A two-part forum on: The Economics of Early Childhood Development - see NEO Childhood for support site and services

Alignment and Action: Session Two, February 14, 9AM to 12PM, Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development in Shaker Heights

Join
us to strengthen the foundation of our region’s economic transformation
by tightening the connection between early childhood education and
regional economic development. The two forums will serve as a launching
point for a regional action plan to enhance our children's development.

With panelists:

• Tom Barrett, Executive Director, Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development
• Gretchen Younker Cohen, Executive VP of Operations, US Endoscopy
• Marsha Egbert, Sr. Program Officer, The George Gund Foundation
• Billie Osborne Fears, Executive Director, Starting Point
• Lee Fisher, President and CEO, Center for Families and Children
• Marilyn McGrath, VP Community Relations, MBNA America
• Sandra Redmond, Program Manager, Early Childhood Education, Cuyahoga Community College
• Jay Talbot, Sr. Program Officer, The Cleveland Foundation
• Art Treuhaft, President, Treu-Mart Fund Board
• Thea Wilson, Manager of Early Childhood for Cleveland Municipal School District

Opening remarks: Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan

Moderator:

Ed Morrison, Executive Director, Case's Center for Regional Economic Issues

Facilitator:

Roberta Waxman-Lenz, Case’s Center for Regional Economic Issues

Time & Place:

Tuesday, February 1, 4 P.M. to 6 P.M., Cleveland Museum of Natural History, University Circle, Rare Book Room

Admission: Free & Open to the public

Parking:

Parking is free and available in the lot adjacent to the Museum located on Wade Circle in University Circle.

Register: http://www.weatherhead.case.edu/rei/events/register.cfm

• The Case Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI)
• The Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University
• Invest in Children
• Starting Point

The
above organizations are initiating a two-part initiative to bring our
region to the next level of action to address the needs of our young
children. Underpinning this discussion is the understanding that
regional economic development depends on quality care for our young
children. In a global economy that runs on brainpower, workforce
development begins with a pregnant mother. With this premise in mind,
our initiative will bring together professionals in our region from
five groups involved and interested in child development issues in
various forms and at various levels.

Awareness & Alignment & Action.

Together we can build new ideas

to reach defined mutual goals

to bring our children to new levels of

self-awareness and intellectual growth.

Awareness Session
One February 1, 2005, 4:00-6:00PM, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
on Wade Oval in University Circle. (See top of page information)

Panelists
from five of our sub-communities will present (in five minutes) their
involvement in the child development realm. Which sub-communities?

· Business

· Child Care

· Child Development

· Development/Foundations

· Policy/Government

Panelists will be asked to answer the following questions:

· What is your organization doing for our young children?

· What successes have you had?

· What next steps do you plan to take?

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The audience will include:

· Anyone invested in issues involving young children

· Businesses

· Child Care Workers

· Child Development Professionals

· Citizens

· Development People and Foundations

· Government and Policy People

· Parents and grandparents

Alignment and Action
Session Two February 14, 9AM to 12PM, Hanna Perkins Center for Child
Development in Shaker Heights, will be a chance to explore
possibilities for new partnerships and collaborations among our
sub-communities to enable appropriate actions. We will give an overview
of the first session, then break into smaller groups to discuss:

• What would Northeast Ohio look like if we were to become a national leader in early childhood development by 2010?
• What early childhood development partnerships make sense in Northeast Ohio?

What
new sources of funding can be accessed and developed to attain our
mutual goals? Does it make sense, for example, to do away with
recruitment subsidies for business and invest more heavily in early
childhood development?

• To better understand our community’s needs, are there unexplored issues that need research?
• What new networks should be formed to align our efforts more effectively?
• What role should the colleges and universities in our region play in this endeavor?

Two first steps

to a new alignment

for a new approach

to meeting the needs

of young children

in our community.

Location