Links for Early Childhood
- Born Learning (United Way/Civitas Initiative) - www.bornlearning.org
United Way of America and United Way Success By 6 are partnering with the Ad Council, Civitas and Families and Work Institute to create Born Learning, an innovative public engagement campaign that helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality early learning opportunities for young children. Visit this site for ages and stages developmental information and sign up for a free email newsletter.
- Child Care Resource and Referral - www.ccochildcare.org
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) assists families in finding child care and accessible child care for children with special needs. Support is offered to child care providers through newsletters, training calendars, technical assistance and training opportunities. Child care data is available for the community.
- Citizens for Missouri’s Children - www.mokids.org
Priority issues are child protection, early care and education, health, and mental health care and youth development. CMC also monitors the state budget and revenue, tobacco tax proposals, and push for adequate resources to finance needed children's services.
- Devereux Early Childhood Initiative - www.devereuxearlychildhood.org
Explore this site for information about the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA), a social emotional assessment tool. Available trainings, research and bulletins, and products designed to support social emotional growth are highlighted.
- Mayor’s Commission – http://www.ci.springfield.mo.us/children_commission/
The Mayor’s Commission for Children, a 27-member volunteer advisory board, was formed by city ordinance in November 2004 with the purpose of bringing education and awareness to the community about issues affecting young children ages 0-8 years. A major focus for the Commission has been school readiness for kindergartners.
- Missouri Accreditation - www.moaccreditation.org
Missouri Accreditation provides quality standards for child care programs serving children from birth through school age. To receive Missouri Accreditation, a program has to exceed state licensing requirements. The focus is on qualitative aspects of the physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth opportunities afforded to children.
- Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Early Childhood - http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/earlychild/
The Conference on the Young Years, Missouri Preschool Project, Parents as Teachers, Missouri Preschool Project and the Preschool Learning Standards information is highlighted on this site.
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services www.dhss.mo.gov
Click on “Protecting the Public” to find “Show Me Child Care,” a listing of licensed child care providers. Child care licensing regulations can be found on this website as can the Family Care Safety Registry. Recalls, health alerts, links to health related projects and information and more is found on this website.
- Missouri Department of Social Services - www.dss.mo.gov
Information about child care subsidies rates and eligibility, Start Up and Expansion grants, Stay at Home Parents grants, foster and adoption services and reporting child abuse can be found on this site.
Missouri Department of Social Services - Recognized Accrediting Organizations: http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/early/accorg.htm
- Missouri State University Early Childhood - http://education.missouristate.edu/
Read about the programs and degrees (including CDA) awarded by Missouri State University. This site also includes information about scholarships, hours, contacts and the Child Development Center.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children - www.naeyc.org
NAEYC is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 100,000 members local and internationally. Membership is open to all individuals who share a desire to serve and act on behalf of the needs and rights of all young children. Visit the website for resources and to sign up for free federal legislative email updates.
- Ozark Technical Community College - www.otc.edu
OTC offers an AA degree in Early Childhood Development and CDA classes. Their new child (2007) development center is open to tours and houses a large meeting room available to the public.
- Parent Information and Resource Center – www.mo-pirc.org
Missouri PIRC-Southwest provides parents, community organizations, early childhood caregivers, and schools with training and information on No Child Left Behind, parent involvement, school readiness and social/emotional development.
- Parents as Teachers - www.parentsasteachers.org
This is the national Parents as Teachers website, which offers information such as parenting tips and resources as well as contact information for a PAT in your area.
- Red Wagon Kids - www.redwagonkids.org
Red Wagon Kids is a community-driven planning process consisting of six work groups representing business, faith, health, education, policy and service agencies. Red Wagon Kids will address ways to ensure our community provides our youngest children (approx 0-8 years) with the best opportunity to succeed in school and life.
- Safe Kids Springfield http://www.nscozarks.org/safekidsspringfield/
Safe Kids Springfield is one of more than 300 grassroots coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. Safe Kids Springfield is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury.
