2011 UPDATE! Economic Impact of Early Education and Child Care Services in Alaska

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April 14-20, 2013 marks an annual national celebration around children and families: Week of the Young Child™. This year's week highlights the theme "Early Years Are Learning Years." The Week of the Young Child™ is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and focuses attention on the needs of young children and their families. Throughout the Week of the Young Child, thread AmeriCorps members will be distributing provider appreciation gifts to Strengthening Families sites.

thread, along with many statewide partners, will be celebrating this week with events, classes and stories around Alaska's children and families. Join us at one of the many following events:

thread will be launching into the Week of the Young Child™ at the Alaska Baby's and Toddlers Expo at the Egan Center on Saturday, April 20 from 11:00am-4:00pm.  The expo is an educational and entertaining event geared toward new parents and families with small children. Families can talk with health care professionals and buy toys, clothes, furniture and more. Attendees can also enter for a chance to win prizes.  thread will be hosting a live "warm line" staffed with Early Childhood Specialists and a thread booth, as well as sponsoring a parent engagement area where guest speakers will join parents attending the Expo in casual conversations about parenting. Contact handerson@threadalaska.org for more information.

Also happening Saturday, April 20 from 10:00am-2:00pm in Kodiak is the 6th Annual Children's Fair. The Kodiak Children’s Fair brings together young children, their families, and those that serve them. Various community organizations and early educators will gather to give families information about services and resources available to them in the Kodiak community. Participating organizations will also have fun and educational activities for families to do with their kids at the fair.  Childcare providers who attend and complete an activity can receive one free hour of training through thread. Additionally, thread will be offering a two-hour training on early literacy in the Kodiak High School library from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Those interested in attending this training should register in advance through the training calendar on thread's website. For more information, please contact Katrina Stewart.

On Tuesday, April 24^th, AEYC-SEA and thread are offering Parenting Your Infant: Birth to Age One, as part of a parenting class series. The class meets regularly on Wednesdays from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Juneau Family health and Birth Center. For more information, please contact Emily Coate at ecoate@aeyc-sea.org

On Wednesday, April 25th from 12:30pm-2:30pm at the BP Enery Center, Aspen Room, early childhood professional can join thread's Director of Professional Development and other leaders in the field, for a Week of the Young Child™ Leadership Luncheon . Current and emerging leaders in early childhood programs are invited for lunch and an opportunity to create ongoing support for leadership in the early childhood community. Space is limited. Please RSVP by Friday, April 20th to kkline@threadalaska.org or call for more information: 907.265.3104.

Join the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Meeting on Thursday, April 26^th for Family Friendly Employer Awards, from 12:00pm-1:00pm. For more information, please contact Joy Lyon at jlyon@aeyc-sea.org

On Friday, April 27^th join AEYC-SEA and thread for Family Night at the Dimond Park Field House in Juneau from 4:30pm-6:00pm. For more information, please contact AEYC-SEA at info@aeyc-sea.org

Also on Saturday, April 28th,  you can join thread and our partners at Thrivalaska in the Northern / Interior region of Alaska at the Friends of Creamer's Field Spring Migration Event where staff will be hosting a booth and activities for families to learn more about the Week of the Young Child™. For more information, please contact Stacie Dublin at Thrivalaska.

Finally, thread is partnering with Senator Begich and Best Beginnings to promote Strengthening Families, a positive approach toward celebrating family strengths, through the statewide 5 Factors Campaign. The “5 Factors” Campaign will highlight specific efforts in communities around Alaska that are helping build stronger families. Each day of the Week of the Young Child™, check out thread's Facebook page for pictures of Senator Begich and how you can recognize what Stregnthening Families looks like on a daily basis within your community, at your place of work and with your own family.

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