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For Immediate Release

Story Contact:

Karen Williams: (307) 766-4145

 

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor

Phone: (307) 766-6342

E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm

 

Date: June 27, 2006

UW institute explores early childhood care, education partnerships

 

            Early childhood professionals and parents will explore partnerships in early childhood care and education at the 6th Biennial University of Wyoming Early Childhood Leadership Institute July 12-14 on the UW campus.

            The institute, Exploring Relationships as Partnerships in Early Childhood Education, is sponsored by the colleges of agriculture and education through support from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation.

            Early childhood care providers and educators working with children birth to age 8 and parents are encouraged to attend, said Karen Williams, head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of Agriculture.

            The focus of the institute will be on parent-professional relationships and societal and cultural differences that can affect child care and education.

            Changing demographics and cultural differences are providing new challenges to caregivers, said Williams, who is the conference chair. Those challenges can be something as simple as how a baby is held to how a child sleeps, food preferences or toilet practices. 

            “It’s important to include parents appropriately in children’s school lives starting at infancy, and people need to understand diverse beliefs and values and be aware of our own personal views that could get in the way of partnerships,” said Williams.

            An on-line brochure with conference and registration information is available at http://outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/brochures/06EarlyChildhood.pdf.

            Facilitators include staff and faculty members from the UW colleges of agriculture and education, Pace University-New York, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Casper College, Anglo-American School of Moscow-Russia, Feist Elementary School of Houston, Texas, and the Community Children’s Project of Jackson.

            Keynote person Janet Gonzalez-Mena has taught at several colleges and is the author of numerous articles and more than 13 books related to early childhood. Her most recent book, 50 Early Childhood Strategies for Working and Communicating with Diverse Families will be distributed and used at the conference.

            She is also part of a team from San Francisco-based WestEd that helps early childhood professionals understand and respond positively to cultural differences. WestEd is a nonprofit research, development and service agency that has more than 500 staff members in 14 offices throughout the country.

            Participants are divided into 10 groups, and Gonzalez-Mena will conduct interactive activities during her three days of presentations, said Williams. She will move from group to group during the conference. “Participants will have one-on-one time with a nationally known speaker,” Williams said.

            When participants leave, they have a plan to implement into their own programs, she said.  “Child care providers, teachers and parents who attend will find ways to communicate better with each other,” said Williams.

            Registration is $150, but scholarships are available. Those selected must be willing to participate in follow-up implementation for professional development and data collection with UW research team members. Participation is limited to 100, and early registration is recommended.  For more information about the scholarship, contact Williams at UW Family & Consumer Sciences, Dept. 3354, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071.

            On-line registration is available at http://outreach.uwyo.edu/conferences/calendar/

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