Child Care News
We've Moved!
GRCMA Early Childhood Direction The Resource Place relocated to 3100 Cottage Hill Road Building 4 Suite 400 Mobile Al, 36606.
Our offices are now located directly behind Bel Air Mall near Target and JCPenney. The Resource Place and Reusable Center is not open
for customers until we complete the transition. Check back frequently for updates on our progress! Training classes will begin in our
new location on Thursday, February 18, 2010.
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Early Childhood Directions Awarded Early Head Start Grant
Gulf Regional Child Care Management Agency, Inc. (GRCMA ECD) has been awarded over $3
million to create the Early Head Start Community Partnerships Program. The grant was made possible
through the American Reinvestment and Recover Act Early Head Star Expansion. Local child care
centers will provide the educational programs for 104 children in the two year project. The
participating centers include three United Way Partner Agencies and two faith based child care centers.
Additional local agencies will be collaborating in the project and/or providing support services for the
families and children.
Early Head Start Press Release
Interested in employment with the Early Head Start Community Partnership Program?
Please send your resume to employment@grcma.org
The Resource Place Lending Library Closed Temporarily For Inventory
The Reusable Center is having a yearly Cleanout Sale! Toys! Books! Supplies! Please come by and help us liquidate some of our merchandise! LIMITS ARE LIFTED!!!
We would also like to request that any items currently checked out by library patrons be returned as soon as possible!
Looking for State-wide Training Opportunities? Check out
Earlycareeducation.org.
Earlycareeducation.org is one-stop
shopping for child care professionals in Alabama. Training Providers
from across the state have partnered to provide a wealth of resources to enhance the development of child care professionals statewide. Information about getting
a CDA, finding training opportunities in your area, and classroom resources for
teachers are available. You can even purchase online
training that you can complete at your own pace from the convenience of home! For more information, please check out Earlycareeducation.org.
Swine Flu Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control
The Alabama Department of Human Resources has released
information for influenza for child care providers. This information has
been cleared for distribution by the Centers for Disease Control. Updated
information and recommendations will be posted on the CDC website at
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/. The
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a website devoted to
information regarding the Influenza that can be accessed at http://flu.gov. Concerns about State and
local conditions and responses should be directed to your State and local health officials as many of
the decisions regarding community mitigation (e.g. closure of schools and child
care programs) will be made at that level. CDC has also shared this
information with state/local health departments.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation and General Mills Give Free Books to Mobile Children
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation and General Mills Cheerios Spoonfuls
of Stories have teamed up to support Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) programs in 20
communities across the country. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is
donating $100,000 and Cheerios is donating 100,000 books to support this
program, The Mobile RIF program at GRCMA Early Childhood Directions will receive
$5000.00 and 5,000 books to fund local literacy programs for children and
families.
GRCMA Early Childhood Directions would like to express their thanks to The Dollar General Literacy Foundation
and General Mills Cherios for their gracious award of $5000.00 and 5,000 books to support our Reading is Fundamental program.
Reading Is Fundamental provides books to 4000 children each year in order to promote early
literacy in Southwest Alabama.
Alabama Early Learning Guidelines
GRCMA Early Childhood Directions will be conducting a series of training sessions for
childcare providers on the Alabama Early Learning Guidelines. The course in its entirety consists
of nine 2-hour sessions that are designed as a guide for understanding and implementing best practices.
Participants are required to attend an orientation prior to attending any individual sessions
Alabama Early Learning Guidelines are presented as a guide of building blocks that are important to support
early care and education providers in preparing each child for future success. Read More....
New Hours of Operation for the Resource Place
- Tuesday thru Thursday
- 10:00am - 5:00pm
- 1st Saturday of every month
- 9:00am - 12:00pm
Provider Resource and Referral Questionnaires
Early Childhood Directions, GRCMA is creating a database about all childcare programs in
our seven county region! This information will be used to provide referrals to parents looking for child care
services, which could help boost your program's enrollment! If your program is interested in participating,
please pick up a provider questionnaire at The Resource Place! We would also be happy to fax you a questionnaire
or take the information from you by telephone. Please call 251-473-1060 for assistance. You may email a request for a
questionnaire to rsheldt@grcma.org
Technical Assistance
Our trained staff is available to provide you with hands-on technical assistance! From record keeping to room
arrangements, we can offer assistance with any aspect of your program. Call 251-473-1060 today to schedule a free, on-site
technical assistance visit with one of our Program Consultants!
Get Certified!
Do you live in Baldwin, Monroe, Escambia, Conecuh, or Butler county? If so, you could receive CPR or First Aid
Training for as little as $1.00 per person at your child care center or home through a certified instructor with
the American Heart Association. For more information or to schedule training at your site, please call Brenda
Davis at 251-937-6935.
