Spring 2024

Filed Under:

MSU Extension Head Start, Nurturing Homes Initiative, Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network

April 9, 2024

Spotlighting Early Childhood Initiatives: Highlights from SECA Conference

Staff from the MSU Extension Early Childhood programs attended the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) 2024 Conference in Atlanta, GA, from March 7-9, 2024. Throughout presentations, exhibits, and leadership opportunities, our team had the chance to collaborate with other early childhood professionals.

During the conference, staff members from the Nurturing Homes Initiative (NHI) and MS Child Care Resource & Referral (MSCCR&R) programs presented various topics, including social and emotional development, family childcare, purposeful play, and more. These presentations enabled our team to disseminate information about our projects and showcase our diverse knowledge base in the early childhood field.

Staff from our MSU Extension Head Start program were also in attendance and participated in sessions aimed at acquiring valuable insight to enhance our center’s practice.

We had an exhibit booth set up allowing us to interact with other professionals and vendors in the field, share about our current projects, and how we can collaborate with others.

Kelly Carmody, NHI Project Director, and SECA board member, expressed the success of this conference, emphasizing the collaboration for states across the Southeast. Carmody highlighted that the SECA Conference consistently provides our staff with the opportunity to “share their expertise and engage in collaborative efforts with peers in the early childhood field.”

Outdoor Play on a “Shoestring” Budget

NHI has a new publication that shares outdoor play activities: Outdoor Play: Creating an Outdoor Learning Environment on a 'Shoestring' Budget. This publication demonstrates how childcare providers and parents can easily incorporate outdoor play into their daily routines using available items around the house.

MSU CDA Credential Program – Coming Soon

Interested in furthering your professional development? We are excited to share that we will be launching a Child Development Associate (CDA) online program this summer! This program is a widely known and valued credential in early childhood education. It is an opportunity for educators working with children from birth to age 5 to demonstrate and strengthen their knowledge, understanding, and practices. The CDA Credential is a professional development learning experience and an essential resource. If you are interested in learning more, email mhmills@humansci.msstate.edu.

Providers currently enrolled in the NHI program are provided free access to the CDA program. Interested in learning more about NHI? Visit our webpage.

MSU Head Start Celebrates Read Across America

Our Head Start centers celebrated Read Across America week in March, recognizing the impact of literacy on early childhood development. This annual event reminds us of the importance of reading to help shape young learners and foster a lifelong love for learning. Representatives Jeffrey Hulum III and Cheikh Taylor participated in our festivities by reading to several of our classes. Their participation helped promote literacy and education. Having community leaders read to the children allowed them not only to grow a love for reading but also showed them that through literacy, they can unlock opportunities for personal and academic growth.

MSCCR&R Extended Hours

Are you aware that MSCCR&R offers extended hours? To better accommodate families, childcare providers, and all those who rely on our services, we have extended hours every Tuesday until 7 pm. We are also open two Saturdays per month from 9 am to noon, further enhancing accessibility for the public. Alongside these extended hours, we encourage you to stay informed about our monthly community events by visiting our webpage for more details.

Upcoming Presentations

Dickerson, T., & Thorne, L. (April 2024) Exploring innovative leadership approaches: Embracing change and growth. World Forum and Early Care and Education. Vancouver, Canada.

Taylor, J., Dickerson, T., & Thorne, L. (June 2024). Transforming leadership with emotional intelligence. NAEYC Professional Learning Institute 2024. New Orleans, LA.

Hampton, F., & Taylor, A. (June 2024) Creating a social and emotional learning environment for young children. Mississippi Early Childhood Education Conference. Natchez, MS.