Early Childhood Resourse Center
The Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc.
5121 Jacquelyn
Bartlesville, OK 74006
(918) 335-3005
Vision:
Through a collaborative effort all families will have access to supportive services as they journey through parenthood.
Mission:
To collaborate with city leaders, citizens, organizations, schools and the faith based community to increase awareness of the needs of our cities families and therefore secure a brighter future for tomorrow’s citizens.
History:
In 1985 a group of concerned leaders came together to write a child abuse prevention grant, which was funded through the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Office of Child Abuse Prevention. This program was adapted in 1997 to meet the Healthy Families America criteria. It quickly became apparent that one program could not sufficiently meet the needs in Washington County. In order to more effectively reach families, other programs were sought after including Parents as Teachers and the Bartlesville Even Start Program. In 1997, the Early Childhood Resource Center Advisory Board was formed to 1) assist with the planning and implementation of the programs under the Early Childhood Resource Center partnership, 2) build support for the programs within the community, 3) have a common advisory board in order to make the most efficient use of the limited time community professionals, business people and parents are able to volunteer and, 4) meet grant guidelines for several of the programs under the Early Childhood Resource Center consortium of services. Eventually, Child Guidance, Children’s First, Family Care Services, Loving Roots, Sooner Start, Systems of Care and Tri County Technology Center’s Child Development Pilot Project became a partner underneath the Early Childhood Resource Center’s umbrella of services. This partnership has presented its collaborative model at local, state and National conferences including Chicago, Washington D.C., St. Louis, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Early Childhood Resource Center was incorporated as a not for profit organization with the State of Oklahoma on April 23, 2008.
What we are about:
The Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. is a consortium of nine early childhood programs/initiatives who collaborate to provide early childhood education and support to families prenatally and who have children up to six years of age. Through these collaborative efforts, the partnership seeks to avoid competition and duplication of services, thus ensuring more families are served and that families are more likely to be referred to the program that will best meet their needs.
Services to the community and collaborative partners:
1. All individuals giving birth at Jane Phillips Medical Center in Washington County complete a survey. Directors of the partner programs meet twice a month to review the surveys and other referrals to the Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. programs. Each individual completing the survey is mailed a “Welcome Baby” letter and the “Homefront” newsletter, which provides developmentally appropriate information, parent/child activities and upcoming parent support opportunities.
2. Members of the collaborative partnership meet once a month for peer staffing to build and maintain on-going positive relationships, receive multi-disciplinary staff consultation, coordinate services to families, share opportunities for in-service training, receive community updates and share resources.
3. Collaborative partners work together to offer a free “Playschool” twice a month where parents and caregivers have the opportunity to bring their children birth to five years of age and engage in a multi-sensory, preschool setting that offers activities that stimulate all areas of development including music, art, cognitive, social, small and large muscle and emotional areas.
4. Partners work together to provide a parent support group and parent/child events throughout the year.
5. Members of the Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. also have access to a resource library and toy lending library.
Services to individuals:
The Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. provides free:
Parent Information: Parents are provided with the knowledge and resources they need to give them and their child the best possible start for healthy family development. Services are targeted to children birth to 6 years of age and first time mothers prenatally.
Home Visits: Parent Educators, nurses and other trained early childhood professionals provide personal visits in the home to offer caring, understanding, support, early intervention and information about a wide array of services available to parents.
Developmental Screenings: Children enrolled in the Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. will have their development tracked and parents are offered consultations with the various specialists available through the partner programs should these services be needed. These specialists include speech/language pathologist, child guidance specialists, audiologist, psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker, nutritionist and local pediatrician.
Parent Education Classes/Workshops: The Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. has collaborated with several agencies to offer parent education personalized toward each parent’s need. Topics may include information about stages of pregnancy, caring for your newborn, child development, discipline, getting your child to sleep, feeding issues, family changes, toilet learning, etc. Developmental toys are also provided as part of the program and a family resource lending library with books, tapes, videos and pamphlets.
Newsletter: A quarterly newsletter is provided free for six months to all new parents giving birth at Jane Phillips Medical Center, the local hospital and parents enrolled in the partner programs of the Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc.
Services to organizations:
The Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. provides the following to organizations:
Child Development Workshops: Workshops are provided free of cost to any requesting organization. A variety of topics are available including stages of development, caring for your newborn, sleep, discipline, toilet learning, sibling rivalry, dealing with anger, kindergarten readiness, television and the impact on children, etc.
Information and Referral: Information about community resources is given out as well as referral to early childhood programs.
Public Presentations: Presentations about the services of the Early Childhood Resource Center, Inc. are given at National, State and local conference’s and to various civic groups such as the Kiwanis and Rotary and to any other entity requesting a presentation.