Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. “People Helping People” www.tvoc.org
2013
MARCH NEWSLETTER From My View:
It is Easter, spring has sprung, and I am looking for uplifting stories or events to lift my soul. This has been a long (although not unusual) winter with lots of snow and cold weather. The sky has been gray and the colors around us are all shades of gray or brown. I need some green, red, lavender, pink, yellow and blue colors to put me into the spring frame of mind. How about you? Are you just a bit tired of this winter stuff? I had hoped to be able to report to you about the outcome of the federal Head Start Designation Renew System this month. Alas, we have not been informed by the Office of Head Start in this regard. I suppose we should have guessed it would go down this way since we were originally told that we would find out in December of last year. Again, “no such luck.” We will keep our wits about us and wait until the announcement arrives. Let me assure you that once I know – everyone that I can think would be interested will get the word. I remain optimistic. Judah Henry Zavoral (ninth grandchild) was born on Sunday, March 17, 2013. He is healthy and his mother is doing fine. My daughter, her husband and my wife have been busy, busy, busy, adapting to the sixth child in this young families life. It will take some transitioning and some giving and taking – but this too will evolve. We are so happy to have yet another grandchild and to know that he and his mom are doing well. And, Amelie, our eighth grandchild, from Marc and Veronica DeMers – started aggressive crawling this week. It is amazing to see a five month old move along the floor faster than I can go. Amelie is a tough little girl and she will undoubtedly end up being a good athlete. The economy, Congress, Supreme Court and politics in general seems to have taken up most of the past month’s energy. And, “…the sun came up in the morning.” In the past month I have watched less television, listened to less news, and read a lot more about significant issues and people in our history. When you boil most of the news down to its basics – it continues to repeat itself. Debates over what is right or wrong have been going on since Cain and Abel. Should our two party system of politics continue to have gridlock? Second Amendment. Marriage, Budget. Sequestration. None of these issues is really new. They are hashed over and over in new clothes but the arguments end up having the same ring to them as in past generations. For me it is always good to remind myself that I need to remain patient, take a deep breath, and recognize that when I don’t always get what I want – it doesn’t mean that I failed or am a failure. And, to the extent possible I need to create “win win,” situations instead of competitive “win lose,” situations. This coming week, Jason Carlson and I will be traveling to St. Paul to participate in some training and meetings related to the Low Income Housing and Energy Assistance Program and multiple changes in how the Health Insurance Exchange will work in Minnesota. I, like you, am concerned about how Health Care Reform is going to evolve over the next few years. I remain, however, convinced that we could not remain on autopilot with the way we were doing business over the past 25 years. What we had was not sustainable and what we are evolving might not be sustainable. But to sit back and do nothing would have been unconscionable. We need to be in this together and to find better ways of paying for health care even as we find better means to prevent and remedy ill health. Over the next few years there is going to be a lot of time, effort and money targeted at Early Childhood Education. I am not sure how this will all play out but it is certain that there is going to be a strong shift from federal funding of ECE to a federal/state partnership. This demands that Tri-Valley tactically and strategically focus a significant amount of our attention on our relationships with state funded services. These relationships will need to be with the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Minnesota Department of Health and several other supplementing agencies. It must remain our focus to support services for the most vulnerable children and families in our midst while evolving a larger pie of resources to draw from. I am convinced that Tri-Valley has strong working relationships with these organizations and I remain committed to extending these relationships to service providers at the local level. And, I hope that we continue to support comprehensive services to both children and families instead of focusing on solely on academic and cognitive development. Children are much more complicated than just vessels into which we pour information. They are human sponges into which we must inject information, values, and opportunities, while extracting from them joy, love and delight. Every child is a unique snowflake and we must never forget that. I wish each of you the blessings of the Easter and Passover season. Please take the time to enjoy the weather, your families and some good food. Denny
In This Issue:
In This Issue:
* From My View- Report from CEO Dennis P. DeMers * Apple Valley Administrative Office Runs in Get * Tri-Valley Welcomes Four New Board Members Lucky 7K * Head Start Photos * About I-C.A.R.E. * Upcoming March Calendar Items * Minnesota Head Start Hero Story
Tri-Valley Welcomes Four New Members to Board of Directors
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. announced today that four new members have joined the Tri-Valley Board of Directors. The board includes 18 members from West Marshall, West Polk and Norman Counties that involve all sectors of the community; public, private, and low-income. “We are extremely pleased to welcome our new board members as they volunteer to provide opportunities to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities,” noted Tri-Valley Board of Directors Chair Dr. Linda Neuerburg. New board of director members include Shawna Peterson, Tammy Lee, Bette Gysland, and Nick Nicholas. Peterson is from Stephen and represents the private sector of West Marshall County. Lee is from Halstad and Gysland is from Ada, both represent the low-income sector of Norman County. Nicholas is from Crookston and represents the public sector of West Polk County.
Head Start children playing in the toddler room.
Upcoming April Calendar Items:
Shawna Peterson
Tammy Lee
* All of April- Month of the Young Child * April 1- Region V Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council 6:30 pm * April 9- Twin Valley Parent Support Group 6:30 pm * April 9- Tri-Valley Board of Directors Meeting 7 pm * April 15- Mahnomen Parent Support Group 6:30 pm * April 15- Chal Dunne (Crookston Civic Music League)
* April 17- Fosston Parent Support Group 6:30 pm * April 22- Region V Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council 6:30 pm
For more information on these events visit www.tvoc.org/calendar/
This information is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Contact us at 1-800-5847020 or by calling the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer/provider. EOE/M/F/D/V
Did You Know?... * You can receive more information on Tri-Valley’s programs and services by calling 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.
Bette Gysland
Nick Nicholas
* You can keep up with Tri-Valley news on the TVOC website at www.tvoc.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TVOCInc and on Twitter at @TriValley_TVOC. * Everyone can receive the Tri-Valley Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like a copy please have them contact Mitch Bakken at 218-281-5832 or mitch.bakken@tvoc.org.
I-C.A.R.E. About I-C.A.R.E.
Inspire and let yourself be inspired. Human generosity needs to be embraced, love and compassion are not luxuries. The simplest acts of kindness can overcome the toughest obstacles of life and its suffering. I-C.A.R.E.- promotes caring and generosity and was created with that vision in mind. I care for the Community I care for our Agency I care about Relationships I care about our Employees West Adveture Center Head Start/ECFE kids and parents went on a field trip on Friday, March 1 to TNT Fitness
The Apple Valley Administrative Office participated in the Get Lucky 7K run in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 16 as a wellness initiative. All the runners finished the event despite the cold and they had a blast. Pictured left to right are: Nicolee Mensing (Program Area Manager), Amber Athey (Education/Disabilities Specialist), Megan Bentley (Family & Community Services Manager), Shelly Goddard (Program Design Manager), Leonela Trigueros (Family & Community Services Specialist), and Jackie Perez (Migrant Education Program Specialist). The Apple Valley office is hoping to challenge another office/site/location to run a 5K as a team and compare times as a way to continue the Tri-Valley wellness initiative.
Tri-Valley is embracing and promoting the development of opportunities that will help reach our goal of supporting and motivating our employees for positive mental health and contributing and giving back to the community. Employees who are mentally and emotionally healthy have: * A sense of contentment. * A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun. * The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity. * A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships. * The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change. * A balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc. * The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships. * Self-confidence and high self-esteem. If you or your office would like to initiate a site specific I-C.A.R.E. subcommittee for your center or petition for funds for a special cause in your service area, please contact I-C.A.R.E. Committee Chair Norma Campos at norma@tvoc.org.
Minnesota Head Start Association Recognizes Local Participant as a Minnesota Head Start Hero The Minnesota Head Start Association (MHSA) recently honored Coral Essence-Amber Locke as a Minnesota Head Start Hero (Head Start Child who has made tremendous developmental progress). Coral was recognized at the Minnesota Head Start Heroes Ceremony held at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. on March 13, 2013. She attends Head Start through Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. at the East Grand Forks Family Service Center in East Grand Forks, Minn. Head Start Heroes is an annual event that honors members of the Minnesota Head Start community who overcame tremendous challenges and achieved personal and family success. These children, families, alumni and staff members have been selected by the Minnesota Head Start Association Scholarships and Awards Committee based on compelling, personal testimonies about their Head Start experience and how they were able to transform their lives. The Head Start Heroes epitomize how determination, fortitude and access to early learning and whole-family approaches can pave the way to lifelong success. “When I met Coral in September, she was taking just a few steps and spoke just a couple of words,” says Lisa Lundsten, Coral’s Head Start Teacher. “When she came to school, she chose not to join group times but was very attentive from afar. It wasn’t long before Coral decided to join the children by holding their hands and dancing with them,” Lundsten adds. Outside Coral would attempt to take a step to play on the jungle gym but needed assistance. In a matter of weeks, she was walking up the five steps to the jungle gym on her own. Coral is now singing the ABC song and naming most of the alphabet. “As a teacher, I have been so inspired by her accomplishments. I have one more year with Coral before she is off to kindergarten,” states Lundsten. “I am really looking forward to watching this young girl continue to bloom!” Coral Essence-Amber Locke’s story written by her mother Mariah Lewis: When Coral was 3 months old I found her gray and barely breathing. She ended up having sepsis with septic shock. After two weeks in the NICU in Duluth they said I could bring her home. The whole two weeks at the hospital she was having steady intense seizures. They had her heavily medicated for this. So at home she was basically how she was at the hospital - comatose. Six months after bringing her home I heard her cry for the very first time. Coral had to learn to do everything all over again; from holding her head up to eating. Coral and I grew close after hours upon hours, days upon days, months upon months, years upon years of working hard to get her back to “normal”. She had started walking a week before I had sent her to Head Start at the age of 3 years old. As you can imagine Coral had severe separation anxiety. It has been 5 months now since Coral was accepted into the Head Start Program. She, as well as I, have grown and accomplished so much since entering into the program. Coral is almost running, singing her ABC’s, counting past the number 10, spelling her name, letting me say good-bye to her without crying, using a regular cup to drink out of, having fewer outbursts, and making many new friends. In the past 5 months I have seen my baby girl grow and bloom in so many ways I never thought I would see, thanks to Head Start. She, along with the help of the staff and myself, have put so much effort and work into her progress it is amazing. I am choosing to nominate my daughter for this award because she deserves it and has earned it. I want her to see that hard work, dedication, and the desire to grow has tremendous rewards. I hope you feel the same. A proud Mother ~ Mariah Lewis. For more information on Tri-Valley’s Head Start/Early Head Start or Migrant & Seasonal Head Start programs visit the Tri-Valley website at www.tvoc.org or call 1-800-584-7020.
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (TVOC) is a community action agency headquartered in Crookston, MN. It is our Mission to provide opportunities to individuals and communities in order to improve the quality of our lives. In existence since 1965, TVOC provides services in 84 counties in Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota. For more information on services offered by TVOC please call 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.