TrainingGrounds很高兴有机会与您分享在幼儿教育领域获得更多关注的重要性和潜在的社会需求. In New Orleans there is a lack of free accessible parenting education programs that cater to the parents, caregivers, and early childhood educators of the 42% of children that live below the US Census declared poverty rate. In addition, there is a limited number of quality early learning childhood seats for children under the age of 3. 在过去的一年里,TrainingGrounds在新奥尔良的景观中工作,使用研究和经过验证的技术,采取独特的方法来改变我们最小的孩子的轨迹.
教育研究一直证明,儿童早期经历的质量与后来的学业成就之间存在很强的相关性. (路易斯安那州从出生到五岁的早期学习和发展标准问题在于缺乏有效的家长教育计划,这些计划旨在减少儿童虐待和忽视的发生率,提高儿童的身体素质, 儿童的认知和情感发展. The National Parenting Education Network (NPEN) describes the goal of parent education as “strengthening families by providing relevant, effective education and support and encouraging an optimal environment for the healthy growth and development of parents/caregivers and children.”
(http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/parented.pdf)
新奥尔良的所有父母都有权利看到自己的孩子在认知上有所发展, socially and emotionally in such a way they are ready for a life of learning and overall success. However, there is a lack of easily accessible programs for minority and low income parents to learn about child development, 最好的育儿实践和早期大脑发育都将极大地提高父母的能力,为孩子的发展奠定坚实的基础. Various nonprofit agencies, community action groups and city assistance programs are designed to address poverty in our city. However, parents, 照顾者和幼儿教育工作者在制定有效的策略为儿童创造高质量的学习经验方面继续需要大量援助.
In addition, in New Orleans there are over 3500 infants and toddlers on a waiting list for an early head start seat. 这是不可接受的,因为研究表明,高质量的早期学习经验可以对弱势儿童的智力和社会发展产生重要的长期改善. 如果不给这些孩子提供其他选择,他们最终将成为每年进入幼儿园的60%的美国孩子中没有准备和缺乏语言的孩子, numeracy and social emotional skills necessary to be successful in the school and beyond.
这种紧迫感源于我们知道,到3岁时,儿童大脑的80%正在发育. Dr. Heckman, an American economist, suggest that without resources such as “parent-coaching” and early childhood education programs, 许多有风险的儿童错过了成长的发展,而成长是成功的基础. They will suffer for the rest of their lives – and all of us will pay the price in higher social cost and declining economic fortunes.
据新奥尔良早期教育网报道, “卡特里娜飓风过后,新奥尔良的K-12教育体系发生了转变, 在学生成绩方面取得了令人印象深刻的进步. However, one critical element of a high quality education system has been missing: early childhood education” .
此外,新奥尔良和路易斯安那州面临着一些具有挑战性的统计数据:
该组织于2017年4月收到了501(c)(3)决定书.
Mission: To assist families, educators, 以及社区加强儿童成功的基础.
Vision: 所有的孩子都有未来成功所需的坚实基础.
TrainingGrounds, Inc. assists parents, 照顾者和专业人士为孩子提供丰富的学习经验, positive adult-child interactions and social emotional skills that will contribute to success in school and beyond. 我们采用以下三种方法:
Impact:
*The We PlAY Center is currently open 3 days a week for 2 hours each day and continues to deliver programming
and attract new families.
Support:
TrainingGrounds参加了三个有竞争力的创业项目. Propeller, 4.学校和Camelback Ventures每周都提供一对一的指导, 获得高层网络和投资者, pro bono technical support, and free office space. 我们从4那里得到了1万美元和4万美元的资金支持.分别是0所学校和Camelback Ventures. In Fall 2017, Traininggrounds won the Pitch NOLA Education Competition for their We PLAY Center and received $5500. We have received grant funding for the 2018 year from the GPOA Foundation as well as the Institute for Mental Hygiene. 科珀斯克里斯蒂社区资源中心继续支持我们的倡议,为我们的“玩耍中心”和“家长学习机会研讨会”捐赠空间. Also, the families that utilize our free We PLAY Center show their support by donating money and refreshments.
合作机构:
Corpus Christi Community Center provides free space for our We PLAY Center and parent learning opportunity courses. 2017年秋天,我们与Propeller Incubator共同主办了一场名为“早期儿童种族与公平”的会议,旨在提高人们对新奥尔良面临的挑战的认识. 我们为金斯利大厦举办了专业发展研讨会, Total Community Action, 霍夫曼早教中心, 需要服务的家庭, 原色学习中心, 以及专业组织.
Our Team
梅兰妮·理查森,城市生活垃圾,城市生活垃圾
Melanie Richardson is a native New Orleanian who has been working in the fields of mental health and adult education for over 20 years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. 回到新奥尔良后, Melanie曾担任青少年精神病住院治疗机构主任和社区精神健康康复机构项目主任, 分别获得联合委员会和COA认证.
作为两个机构的启动运营总监, Melanie aided in turning ideas into fruition and was instrumental in providing much-needed services to the community. 她多年来和学生们一起工作的经验, 不同环境下的家长和社区成员为她提供了宝贵的洞察力和对服务类型的理解,这些服务将使社区和选民蓬勃发展. 梅勒妮已婚,有一个十几岁的儿子.
Christine Neely, M.Ed
Christine Neely在教育领域工作了20多年,一直致力于提高标准,为家庭和学生提供资源. Christine has spent over 15 years serving as lead teacher in grades PK-3rd while working closely with administration to mentor new teachers, 开发课程并转向共同核心. Christine has
在全国会议上发表演讲,并举办有关扫盲发展的讲习班, hands on education, 七种基本技能中的大脑结构和思维. 她是P的活跃成员.E.O国际促进全世界妇女的教育机会. 她已经结婚21年了,有两个十几岁的儿子.
Both Melanie and Christine have received Louisiana Pathways Certification on a wide range of topics and have both been through CLASS Observation Training.
Our board provides a proficient mix of skills in both the education and business community.
Shelly Stocker
Board Chair
学校人才资助主任
New School New Orleans
Michelle Frentzos
Treasurer
Business Manager
Louisiana Children’s Museum
Dr. Bridget Rey
Secretary
儿童发展顾问
LA Dept. of Education
顾问委员会由一名律师组成, CPA, 学校心理学家,布鲁克林幼儿园协会前董事会主席. 这些新增成员提出进行磋商, feedback, 和建议,是训练场的完全支持者和拥护者.
Closing
TrainingGrounds is positioning itself to make a profound impact on early childhood outcomes in New Orleans. 我们期待着继续就如何共同努力加强从出生到五岁的管道进行对话:这是持续改善新奥尔良教育系统的关键因素.
如需进一步了解我们公司,请访问我们的网站 www.mytraininggrounds.org or visit us on Facebook. You can also watch the latest media coverage of our We PLAY Center by clicking on the following links: PitchNOLA Education Winner, 我的创业故事:训练场地,训练场地:反对暴力 and NOLA.com: Play and Learn.
Sincerely,
梅兰妮·理查森,城市生活垃圾,城市生活垃圾
TrainingGrounds, Inc
联合创始人兼执行董事
melanie@mytraininggrounds.org
504.408.0506