WINTER 2008
Surge Support Project
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES::
Contact: Gail Mahr
651-290-9704 ext. 200
Not by Chance:
Contact: Gail Mahr
651-290-9704 ext. 200
Ounce Scale MN Child Care Project
Contact: Mary Scott
651-433-2182
Surge Support Child Care Project
Contact: Julie Wasiluk
651-290-9704 ext. 119
Contact: Cory Woosley
651-746-4024
Surge Support Child Care Project Update
The Surge Support Child Care Project has a database of nearly 500 licensed family child care and center providers who have volunteered to donate child care to military families in Minnesota. This volunteer care has been offered to military families and at numerous events that have been planned by the National Guard and the Army Reserve. Events include Thirty and Sixty Day Reintegration Trainings, a Wounded Warrior event, Family Readiness Group meetings/academies and holiday events. 566 hours of child care were donated during the months of June, July and August. 816 hours were donated during the months of September, October and November.
14 training classes have been offered to family child care and center providers throughout the state of Minnesota. 57 participants have attended the trainings. 9 classes are scheduled to be offered in 2008 through the CCR&R delivery system.
The Network has leveraged additional grant money from a regional funder, STARS for Children’s Mental Health. Funding from STARS includes dollars to hold an additional training of trainers which will offer a menu of training options including full day trainings, 6 hour trainings, 3 hour trainings, 1 hour bag lunch sessions. The grant also funds time to explore alternative online classes for clinicians, social workers, educators, clergy and other professionals who work with children in a four county area. The counties included in this pilot area are Benton, Stearns, Wright and Sherburne. The TOT took place on February 7 at Child Care Choices in St. Cloud. Training classes will also be offered statewide through Eager-to-Learn.
Trainers for the Surge project will receive new training information at the Network Trainer retreat in March. Materials with outlines for three-hour trainings will be delivered and new training content that deals with the impact of grief, loss and trauma will be available to all Surge trainers.