Mar 07
On March 4, 2017 WLIO Lima aired a piece regarding the recent news that Council on Rural Services is expanding in Auglaize county. Check out the video above or at https://youtu.be/LmYQOumEef4. A big thank you to all those involved.
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Feb 28
ST. MARYS — As a part of a $290 million nationwide expansion award announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Administration for Children and Families, the Council on Rural Services (CORS) received an award of $915,794 for a supplemental preschool grant. “It was wonderful,” Council on Rural Services Public Relations Coordinator Deborah Brayfield said. “One of the things that’s changing, the new Head Start rules that came down and performance standards, says that we have to move to having fullday centers instead of part-day centers and they have to be completed by 2021. This will put us on track for starting that movement to having fullday centers. This was our first step on that, of moving from part-day centers to full-day centers. “It was wonderful to get it and to be able to serve children (for a) longer period of time. We have some full-day centers in other counties right now, but we don’t have any in Auglaize County at this point.” The funds were allocated by Congress as a down payment toward ensuring almost all preschool-age children in Head Start attend programs that operate full time, as announced in the new standards that must be fully met in 2021. “We wrote a grant and submitted it,” Brayfield said, “and we were waiting to hear back. The money that was allocated was all over the United States, and we were waiting to hear back if ours was approved. We heard back from the Head Start program department of health and human services.” The grant includes funds to increase staff by approximately 22 positions and startup funds to fully equip the three new classrooms. All these full-day classrooms will open in fall 2017. To comply with the new standards, all of the CORS Head Start funded centers must expand minimum teaching time to 1,020 hours per year. The awarding of the grant enables Kids Learning Place to start meeting the benchmark by converting the Head Start services in several locations. One of those locations, St. Marys, will open two new, six hour, full day Head Start classrooms with 40 child slots. CORS is currently searching for an available facility in St. Marys and hopes to open a center in St. Marys in the fall. “Right now, we don’t have an area (to teach the children),” Brayfield said. “We’re really looking for a building and things like that. If people know about a building that would be licensable for children and everything, we’re really looking at that and want to get that underway.” CORS, a non-proft social service agency, runs Early Start/Head Start programs in nine counties and runs youth programs — Gateway Youth Program and Achievement Center for Educational success — in two counties. Head Start, a federally funded preschool program for children ages three to five, gives children from low income families, families experiencing homelessness, families with foster children or families of children with disabilities the chance to come into the program and attend preschool free of charge. “It’s important for them,” Brayfield said. “There’s so much new research out that says early childhood is when children learn the most and the best and will get them more of that early childhood education while they’re still young before kindergarten.” Children used to attend preschool classes through the Head Start program at a facility in St. Marys, but the facility closed when funding changed. Currently, children in St. Marys who are enrolled in the program attend classes at the Wapakoneta facility. The Wapakoneta facility, a facility with four partday classrooms where preschool children come in the morning and afternoon in two different classrooms, is being changed into a full-day program. As a result, Auglaize County will now have two full-day centers in Wapakoneta and hopes to open two full-day centers in St. Marys. For the full-day schedule in Head Start programs, children will attend preschool for six hours instead of the 3.5 hours on the part-day schedule. Currently at the Wapakoneta location, there’s two morning classes children attend and two afternoon classes children attend for 3.5 hours. Finding a facility in St. Marys for children to attend preschool classes will not only enable CORS to serve more children, but it will shorten the bus ride for children, as they will no longer have to ride all the way to Wapakoneta. “Overall, we’ll able to serve more children because we’ll be serving the St. Marys children in St. Marys, which will make more room for children in Wapakoneta, where we’re busing them now,” Brayfield said. “The kids will be on the bus (for a) shorter length of time; it will be much better all the way around to have a neighborhood center versus going all the way to Wapakoneta.” For more information or to suggest a possible facility for the St. Marys location, contact Brayfield at 937- 778-5220.
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Feb 13
Through an increased federal investment in quality for early childhood education, Council on Rural Services (CORS) is receiving an award of $915,794 for supplemental preschool grant. This is part of a $290 million nationwide expansion award announced by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (HHS). Congress allocated the new funds as a down payment toward ensuring that nearly all preschool-age children in Head Start attend programs that operate full-time as announced in the new standards that must be fully met by 2021. These new Head Start standards place higher emphasis on a vision of evidence-based, data-driven and outcomes-focused services. These new standards are a significant and positive step forward for the future of Head Start and the success of the children and families later in life. Within the new standards, all CORS Head Start funded centers must expand minimum teaching time to 1020 hours per year. The awarding of this grant enables Kids Learning Place to begin meeting this benchmark by converting the Head Start services in these most critical locations: • Van Wert County will convert their existing part-day classrooms and now have two 6-hour full day Head Start classrooms with 40 child slots. • Auglaize County in Wapakoneta will convert their existing part-day classrooms and now have two 6-hour full day Head Start classrooms with 40 child slots. • Auglaize County in St. Mary’s will open two NEW 6-hour full day Head Start classrooms with 36 child slots. • Logan County will re-open a Bellefontaine classroom and convert it to a full day Head Start classroom with 20 child slots. • Darke County will increase the hours of their existing Union City classroom to include the full day standard of 1020 hours per year. This grant includes funds to increase staff by approximately 22 positions and startup funds to fully equip the three new classrooms. All these full day classrooms will open in the fall of 2017. All the above existing classrooms currently have awards for the highest recognition of “Five Stars” in Ohio’s “Step Up to Quality” program through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Dan Schwanitz, CEO at CORS said, “What CORS is most proud of is that for over 40 years we have been a leader in early childhood education in Ohio. We have a history of achieving outcomes for children both by supporting their health and learning and by enabling their families to achieve their own goals for education, employment, stability, and success. This additional funding will continue to expand these outcomes.” Kids Learning Place currently offers Head Start services to 1,364 children in their nine county service area through funds from HHS and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. “Last September we transitioned 589 children to kindergarten who are ready to learn, healthy, and developmentally on target,” said Liz Pfenning, Early Childhood Director. “They have self-help skills and can regulate their behaviors and feelings in-group settings. As important, their parents are involved in their schooling; they have the leadership skills and confidence to advocate for their child’s needs and to participate on parent committees. We here at CORS build lifelong learners in children and parents who set and achieve goals.” For more information about the changes call our toll free number 1-866-627-4557 and talk with Liz Pfenning. Also, check our Web site at www.kidslearningplace.org or “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kidslearningplace. Council on Rural Services provides education and support through Kids Learning Place™, Head Start, Early Head Start, Gateway Youth Programs, and Achievement Center for Educational Success (ACES), in their nine county service area
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Dec 21
Congressman Warren Davidson stopped by the Council on Rural Services buildings in Piqua last Monday to learn more about their Kids Learning Place, Head Start, and the new Piqua location of the ACES (Achievement Center for Education Success) programs. The Kids Learning Place classrooms were busy with the preschool children learning and discovering all about numbers and matching blocks. The ACES classroom had morning students working on math, while the instructor Deron Johns explained how the alternative school program works to Congressman Davidson.
Read MoreJul 25
The Council on Rural Services announced the newly elected Board of Trustees for the 2016-2017 term. The Board of Trustees election was held during the regular July meeting at the CORS Administration Building in Piqua, Ohio. The new officers of the Board of Trustees are: Chairperson – Randy Fisher, Vice Chairperson – Dustin Davis, Secretary – William Lutz. Doug Eakin will remain as Past Chairperson. CORS works in a nine county area of west central Ohio (Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Preble, Shelby, Van Wert) to bring early childhood education and youth programing to families and children in the communities. Randy Fisher joined the CORS Board in 2009 and is currently the Executive Director of the United Way in Auglaize County and Councilor-At-Large for the City of Wapakoneta. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Wapakoneta and enjoys involvement with the Wapakoneta Young Farmers and FFA Alumni. Dustin Davis is currently a partner at the law firm of Buecker & Davis Co. LPA. He is an active member of the Piqua Rotary Club and the Miami County Bar Association. William Lutz joined the CORS Board in 2014 and is the Executive Director of The New Path, Inc. a nonprofit that serves individuals in Miami County and portions of Montgomery County. Dan Schwanitz, CEO said, “As a non-profit, we rely on our Board of Trustees to guide our organization with strong leadership as we work to make a difference in our community and client’s lives. We are looking forward to a new year with this board of dedicated and enthusiastic advocates that share the agencies vision, mission and goals.” Council on Rural Services provides education and support services through Kids Learning Place™, Head Start, Early Head Start, Gateway Youth Programs, Achievement Center for Educational Success (ACES) and Community Connectors in their service area. For more information check the web site at www.councilonruralservices.org
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Jun 13
Since 1965, Head Start has served millions of children and families by promoting school readiness, by providing comprehensive services, and by emphasizing the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. There are stories of how Head Start has impacted the lives of the children, parents, neighbors, and staff that have been involved in its programs. This is one of our employees stories, but check out all the stories on the Head Start web site http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs – about us and Head Start stories. Kelly Compton “From my experience as a Head Start parent, I bring empathy to my role within the agency.” Kelly Compton, preschool/school-age education coordinator, the Council on Rural Services, Logan County, OH When I first read about Head Start in the newspaper, I was 23 years old. I had already been married for almost four years and was the mother of a 3 year old and a 1 year old. I was and still am very passionate about the success of my children. Head Start would be just that—a head start for their learning. Each child would have their own unique experience in Head Start. My daughter’s outgoing nature helped her ease quickly into the preschool environment and the teachers nurtured her eagerness to always be learning. This fostered in her a drive to be a lifelong learner and supported her in having a successful public school experience. My son, on the other hand, gave the teachers a true run for their money. He struggled with self-regulation, focus, and attention. Even though he was challenging, they saw through his behaviors and found his great sense of humor and his overwhelming curiosity about the world. The Head Start teachers helped discover he was a kinesthetic learner and found ways to engage him to encourage focus and attention. This positive support would serve him well, as he moved through the public school system. Although, the original idea was to help the children, Head Start ended up helping me just as much. The Head Start teachers saw something in me that I had not sensed myself yet: an aptitude and passion for early childhood education. They encouraged me to volunteer, be involved in the parent group and Policy Council, and finally, to apply for a position with Head Start in Hardin County, OH. After several years of working there and at a local daycare, I applied for an assistant teacher position with the Council on Rural Services, the Head Start agency in Logan County, OH and eight other counties. I literally “grew up” with Head Start and the Council on Rural Services. The assistant teacher position was just the tip of the iceberg for me. The Council on Rural Services employs many dedicated people who embody the Head Start early childhood education philosophy and impacted my professional career, in addition to my life as a whole. Throughout the past 15 years with Council on Rural Services and Head Start, I have been encouraged and supported to complete my associate’s degree, and then my Bachelor’s degree along with gaining positions within the agency of increasing responsibility. It has been a journey from assistant to head teacher, then area coordinator, and finally the position I now hold as preschool/school age education coordinator for all nine counties. From my experience as a Head Start parent, I bring empathy to my role within the agency. I can honestly say: “I know what you are going through,” or “I know how you feel” to parents of the children we serve. I have walked in the low-income shoes, young parent shoes, and parent-of-a-challenging-child shoes. I know the joys and upsets of being a parent. I also have learned the value of advocacy. Not only did I advocate for my own children, but for other children as well, because all children deserve equal opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed and have dedicated adults to stand up and make the children’s voices heard. From all the people who have enriched my life and career I have learned to lead by example and share the experience and knowledge with others. I endeavor every day to support and share my experience with peers and new staff members, as others have done for me through example and mentorship. By the way, my children have grown up too. My daughter is now a wife and mother to our first grandchild. She has put her career in early childhood education on hold to be full time with her son in these formative years. My son will soon become a shift supervisor at a nearby manufacturing facility. We have all benefited from the wonderful experiences we had and continue to have with Head Start!
Read MoreMar 21
Council on Rural Services is proud to announce that the Kids Learning Place located in Union City has earned their “FIVE Star Rating” in the Step Up to Quality program from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Kids Learning Place is the only Five Star Award program in Darke County. Congratulations go to each of the center’s team members for their focused efforts, dedication, and improvements in the growth and develop of all the children. Step Up to Quality is a voluntary five-step child care rating system that early care and education centers can earn in Ohio. It recognizes programs that exceed licensing standards. Once they meet the basic requirements, participating centers earn star ratings from 1 to 5 by meeting an extensive list of additional quality measures. Angie Coby, early childhood services coordinator for Darke Co. at Council on Rural Services said, “Learning begins as soon as a child is born, long before formal education begins, and continues throughout life. We are very proud of the excellent—high achieving team that made this top award happen. The team members are resourceful, focused and determined in meeting a common goal in their work with the children. FIVE STAR rated programs must meet higher requirements than most other child care centers. Just some of the five star benchmarks that helps centers meet these higher standards include: administrators and teachers with bachelor degrees in early childhood as well as 25 hours of specialized training bi-annually, a formal self-assessment that is used to formulate the program’s annual continuous improvement plan, agreements with community partners serving families, child assessments used to plan activities for children according to needs, interests, and the abilities of the children. If you are a parent choosing an education center for your child; remember a program that meets this Step Up to Quality measurement is furnishing a more qualified teacher per child, is committed to teaching children, and has a working environment where staff is treated professionally. Beginning this fall the Kids Learning Place in Union City will become a full day Head Start center, teaching children 6 hours a day. We are taking applications now for fall, if you would like more information about our center and enrollment for Head Start please call our local toll free number at 1-866-627-4557 for quick contact. For more information about Kids Learning Place and Council on Rural Services – programs for innovative learning, check the web site at www.councilonruralservices.org
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Dec 23
Teaching staff and Child Advocates enjoyed a training opportunity on Monday, Dec 21 around STEM provided by Patti Jo Wilson, a trainer from Lakeshore. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Discussion began with how people learn/retain best with retention being highest when learning is experienced and when we teach others. Providing materials and activities in the classroom that promote STEM concepts encourage creativity, invention, curiosity, and persistence. Children become thinkers and problem solvers while developing multiple steps, strategies, and deeper levels of understanding. Connections were made between the use of STEM concepts and our School Readiness goals, the HS Early Learning Outcomes Framework, Project Approach, and CLASS. Staff experienced this through simple childhood games, early childhood songs, and construction challenges with playing cards and then spaghetti and marshmallows. Staff laughed, teamed, experienced failure of designs and tried again, pushed the boundaries, and thought outside the box. It was a great training,
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