Webfire Themes Weebly Templates
    Human Development and Family Studies
    • Home
    • Undergraduate Programs
      • early learning collaborative
    • Graduate Programs
      • Overview of Graduate Programs
      • Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Program >
        • HDFS Admission Requirements
      • Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Program >
        • MFT Program Components
        • MFT Outcomes
        • Admission Requirements
        • MFT Faculty
        • MFT Achievement Data
        • MFT Therapy Approaches
        • MFT Program Handbook
      • Child Life Graduate Program >
        • Child Life Admission Requirements
    • Student Services
      • Advising Information
      • Departmental Resources
      • Student Organizations >
        • CCAAYC Organization Information
        • Assoc of Child LIfe
      • Policies and Files
    • News and Events
    • Faculty and Staff
    • Distance Education
    • Outreach & Services
      • Alabama Quality STARS
      • Judy Bonner Child Development Center
      • Capstone Family Therapy Clinic
      • Child Development Resources >
        • Parenting Assistance Line (PAL)
      • Children's Program
      • Pediatric Development Research Laboratory

    COUNCIL AIMS TO MAXIMIZE EARLY CHILDHOOD WELLBEING

    9/12/2018

     
    The Alabama Project LAUNCH Young Child Wellness Council (YCWC) recently took another step towards improving early childhood mental health and wellbeing in West Alabama. Out of 140 communities nationwide, the Tuscaloosa YCWC was selected to receive funding and support from the NOW Learning Community out of Boston.  A diverse group of local stakeholders came together on Tuesday, August 28, to develop a consensus for cross system collaboration in order to support and strengthen the continuum of services for maternal and child wellbeing. 

    Members of the Council will attend four convening NOW events to work with other grant awardees across the country. The group expects to bring back specific action plans.
    NOW builds on Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) Vital Village Network approach to: promote child wellbeing; align systems of care and education in early childhood; and improve neighborhood opportunity structures that promote optimal wellbeing and reduce inequities in child health and education.
    ​
    “Our Tuscaloosa community of partners, including Stephanie Covarubbia with Early Intervention of CSP, and Trendle Samuel with ADPH to name a few, work hard to address gaps and inequities in children’s health and wellbeing. We are honored to be among those selected nationwide to participate in NOW and receive additional support for our ongoing work,” says Dr. April Kendrick, UA’s Director of Child Development Resources.

    The NOW Learning Community will support participants in building a robust set of tools to transform early childhood education and health systems in their neighborhood, city, or county. Each recipient will receive in-depth and tailored technical assistance in mobilizing community leaders; using data and storytelling tools; and communicating with diverse stakeholders.

    “Creating a connected community around child health and wellbeing is a goal of the Young Child Wellness Council. We are excited to participate in the NOW Learning Community because breaking down silos in our community will only help all of Tuscaloosa County to support its children and families,” says Amy Crosby, Alabama Project LAUNCH Young Child Wellness Coordinator.
    ​
    Boston Medical Center’s (BMC) Vital Village Network is working with communities across the country to promote child health and opportunity. Through a $2.2M grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Vital Village selected local organizations to form the Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing (NOW) Learning Community. The Young Child Wellness Council, housed within the College of Human Environmental Sciences, was one of ten communities chosen to address barriers and develop innovative partnerships aimed at improving the early childhood experience. 
    Picture

    SHanghai Normal University Exchange Program

    3/9/2017

     
    As a result of a two-year exchange program agreement with Shanghai Normal University, Tianhua College, CHES' Department of Human Development and Family Studies trains educators from China in early childhood development and research.  The department has hosted a summer institute for 25 teachers and administrators from Shanghai, and our faculty have mentored teachers during the academic year for the last four semesters. Faculty serving as mentors are:  Sherwood Burns-Nader, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Cecile Komara, Mary Liz Curtner-Smith and April Kendrick.

    In March of 2017, our college entered an additional phase of the relationship with HDFS faculty traveling to China to present classes in early childhood development, research in the discipline, early childhood curricula, program administration and evaluation.  April Kendrick will be in Shanghai beginning March 8th to meet with students, teachers and administrators and present a number of topics related to early childhood education.  In May/June 2017, Cecile Komara and Mary Liz Curtner-Smith will travel to Shanghai for additional training of Tianhua faculty.  This relationship has been valuable to both institutions, providing opportunities for cultural enhancement, international friendships and research collaboration.
    Group photo of Chinese Delegation
    Chinese Delegation from Shanghai Normal University, Tianhua College

      Author

      HDFS Department

      Archives

      September 2019
      February 2019
      October 2018
      September 2018
      August 2018
      May 2018
      February 2018
      April 2017
      March 2017
      October 2016

      Categories

      All
      Award
      Child Life
      Early Childhood
      Exchange Program
      Lullaby Concert
      Training

      RSS Feed

    HDFS.CHES.UA.EDU

    ches home

    Contact The Department

    • 214 Judy Bonner Child Development Center, Box 870160, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
    • (205) 348-6158
    • (205) 348-8153
    • hdfsstudentservices@ches.ua.edu
    • hdfs.ches.ua.edu

    Other Resources

    accessibility myBama UA Registrar Career Services Scholarships UA Directory HES Majors Admissions Graduate School UA Home Search UA Home

    Picture
     
    Contact  I  CHES Home  I  Disclaimer  I  Privacy
    Copyright ©2022 The University of Alabama  I  Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
    Picture
    Back to top