Our Mission is to ensure that infants and toddlers of working families have access to care and education in our community.
All in the Family: Providers and Parents Join Together for Children “Providers must be responsive to parents, knowledgeable about child development and eager to see every parent succeed.” These words of T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., the famous 95-year-old pediatrician and pioneer in early childhood development, guide local providers as they care for babies and toddlers of our community’s working families. “Home child care gives us a wonderful opportunity to work together for the Lisa Freer, the reading specialist at child’s benefit,” said Jane Talesnick, coLincoln and Braeside schools, visits ordinator of the Highland Park/Highwood with provider Mira Novacovic as she Home Child Care Association. “The picks up her 20-month-old son, Haywarm, informal setting encourages parents to tell us what’s happening with the den, at the end of the day. child they drop off at the beginning of the day and—at pick up time—the provider has an opportunity to give parents a personal account of the day’s activities.” Providers collaborate with parents in other ways. While they are at work, parents enjoy “real-time” reports through photos and videos. Parents also receive written reports from specialists who make regular visits to child care homes. That includes Kathy Lord, an Occupational Therapist/ Nutritionist, who observes and makes suggestions regarding individual children, and Leslee Goldman, an Art Therapist, who explains what children learn while exploring art. The warm family feeling continues Parents also stay connected at the annual for Kate, 11, who was in child care at Jane Talesnick’s as a baby Open Sing, when mothers, fathers and grandparents join children in music led by Nancy and toddler and now returns for Shaffer, another regular child care visitor. weekly visits after school. She is (See photo on page three.) shown with AJ, 10 months. 1
Highland Park/Highwood Home Child care Association ——————————————————————————-
Board of Directors JANET FREED, Chair Director and Past President United Way of Highland Park/Highwood
LISA ADELMUND Administrative Director Highland Park Community Nursery School & Day Care Center
CAROL BRUSSLAN Early Childhood Specialist Family Network
PATRICIA GOODMAN Retired Supervisor Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Early Childhood Consultant
MARK YOUR CALENDAR February—Winter Bi-Lingual Open Sing at Family Network gym, 330 Laurel Ave., 6-7 p.m. March—Educational meeting. “How Providers and Parents Team Up for Children” with Cathleen Hamili, LPC, Baby Room Facilitator, Family Network. At North Shore Health Center, 1840 Green Bay Road, Highland Park, 6:30-8 p.m. May—Annual Meeting at North Shore Health Center, 6:30-8 p.m., speaker to be announced. Dates to be announced. Call 847-604-2956 or go to www.hphhomechildcare.com.
CATHLEEN HAMILI Baby & Me Room Facilitator Family Network
TAMY JACOBS Educational Consultant
LOIS KUPRITZ Early Childhood Consultant
AMY LUBIN LCSW
SANDRA RAIZES Director Emeritus Highland Park Community Nursery School & Day Care Center Early Childhood Consultant
GINNY SCHULTE Community Representative
Salute to Sonia For the last 7 years Sonia Calles has skillfully done the production work on Kiddin’ Around. Sonia, who has been managing Family Network’s office, is now leaving that job but has graciously volunteered to continue with her work on Kiddin’ Around. Thank you, Sonia, for bringing our message to our readers.
JEAN WALLACE-BAKER Former Director Highland Park Community Nursery School & Day Care Center
JANE TALESNICK, M.Ed. Coordinator
KATHY MARTINEZ Latino Outreach Leader
MARILYN STRAUS, Founder Of Fond Memory
Newsletter Production: SONIA CALLES
The Highland Park-Highwood Home Child Care Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. We are funded by the YEA! Highland Park Ravinia Benefit, City of Highland Park Human Relations & Cultural Arts Commissions, Moraine Township, the Highland Park Community Foundation, the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park, Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood, by the Trillium and Barr Foundations, and other citizens concerned about child care. Contributions are tax deductible.
Child Care Assistance Program The Association has established guidelines for recipients of our new Child Care Assistance Program, which grew out of our Student Scholarship Program. Since fewer students need help with child care at this time, the Association has expanded its eligibility guidelines to include working families who cannot afford home child care in our community. Lisa Adelmund, Association board member and Administrative Director of Highland Park Community Nursery School and Day Care Center, has created a manual for the Program. For information contact the Association at 847-604-2956 or
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Reaching into the Community Kathy Martinez, the Latino Outreach Leader, takes notes while Art Therapist Leslee Goldman works with Maggie, left, and Tilly, during a visit to Kathy’s child care home as part of the Association’s enrichment program. Kathy, in turn, is using the information on visits she makes to the homes of Spanishspeaking providers. Kathy brings books, games, music and art to demonstrate how learning can be fun. Nancy Shaffer, left, and Monica del Castillo led families in a bilingual “Open Sing” August 5 that included parents and children served by the Highland Park/ Highwood Home Child Care Association and Family Network’s Right from the Start program. The two groups are getting together for a Winter Open Sing at Family Network.
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Highland Park-Highwood Home Child Care Association P.O. Box 37 Highland Park, IL 60035 Voice mail: (847) 604 - 2956
[email protected] www.hphhomechildcare.com See Kiddin’Around in living color on our website.
Thanks to YEA! and Other Funders
Strong Connection
YEA! Highland Park, the major funder of our Association, announced its continuing support on December 3 at a gala benefit dinner at Bella Via restaurant. YEA! distributed grants to more than 20 organizations serving local youth, arts and education groups, as well as social service agencies. YEA! funds come from its annual Ravinia benefit and from a portion of the user fee that Ravinia pays to the City of Highland Park. For the past 17 years YEA! has been the main supporter of our Association, which makes it possible for families who live and/or work in our community to find care and education for their infants and toddlers. Other organizations that have donated funds for important services in local child care homes include the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park for an occupational therapist, Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood for an art therapist and the Highland Park Arts Commission and Barr and Trillium Foundations for a music visitor. The Highland Park Human Relations Commission, Moraine Township and the Highland Park Community Foundation support the Child Care Assistance Program.
Rebecca Jacobson, M.D. (center), whose children were cared for in Nancy Falcon’s home, was the doctor at Lake Forest Hospital who delivered Dylan, three, (left) also in Nancy’s care. They all got together at the Open Sing.
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