Early Childhood Interagency Council

		The Parent Enrichment Project was established. The project's goal was to distribute parenting information throughout South Milwaukee (SM). This was done through the support of the SM School Board. Information was distributed through the schools, library, health department, and business fair. A community directory was created and distributed along with the parenting information. SM kindergarten teachers were surveyed during the 1991-92 school year to determine children's school readiness. The results of the survey were 28% of children were unprepared for school and 23% could have been better prepared.
		The Project continued as before. In addition a presentation about the Missouri's Parents as Teachers (PAT) program was made to the SM School Board. The School Board was not prepared to implement PAT.
		The Project continued. In January members of the SM School District/Parent Enrichment Project along with other members of Cooperative Educational Services Agency (CESA) #1 were invited to attend an informational meeting about PAT. In April this group of people were invited to attend a Prevention Service Planning Meeting by CESA #1. This meeting was to develop the components of a planning grant and define how the larger group could collaborate on how to serve families better.
		The SM School District was awarded a grant through CESA in the form of a person who would help develop collaborative services and programs for families of young children in SM.
		Agencies and people who serve families of young children were invited to a planning meeting and the Early Childhood Interagency Council (ECIC) was born. The Council received a $1,500 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) form the City of South Milwaukee to support its activities. The Council then: Began to develop a network for information exchange regarding key community contacts, programs, services and events and to act as an informed referral network for Child Find. Began to develop a public awareness program to focus on community programs, services, and events available to young children and their families. Began to coordinate existing programs to eliminate duplication of services, identify gaps, and create a seamless system of support to ease transition from one program to another community program. Began to develop and implement a system of shared staff development opportunities. Continue to distribute parenting information and community directory. In December a philosophy and mission statement were adopted: "The Council recognizes the value of families to the community and it wishes to work in partnership with these families to assist them in meeting the needs of their children with emphasis on children birth to age eight. Our mission is to share and disseminate community resources by networking, coordinating services and collaborating to build alliances. "
		The ECIC was awarded a $2,000 CDBG. It continued to work on the 5 areas it had started in 1995. The Council also recognized the mobility of young families and the location of organizations that serve young families outside the city limits and made a very successful effort to expand the Council's membership beyond South Milwaukee.
		A CDBG of $2,000 was received. Work continued on the 5 areas that had been previously established. A Celebrate Families Night was held in February with over 100 people in attendance. The night was filled with fun workshops for parents and children. The Council had determined the need for a home-visiting program and began to investigate the different possibilities.
		$2,000 CDBG was received again. The 5 areas it had originally developed continued to be worked on. The Council determined that the PAT program was the home-visiting program it wanted to start and began to plan its implementation. A presentation about PAT was made to the Healthier Community Initiative. The Council placed information about itself and PAT on the Internet at www.south milwaukee.org.
		The ECIC received a $2,000 CDBG. It continued to work on the 5 areas it had established. The Council has hired grant writers to help find the funding to establish and implement PAT.
		The ECIC received a $2,200 CDBG and $500 from the SM Youth Commission. It continued to work on the 5 areas it had established. The Council has trained one home-visitor and is working on obtaining a grant to more fully fund the our Home-visiting program.
		The ECIC received a $1,200 CDBG and $1,300 from the CAP Fund. It continued to work on the 5 areas it had established. The Council trained two home-visitor and obtained a CAP Fund grant to more fully fund the family-visiting program.
		Hired Program Manager for family-visiting program "Early Childhood Family Support Program". In Dec. received $2,100 small Cap Fund grant for PAT 3-5 training. Received $300 from Cudahy Lion's Club and $315 from the South Milwaukee Lion’s used for ASQ screening system as well as four kits that are used for vision and developmental screenings. In Dec. received $955 HOPE grant for PAT training for new family-visitor. The community of St. Francis received a 21st Century grant and has dedicated $12,900 for each of the next two years to the family-visiting program. Launched website www.ecicouncil.org.
		Early Childhood Family Support Program (ECFSP) increased the number of families they served. Personnel from this program did screenings and playgroups in a variety of locations. South Milwaukee High School Family and Consumer Education Department made tote bags and filled them with the needed supplies prescribed by the Parent as Teachers curriculum. The Family Life Center contributed to the funding of the ECFSP. The community of St. Francis received a 21st Century grant and has dedicated $12,900 for one year to the family-visiting program.
		The Family Life Center took over the operations and funding of the Early Childhood Family Support Program. Published a new Community Directory with the help of Aurora Health Care.