Illustrating how our community works together to prepare children for school.

“ECFE collaborates with community partners” video production

View the video on YouTube: http://bit.ly/ECFEtoGrade3 Purpose The Early Childhood Family Education (ECE) program needed to illustrate the value of some of the community partnerships in place to prepare early learners for school, and support families in their ongoing parenting journey to sustain funding and space for the programs in our schools. The ECFE program strives to empower and equip educators outside of the school district with the tools and resources used in ECFE/Preschool classrooms, to ensure they are prepared for kindergarten/school. I produced this video with Storyboard Films as a tool to help in those efforts.

Where/when it is being used The ECFE team uses this video when recruiting new child care providers for the Child Care Collaborative partnership, and when reaching out to school principals to secure additional space in elementary schools for programming for families with school-age children. The video was also shown to local legislators to demonstrate the power of the partnerships that community education is able to facilitate among a diverse group of community members and organizations.

How it is supporting effective communication The video illustrates just some of the work that happens behind the scenes, outside of a traditional ECFE classroom. Viewers can see what happens in the child care collaborative partner’s homes and businesses; and with parents after-school or in the evening. In addition, talking points and graphics were strategically developed ahead of time to elaborate on how far the work spans across the district and what the staff do to be most effective. We developed questions and edited the interviews strategically to drive our key messages home: • •

Parent education doesn’t stop when a child completes preschool.

Our community works together to prepare students for school.

Video plan: Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) partnerships

(12/6/19)

Communications plan developed by Heather Peters, Communications Coordinator, for production in December 2019.

This document will serve as an organizational tool for video coordination/timelines; it is not final talking points or a storyboard.

Background Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a unique parenting education program. ECFE offers classes, events, workshops, play time sessions and other opportunities for families to gather information, ideas and skills to support their child’s growth and development from birth to grade three.

Objectives Produce a video highlighting ECFE programs, which are a collaborative partnership between ECFE and our schools, local child care programs, health clinics and many others: • • • •

In-home and private child care centers Elementary and high schools Doctor’s offices and local clinics/hospitals Mobile home parks

The video will be shown to community leaders to gain support and increase awareness about the program; and used as an information tool on the Community Education website, social media pages and at outreach events/presentations.

Interviews Sound bites from the following content experts will help illustrate the key messages about our program and our partnerships: • • • • •

Michelle Trelstad – Director, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education Diane Tich – ECFE Program Coordinator, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education Denise Schnabel – Principal, Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School One family perspective, Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School Lorena Carter – Child Care provider, Hennepin county

Key messages Information from content experts listed above will help illustrate the key messages about our program and our partnerships: 1. Respectful of families of today, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) can bring useful learning opportunities to learners in our community with the help of collaborative partnerships. [Graphic needed? – Animated map?] o Elementary schools with programs in them o ECFE sites o Child care collaborative sites o Elementary school sites with ECFE programming o Doctor offices/clinics o ?

2. These partnerships happen across the school district and the state of Minnesota; and we can illustrate how we work together to support families, locally.

3. Parent education doesn’t stop when a child completes preschool.

o

There is a need for family connections and parent education as children transition into elementary school. o Workshops and parent resources are provided at select elementary schools in the district to provide support where it is needed, most.

4. ECFE connects schools and child care providers to identify best practices and supports so that kids are prepared for kindergarten.

5. Many other partnerships exist…

Filming: 5-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 Evergreen World Cultures Community School 7020 Dupont Ave. N | Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 Parent education session from 6-7:30 p.m.

The videographer will ask the following questions to help pull our key messages into the video.

Interview with from 5:20-5:40 p.m. - Room 106 Denise Schnabel – Principal, Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School

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How has the partnership between your school and ECFE strengthened parent connections in your school community?

o

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What challenges do you see ECFE providing solutions for – with families at home and here in your school?

o •

We see early childhood family education (ECFE) programs as a great partner in this; parent education shouldn’t stop when a child completes preschool. (Please elaborate on this, in your own authentic words and how it is applicable to your experience, Denise!)

Families are given tools to support the work we are doing at school, at home. (Please elaborate on this, in your own authentic words and how it is applicable to your experience, Denise!)

What feedback have you received from your teachers and parents about the partnership?

o

(Please elaborate on this, in your own authentic words and how it is applicable to your experience, Denise!)

Candid footage of families arriving, information session from 5:45-6:45 p.m.

Filming: 9:30 – 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 9284 Lakeside Trail | Champlin, MN 55316 We will interview the in-home child care provider, and take candid footage of Lorena (child care provider) interacting with Jeanne (ECFE teacher) and the children.

The videographer may ask the following questions to help pull our key messages into the video footage.

Lorena Carter – In-home Child Care provider, located in Hennepin county • Tell us how your business, families and children have benefitted from the partnership that you have with ECFE? • How was the experience collaborative in nature vs. strictly training/professional development?

• Would you recommend the Child Care Collaborative to other child care providers in the community? Why? • What feedback have you received from families about the tools and support that they have received?

Filming: 11:30-2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 Riverview Early Childhood Center 1400 93rd Ave. N. | Brooklyn Park, MN 55444 Interview set-up from 11:30-12 Interviews from 12-1:30 p.m.

ECFE classroom candid footage opportunities from 11-12:30 and 1:30-3 p.m.

Interviews and candid footage in ECFE class begins at 1:30, get as much footage as needed.

Expecting to wrap this up by 2 p.m.

Interview from 12-12:20 Diane Tich – Program Coordinator, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education

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What goals does Anoka-Hennepin Schools and Anoka-Hennepin Community Education hope to achieve through the work of the Child Care Collaborative?

As partners, our goal is to support successful outcomes for all children in our communities. Through the Child Care Collaborative, ECFE staff offer child care providers consulting, coaching, and support. The collaboration impacts providers, children and parents.

o

o

ECFE connects schools and child care providers to identify best practices and supports so that children are prepared for kindergarten, and oftentimes the services provided by child care providers, child care centers and Anoka-Hennepin Community Education/ECFE complement each other.

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Child care providers receive wrap-around services that support them in ways that enhance their ability to stay engaged and successful in their learning/training, and the services that they provide.

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By enrolling in the Child Care Collaborative, they receive training and support tailored to their own individual goals, and also fulfill some of the licensing requirements they have with the county they provide service in. It’s been a win-win situation for most of the providers who have participated.

Families with babies and toddlers often have multiple needs, the collaboration between ECFE, Anoka and Hennepin counties and child care providers allows us to meet the needs of families, child care providers and our schools simultaneously and more comprehensively.

§

o

Anoka and Hennepin counties have connections with local child care providers that have established relationships with families who have babies, toddlers and preschool-aged children who may not make a connection with our school district until they board the school bus on the first day of kindergarten.

Together, Community Education and Child Care providers in our community can engage families when their children are very young, to start providing them with developmentally appropriate tools and supports to support school readiness.

Interview from 12:20-12:50 Michelle Trelstad – Director, Anoka-Hennepin Community Education

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•

What is early childhood family education?

o

People who are familiar with ECFE programs often think of the traditional ECFE model, where families come to classes to spend time together, enjoying activities designed to enhance learning, whether it is with children of the same age or with a group of mixed-age children.

o

Parents meet with other families and a licensed parent educator to share ideas and discuss topics such as development, temperament and guidance. There are class opportunities for parents only, in addition to the opportunities that children and parents have to attend together and then separate to practice independence while learning and playing with early childhood teachers.

o

We have traditional family/parent education classes – but the programming we offer goes far beyond that to embrace and support the changing needs of families today.

Why is parent education important?

o o o •

How many families does the program support each year?

o •

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Last school year, over 11,120 children and 9,640 parents participated in ECFE activities.

Are programs affordable for families?

o

We offer a sliding fee scale to families wanted to attend our classes, which aims to meet families where they are at, financially.

o

In addition, we have created a number of partnerships that are free of charge, tailored to meet the needs of families who may have been referred to us by human services, families with special needs, etc.

What partnerships exist?

o

Non-traditional partnerships happen across the district and the state of Minnesota; today we’re a visiting a few sites to see our partnerships in action, but there are many collaborations happening across our school district and the state each day.

o

[Map illustrated] § Traditional ECFE programming is offered at locations across the district, § We provide parent education at select elementary school sites, § We collaborate with child care providers, § We have partnered with mobile home and apartment communities, § We have partnerships in place with counties to provide services in our jail and workhouse § Our licensed staff provide new baby and in-home visits, § ...we can add more if Tracy and Diane chime in?

Why does ECFE partner with other organizations in the community?

o •

Kids don’t come with instructions! Families who attend ECFE have overwhelmingly reported that the programs have helped them improve their own parenting.

Hear from other families…

Support network.

We can’t do this work alone; and we all have the same goals - to help our students and families be successful.

How has ECFE changed over the years?

•

o

People who are familiar with ECFE programs often think of the traditional ECFE model, where families come to classes to spend time together, enjoying activities designed to enhance learning, whether it is with children of the same age or with a group of mixed-age children.

o

Over the years, the demographics of families in our community have changed – and so have their needs! The partnerships that we have developed are a great example of how community education programs work to adapt to serve diverse groups of learners in our community.

What goals does Anoka-Hennepin Schools and Anoka-Hennepin Community Education hope to achieve through the work of parent education for families of elementary schoolers?

o

Parent challenges don’t stop when your child turns five. We’ve heard it from our families: There is a need for family connections and parent education as children transition into elementary school.

o

ECFE connects schools and child care providers to identify best practices and supports so that children are prepared for kindergarten. Programs like this allow our educators greater access to more children and families that will be looking to support their children on their educational journey through Anoka-Hennepin Schools.

Interview from 1-1:30 p.m.

Sara from Adams Elementary School and Nichole Michels, Parent educator

• • • •

What parent education resources were most useful for you and your family?

How did you hear about the resources provided by the parent educator (Nichole) at your child’s school?

Would you recommend the resources to other families?

How has the relationship with the ECFE parent educator helped you feel more connected to your child’s school?

List of partnerships for review for scrolling/graphics in the video Please help us add/remove. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Adventures in Parenting (Parents with special needs) Teen parenting: Teen Pregnancy Program (TPP) and Child and Parent Education (CAPE) Supervised visitation Alexandra House Home Visiting Proactive Intervention Program (PIP) Family Promise Child Care Collaborative Anoka County Jail Parent Talk at ABE sites Hope 4 Youth Online parenting Dayton Mobile Home Park WIC Haven for Heroes Stepping Stones