1. 2. REGULAR MEETING of the EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 11, 2024, 9:00 A.M. CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Early Childhood Council may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once, either in person or remotely, and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Caitlin Oliver, Program Coordinator, Austin Public Health, at 512-972-6205 or Caitlin.Oliver@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Cathy McHorse, Chair Corie Cormie John Green-Otero Cynthia McCollum Brianna Menard Casie Schennum Leonor Vargas Choquette Hamilton, Vice Chair Eliza Gordon Tom Hedrick Andrea McIllwain Alice Navarro Ellana Selig AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers to register prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DISCUSSION ITEMS Approve the minutes of the Early Childhood Council Regular Meeting on August 10, 2024 Presentation by Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, on the City’s August budget process and on the department’s 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Global Business Expansion, Small Business, Cultural Arts, Music and Entertainment, Workforce and Childcare, and Support Service divisions Presentation regarding the Infant and Early Childhood (IEC) Program at the Austin Child Guidance Center (ACGC) and the services ACGC plans to provide with the APH Early Childhood RFP funding Presenters: • Tameka Thompson, LPC—IEC Program Manager • Elisha Gandhi, LCSW—IEC Program Therapist Presentation by Edgar Hurtado, supervisor in the Austin Public Health (APH) Immunizations Unit, regarding immunization records audits of Austin-Travis County schools and child care programs Updates from the Success By 6 (SX6) Coalition Leadership Team meeting, including upcoming events and the Texans Care for Children data dashboard WORKING GROUP UPDATES Updates from the Early Childhood Council Quality-of-Life (QoL) Study Workgroup regarding membership and collaboration with other boards and commissions managing a QoL study STAFF BRIEFINGS Briefing from Caitlin Oliver, Austin Public Health (APH), regarding the Home Grown grant for home-based child care providers; the Austin-Travis County Family-Based Child Care Conference; the new APH Early Childhood Program Coordinator; and updates …
Economic Development Department Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director September 11, 2024 Economic Development Department Leadership Team Sylnovia Holt-Rabb Director Anthony Segura Deputy Director Morgan Messick Assistant Director Cultural Arts Ann Eaton Assistant Director Workforce Development & Business C I TY O F A U S T I N Mission and Vision The City of Austin's Economic Development Department supports and recruits businesses to Austin through all divisions. Our mission is to promote a competitive, sustainable, and equitable economy for all. C I TY O F A U S T I N 3 Economic Development Department Overview Arts Business Music C I TY O F A U S T I N Cultural Arts Cultural Arts Division The Cultural Arts Division (CAD) plays a key role in fostering the city's creative economy by managing cultural arts programs that support the community’s cultural identity and vitality. Key Initiatives Include: • Cultural Arts Funding Program: Contracts with arts organizations to support local cultural arts initiatives. • Art in Public Places (AIPP): Commissioning and exhibiting public art throughout Austin. • Artist Development: HOT-funded programs like Thrive, Elevate, and Nexus to nurture and promote local artists. C I TY O F A U S T I N Cultural Arts Division: 2023 Grant Funding Elevate: Awarded over $6.2 million to 200 arts organizations and creative businesses to support diverse artistic content in Austin. • 35 grantees identify as Black/African American. • 17 grantees identify as female • 9 grantees identify as non-binary • 9 grantees identify as male Nexus: Awarded $255,000 to 51 creative businesses to support emerging voices and diverse public programming in Austin—targeting new applicants and creative entities that have been at risk of cultural erasure or institutional marginalization. • 9 creative businesses identify as Black/African American. C I TY O F A U S T I N Cultural Arts Division: 2023 Grant Funding (cont.) Arts Education Relief Grant: $475,000 was awarded to 19 nonprofits, made possible through the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to aid local arts education organizations in their recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It prioritizes applicants who have faced immediate risk of cultural erasure or institutional marginalization within Austin. • 5 nonprofits identified as Black/African American • 88 people employed by the 5 grantee organizations who identify as Black/African American C I TY O F A U S T I N Music & Entertainment Music & Entertainment Division The …
IEC Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Program Austin Child Guidance Center Presented by: Tameka Thompson, LPC & Elisha Gandhi, LCSW Purpose of IEC • Our project was created to decrease expulsion rates of young children, birth to 5 years of age • Reduce the rate of mental health concerns for children as they get older (Early childhood is the best time to intervene and affect outcomes) • Build awareness of how early intervention can positively impact a child’s social/emotional growth • To embrace the "whole child"- an approach that focuses on mental, social and emotional readiness IEC model • IEC is a unique model that empowers the teachers and staff with the skills and tools to support every child they encounter in their center • IEC supports and encourages center staff and parents to bridge the gaps in communication • IEC also supports individual families who are experiencing unique struggles IEC Foundation Principles Facilitate connection/communication among directors, administrators, teachers and parents to support young children Recognizing the context of family, culture and community Decreasing expulsion and suspension in child-care Reduce the rate of mental health concerns as children get older Impact of IEC • • • • • • • • • Improves social, emotional and behavioral well-being for children and their families Reduces school suspension and expulsion among young children Reduces challenging behaviors in young children Reduces teacher's stress Improves teacher-child relationship Builds communication among staff/director Builds communication among staff/caregivers Link children and their families with resources in the community Children ability to experience, express and regulate their emotions Team Effort Observation of classrooms Teacher consultation Teacher trainings Parent workshops Individual consultation Individual referals Support for the directors Feedback for IEC Over 85%, feel the training has enhance their effectiveness. The trainers are relatable and knowledgeable Digging down to the definition of trauma was interesting Informative training Feel more comfortable talking with parents Enjoy the strategies provided I feel this is a team effort Love seeing the growth in my classroom Importance of Early Childhood Development • Early childhood development provides building blocks for strong social emotional skills • It's essential for centers to have a space for educational achievements to thrive and the confidence to face any challenge • We use a multi-level prevention and intervention strategies to build confidence, vital for increasing childhood development This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND. Vision • Continue to …
