Committees
Smart Start-Centre County has several action committees, all of which are working on projects and programs.
All committees meet once a month to plan, implement, and evaluate activities related to their goals. Community members who are interested are welcome to join any committee! To find out more or get involved, email us at info@smartstartcc.org.
Current Committees and Goals:
Health and Nutrition
This committee is newly forming and does not have set times and locations for meetings.
Co-chairs: Kim Bahnsen kbahnsen@homenursingagency.com 942-1903 and Ann Keith AKEITH@HOMENURSINGAGENCY.com 342-6993
- Provide Health / Nutrition focus at the Countdown to Kindergarten event
- Compile list of health / nutrition services available to families of young children in Centre county, in usable form, for use on Smart Start’s website or in printed form
- Provide Health / Nutrition focus at Give a Kid a Smile / Vision event provided by Centre Volunteers in Medicine
- Provide at least 1 health/nutrition - related article for Smart Start’s regular column, For the Children, in Centre Daily Times
- Provide community or provider education related to children’s body image
- Provide a health and nutrition focus at the Bellefonte Children’s Fair
Early Care and Education
This committee usually meets the 4th Tuesday of each month from 8:30 – 10:30 AM at the Child Development and Family Council, 2565 Park Centre Blvd, Suite 100, State College.
Co-chairs: Amy Wible awible@cenclear.org 342-5678 x 246 and Paula Thornbloom pthornbloom@cdfc.org 238-5480 x 20.
- Transition-C2K, supports to parents of children entering Pre-K, Preschool Fair
- Disseminate ECE information
- Increase communication with SD superintendents, boards, PTOs-OCDEL resources to principals, presentations to school boards and PTOs
- Transition Teams-one representative per school building (ECE, parent, and SD)
Early Childhood Mental Health
This committee usually meets the 4th Thursday of each month from 9:00 - 10:00 AM at the Center for Child and Adult Development, 1315 West College Ave. Suite 303, State College.
Co-Chairs: Shirl Smith ssmith@cenclear.org 342-5678 x 262 and Wendy Whitesell wjw8@psu.edu 865-4057
- Support and promote newly established mental health consultation services in early childhood pilot programs in Centre County
- Suggest topics and presenters on social/emotional skill development at annual parent conference (Focus on Strong Families) and annual provider conference (Early Years are Learning Years).
- Provide parenting information and resources through website, For the Children column, and e-newsletter articles, and at public events.
Parenting and Literacy
This committee usually meets the 1st Monday of each month from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM at Schlow Library.
Co-chairs: Anita Ditz aditz@schlowlibrary.org 235-7817 and Connie Schulz ces11@scasd.org 231-1070.
- Promote parent education opportunities such as Tuning into Kids to help parents become more effective first educators of their children
- Support One Book, Every Young Child annual activities
- Offer input to revision and support distribution of Smart Start
- Solicit input from Parent Advisory Group for all activities
To contact a committee co-chair or for more information, see “Calendar” for contact info and date/location of monthly meetings. ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO SHARE IN CREATING PROJECTS.