestions. The proposal is due May 24, 2004 so there isn’t anymore time to give input on this particular proposal but if you have additional suggestions, which should be incorporated in future proposals, please contact Kathleen.

The group was specifically asked to give input on the introduction of the proposal. The question addressed in the introduction was how the name “Montgomery County Child Care Consortium” reflects the role and function of the group.

The group was also specifically asked to give suggestions about another name for the “Town Hall Meetings.” Kathleen welcomes additional suggestions regarding this name as the name may change even after the proposal has been submitted.

As the group discussed the proposal and the town hall meeting idea, in particular, many members had suggestions about how to carry them out. This will be an exciting part of our work next year, especially with Steering Committee members’ involvement.

I. Resource Inventory Update – The Resource Inventory is now available on the Consortium website at www.mc4.org. It is listed under the “Resources” section. Please check it out and help us to make sure that all child care providers are aware that it is available for their use. We will be mailing a printed version to Montgomery County providers as well.

II. Staff Update

A. Leah Rayner is leaving the Consortium on May 27, 2004 to pursue a M.Ed. at Ursuline College outside Cleveland, OH. We wish her well.

B. Kathleen Babcock will be going on maternity leave July 21st. While Kathleen is away Toscha Blalock will be filling in for her.

III. Upcoming Meetings

What	When	Where	For info or to RSVP, contact:
Consortium Steering Committee Meeting	6/15/04 2:00-3:30PM	HSC	Kathleen Babcock
CCRD/Advisory Board Consortium Steering Committee Meeting	7/20/04 1:00-3:30PM	HSC	Kathleen Babcock