Recent News / Blog

$10K GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND MATERIALS 

Marianna, FL – Childcare centers across the country are no longer receiving direct government aid from the American Rescue Plan Act; however, some of that funding is still accessible following decisions from state lawmakers to set aside $315 million to continue helping childcare providers through June 30, 2024. 

ELCNWF, which services Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties is expected to receive $4.9 million dollars from the Early Learning Discretionary Grant Program. 

The first round of funding of $1.2 million began October 27. Childcare providers in ELCNWF’s service area can apply for $10,000 grants to offset operational costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will be open until December 1 or until funds are expended. So far, 53 childcare providers have received grants totaling $530K.  

Allowable expenditures include items such as indoor and outdoor equipment, classroom materials, payroll or bookkeeping software and licensing fees. 

“We are so grateful to be able to provide these grants to support childcare providers,” said ELCNWF Executive Director Suzan Gage. “Childcare providers are dealing with changing demands and increasing costs. These grants will help bring providers relief so that they can continue serving families in Northwest Florida.” 

The next round of funding for childcare centers will be announced in early 2024. Providers who contract with ELCNWF will receive email notifications and the application will be posted on our website. 

Providers can apply for the first round of funding using the link below:

For more information on grant funding, contact Lindsay Holmes at [email protected]. For media availability, contact Tami Valdez, at [email protected]. 

ELCNWF Restores Normalcy to Young Children Through Learning and Play

Panama City, FL – In 2019, the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida (ELCNWF) was awarded and used $7.4 million in disaster recovery funds to assist Hurricane Michael recovery. With this funding, Operation Kaleidoscope was launched by ELCNWF to rebuild childcare indoor and outdoor environments, provide mental health resources, and create growth and expansion opportunities for childcare providers in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties.

Joyce’s Learning Center is one of many childcare facilities to benefit from Operation Kaleidoscope. The facility was brand-new in October 2018 and ready to welcome staff and children to the facility when they were dealt a crippling blow. “Hurricane Michael hit and everything was destroyed,” said owner Joyce Caldwell. “We had to rebuild everything, inside and outside. The funding we received from ELCNWF made our rebuild possible.”

Like Joyce’s Learning Center, many of the childcare providers in the region suffered damage to their outdoor playgrounds as a result of the storm. Playground equipment, shade structures, and trees were lost, resulting in a loss of outdoor play spaces for children. In December 2022, thanks to Operation Kaleidoscope, the playground at Joyce’s Learning Center reopened, better than ever.
Playgrounds are important for all children, but they’re critically important for children who need to de-stress and work through traumatic events. To meet this need, over $2.85 million has been spent to rebuild playgrounds at childcare centers. New outdoor play structures have been installed at 42 childcare centers in ELCNWF’s service area.

Of equal importance is restoring indoor classroom learning environments. Over $1.35 million was allocated to 339 classrooms that received books, furniture, and other tools to promote learning and over $524K has been disbursed to childcare centers for repair and renovation reimbursements. The funding also increased childcare availability and sustainability by creating additional spaces for children.

“The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida is proud of Operation Kaleidoscope and the sense of normalcy it brought to the children affected by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and then by the pandemic in 2020,” said Executive Director Suzan Gage. “It is vital for children to have spaces where they can bounce back from life’s challenges through safely playing, connecting, and learning. Supporting the mental health needs of children, families, and their caregivers is also a top priority for ELCNWF.”

With this mental health priority in place, a program called Help Me Grow Florida was brought to the Northwest Florida region to offer support and resources for child developmental screenings; and mental health services were expanded to meet the needs of children, parents/caregivers, childcare teachers, and childcare directors. The free screenings benefited over 1,400 children and more than 2,600 hours of therapy was provided.

“This initiative in rebuilding childcare classrooms and playgrounds in Northwest Florida is so important to our recovery,” said Jeanne Hitchcock, ELCNWF Executive Board member and owner of Along the Way Learning Center in Jackson County. “As a parent and Hurricane Michael survivor, I have witnessed first-hand the impact restoring normalcy to classrooms and play areas has on not just children, but entire families.”

For more information on Operation Kaleidoscope or for media availability contact Communications and Development Director, Tami Valdez at (850) 625-8882.

There is big news coming out of Northwest Florida as our Board of Directors has appointed a new Executive Director for the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida. Suzan Gage assumed responsibilities on May 9^th, 2018, and has succeeded Lynne Eldridge who recently retired as Executive Director of the Coalition. More information about Suzan, and her tenure with the coalition can be found in the press release linked below. If you would like any additional information about this transition, please email [email protected].

Click Here to read the press release

 

WMBB

Click here to read a short article, with video, from WMBB News Channel 13.

 

Foster Folley News

Click here to read Paul Golding’s article on ArtKidDoo, 2018.

 

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Local children’s book author Carol “Boots” Hensel visited PCB Academy in Panama City, Fla., during a special visit on Wednesday, February 21. Boots read her story “Johari’s Joy” to children while dressed in pig pajamas, and there were guest appearances from her book’s stars – Johari and Joy.

Boots is a friend of Rotarian Bob Britson, a local engineer and a volunteer with the Rotary Read Aloud program. Rotary Read Aloud is an initiative between the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the Rotary Club of Panama City. The program started in 2007, and has grown from a partnership with 4 School Readiness contracted providers to 22.

Each month, Rotarians visit participating Rotary Read Aloud sites in Bay County to read to children. Books and puppets are left with teachers as a gift to the program. Additionally, books are donated through the generous funding of the Rotary Club of Panama City to encourage reading and family engagement in the home. Parents complete pre- and post-Home Literacy Environment Checklists to monitor changes in behavior from the beginning to the end of the program. Parents and teachers also complete comment cards on books provided by the Early Learning Coalition. Books are selected based on the “Mind in the Making” series of activity sheets with tips to promote life skills.

During the 2016/2017 school year, Rotarians spent over 56 hours preparing for and/or reading in School Readiness contracted programs. Since its inception, thousands of books have been sent home for families to read with children. Based on feedback data from parents and teachers, parents have become more engaged and have increased the time spent reading to their children. Parents are visiting the library more, and they are adding books to their home library. Screen time for children has decreased for children involved with Rotary Read Aloud.

Rotary Read Aloud is credited to the late Julian Bennett (former Panama City Rotarian) and his long-time friend, former ELC of NW Florida Executive Director Lynne Eldridge. They wanted a program that helped increase literacy in early learners, engaged families more, and they wanted the data to support a change in behavior. Since 2007, the lives of thousands of children and families have been positively affected by Rotary Read Aloud.

The Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida is proud to partner with the Rotary Club of Panama City to “cause an revolution of positive impact to so many in our community,” as quoted by Julian’s son, Panama City Rotarian and Rotary Read Aloud Reader Derrick Bennett. To learn more about Rotary Read Aloud, visit www.elcnwf.org/about-us/get-involved/.

More about the Author: Carol “Boots” Hensel has written two books, “Johari’s Joy” and “The Zoopendous Surprise.” She is a resident of Panama City, Fla., where she lives with her husband. To learn more about Boots or to schedule an appearance, visit http://bootshensel.com/.

News Coverage on WMBB-TV: “Rotary Promotes Reading”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ELC of NW Florida was awarded “Best Group Piece” for their submission of hand art to the 2018 Children’s Week “Hanging of the Hands” exhibition in the Florida State Capitol. There were three awards presented for “Best Individual Hand Art,” “Most Creative,” and “Best Group Piece.” The Coalition was applauded by Children’s Week for their collaboration with the libraries throughout Northwest Florida, including participation from Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, and Washington County public libraries.

We are grateful for the partnership among Northwest Florida libraries, child care programs, and our newly-included friends at the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle.

To view the original post on the Children’s Week Facebook page, visit https://www.facebook.com/FlChildrensWeek/.

 

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The ELC of NW Florida will host an Early Learning Scholastic Book Fair from November 6-9 in their Panama City Coalition Office (703 W. 15th Street). On Thursday, November 9, the Coalition will host a Family Night from 5-7 p.m. Families and teachers of preschool children are invited to attend. Light snacks will be served, and craft stations will be available for children of all ages.

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Early Learning Scholastic Press Release” style=”custom” custom_background=”#0089c4″ custom_text=”#ffffff” size=”lg” align=”left” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-file-text-o” add_icon=”true” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elcnwf.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F11%2FScholastic-Press-Release_for-2017-11-03_FINAL.pdf||target:%20_blank|”][vc_btn title=”Learn more about our fair!” style=”custom” custom_background=”#0089c4″ custom_text=”#ffffff” size=”lg” align=”left” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-external-link” add_icon=”true” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elcnwf.org%2Fscholastic-book-fair%2F|||”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

See us in the news!

“Clifford the special guest at pre-K book fair” – The News Herald

“ELC of NW Florida Offers First Annual Early Learning Scholastic Preschool Book Fair Nov. 6th – 9th” – Foster Folly News

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Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida Received $4,360 Donation from Dunkin’ Donuts!

Click here to link to the Washington County News/Holmes County Advertiser article: “Dunkin’ Donuts donates to ELC”

Click here to link to Aston Williams report on WMBB-TV: “Dunkin’ Donuts Loves the Children”

Click here to link to the story share on the Purple Square Management Group page. Purple Square manages these popular national brands: Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins, The Brass Tap, and Popeyes.  “Dunkin’ Donuts Loves the Children”

Click here to link the story appearing in Foster Folly News from Washington County: “Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida received $4,360 donation from Dunkin’ Donuts”

Click here to link to the September 21 news release!

“little listeners” is a program launched through the Alignment Bay County Early Learning committee on which  the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida serves. Patients of Coastal OB/GYN will have the opportunity to take part in this program that encourages pregnant moms to read to their unborn children. Books and information will be provided through the private donation of Dr. Merritt and his family.

Click below to learn more!

“New Program Encourages Pregnant Women to Read to Their Babies,” WMBB-TV