The E-CATCH group recently held a meeting to share information and updates on the various projects and initiatives they are working on.

Karen Thompson of the Eastern Kentucky Child Care Coalition shared information about the revival of the Bell County Community Early Childhood Council. A grant proposal was written by E-CATCH leadership in hopes of providing even greater outreach to the Bell County early childhood community.

According to Thompson, it will focus on family support and education, an awareness campaign on the importance of school readiness, provide an abundance of professional development for early childhood educators and provide an opportunity for a select number of early childhood educators to attend the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Conference in Washington, D.C. in November.

“In an effort to promote better outcomes for young children and families, the Bell/Harlan Community Early Childhood Council will address the importance of school readiness through its continued efforts to increase Council membership, foster family involvement in early care and education, provide data driven professional development opportunities across early childhood settings, and improve the quality of early childhood learning environments,” states information on kidsnow.ky.gov, regarding the council.

Notification of grant approval will be March 15, at 10 a.m. at Middlesboro Mall. Lutricia Woods, project navigator for Vroom, has agreed to serve as the chair of the Bell County Community Early Childhood Council should the funding come through and the council be re-established.