The Connecticut Children’s Collective’s 2023 Data Report is Here!
The Connecticut Children's Collective is proud of the work we have accomplished in 2023! Our 2023 Data Report shows that what we are doing is working to bring equitable and and positive outcomes to the children and families that our
April marks National Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Prevention services and supports developed by this collaboration can help parents, other caregivers, and communities protect children and strengthen families. During
Celebrating the Week of the Young Child!
This year's Week of the Young Child takes place April 6-12, 2024-- that's right around the corner! What wonderful activities do you have planned for your school or community? NAEYC invites you to celebrate and shine a spotlight on your classroom,
March Celebrates Read Across America!
On March 2nd, across America, children, families, and communities celebrated Read Across America Day, kicking off the whole month of Read Across America! Here are some links and resources to help you keep the celebration going all month long! The theme
The Collective Spotlight ~ Malissa Griffith
The Connecticut Children's Collective partners with local early childhood collaboratives (LECCs) from across the state that are doing amazing, innovative, system-changing work. In 2023 we started a new series: The Collective Spotlight. We have talked with directors, staff, parents, and
Our Collective Wisdom Series ~ The Growing Homeless Crisis
Our Collective Wisdom taps into our shared experiences, thoughts, and ideas about our work and what we have, and will achieve. In an effort to provide continuous quality improvement opportunities to our Collective community, we are pleased to provide this
CT Office of Early Childhood’s Parent Cabinet Applications Open!
A message from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood: The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is accepting applications again for a new cohort of parents to become a part of the OEC Parent Cabinet! We are looking for any parents who care
The Collective and the Legislative Session
We invite you to watch the following news story, which includes Connecticut Children's Collective's Executive Director, Michelle Doucette Cunningham. Whether it's childcare, housing, or healthcare, your legislators need to hear from you! Below is information regarding a public hearing, and
Celebrating Black History Month
Who Started Black History Month? During the dawning of the twentieth century, it was widely presumed that people of African descent had little history besides the subjugation of slavery. Credit for the evolving awareness of the true place of Blacks in
The Connecticut Project Action Fund Workshop
On January 17, 2024 the Collective welcomed Coralys Santana, Policy and Advocacy Strategist, as well as Mathias Burner, Engagement and Mobilization Manager with The Connecticut Project Action Fund as our first guests in the new year! As many know, a
The CT Office of Early Childhood’s January Pyramid Newsletter
For children, whining can be a quick way to get an adult’s attention. Children whine when they feel overwhelmed by an emotion and do not have the words to express their feelings; or when they do not have the skills
2024 Childhood Conversations Together We Will Conference
REQUEST FOR PRESENTERS The RFP is available now. The committee invites speakers from a variety of backgrounds including but not limited to: directors and parent leaders from local early childhood or cradle to career collaboratives; elementary and after school professionals; and
The Network is Celebrating 35 Years!
The Network is celebrating 35 years of after school excellence…and more! In 1989, the Network was founded as the Connecticut School Age Child Care Alliance (CSACCA) at the first After School Conference. Since then, we changed names (2x), moved to several
Happy Holidays!
From ALL of us at the Network for Children and Youth, Wishing you, our members, partners, collaborators, parents, funders, and friends who make up the Connecticut Children's Collective a very HAPPY HOLIDAY!!! Thank you for all that you do to make your communities Merry and Bright!
The Collective’s Winter Quarterly Meeting
The Collective held its final quarterly meeting on Wednesday December 13, 2023. It was wonderful to have so many of our local early childhood collaborative (LECC) partners gather together to socialize and meet in person with folks they hadn't seen
Connecticut’s Parents Connecting for Change
Connecticut Parents Connecting for Change was held this past Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the CT Convention Center. It was an inspiring and motivating celebration of the POWER that parents have individually and even more so when they knock down
The CT Office of Early Childhood’s Blue Ribbon Panel Report
"On December 8, 2023, the final report was submitted to the Governor’s office. Read the report now. The culmination of over a year of work, the Report incorporates extensive feedback from Blue Ribbon workgroups, national and local experts, Panel members, and
Our Collective Wisdom Series: Language Equity
On November 15, 2023 the Collective welcomed Maria Vasquez, Wethersfield Early Childhood Collaborative's Parent Ambassador, originally from Peru, as well as WECC Coordinator and Family Liaison for Wethersfield Public School Kimberly Bobin, as our special guests for our Collective Wisdom
November is National Diabetes Month
November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also
November is National Native American Heritage Month
Welcome to Native American Heritage Month at the Department of the Interior! National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native
October’s Collective Spotlight ~ Naugatuck!
This month, we revisit one of our advocacy videos. Our local early childhood collaborative partners are always focused on providing their families with food, clothing, formula, diapers, and housing resources to ensure that they have necessary items so they can
The CT Association for Infant Mental Health Workshop Recording
On October 18, 2023 the Collective was pleased to welcome Heidi Maderia, Executive Director of the Connecticut Association on Infant and Mental Health. Participants learned of all the resources that CT-AIMH can offer to professionals working in the field who
Talking to Children During Troubling Times
In today's world, parents and caregivers are faced with the challenge of explaining violence, terrorism, and war to children. Although difficult, these conversations are extremely important. They give parents and caregivers an opportunity to help children feel more secure and
The Office of Early Childhood’s October Pyramid Page!
We all know that it can be difficult to get young children to respond to adult requests. The younger a child is, the less likely it is that they understand what is expected. This uncertainty can lead to tantrums, crying,
World Mental Health Day
This year's theme is "Mental health is a universal human right." World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10th each year, serves as a global platform to raise awareness and promote mental health education, advocacy, and support. In 2023, the
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), observed in October, is a time to recognize victims and raise awareness about the devastating impact of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship used by one partner to
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Facts & Stats 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2023, an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Chances are, you know at least
Our Collective Wisdom Series!
On September 20, 2023 we began the first in our new series, Our Collective Wisdom. We have chosen this year to highlight the good-works of our local early childhood collaboratives (LECCs), through our Collective Spotlight series. With Our Collective Wisdom
Hispanic Heritage Month Begins Its Celebration on September 15th!
"Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in
Check Out the CT Office of Early Childhood’s September Pyramid Page!
Young children deal with many of the same emotions adults do. Children get angry, sad, frustrated, nervous, happy, or embarrassed, but they often do not have the words to talk about how they are feeling. Instead, they sometimes act out