Alaska Infant Learning Program

❓ When Do Toddlers Learn Self-Control ❓

Here are some helpful suggestions featured in the April edition of Community Connections newsletter.

For more encouraging tips and support, be sure and visit the Community Connections newsletter sign-up page ➡ https://mailchi.mp/af23093173dc/community-connections-alaska

Senior and Disabilities Services’ Infant Learning Part C Program invites you to review and provide any comments on our application to continue to receive Federal funding for the State’s Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) program for infants and toddlers with disabilities. A link to the application can be found here:
https://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/Pages/infantlearning/default.aspx

We welcome your thoughts on our application. At this time there are no changes to our policies.

Alaska Infant Learning Program This grant application for the Infant Learning Program (ILP) is open for public participation. ILP will take public comment from February 25 to April 26, 2022.

How do you say "I Love You" to your children? ❤️ Here are some helpful suggestions featured in the February edition of Community Connections newsletter.

For more encouraging tips and support, be sure and visit the Community Connections newsletter sign up page: https://mailchi.mp/af23093173dc/community-connections-alaska

Biting is a very common behavior among young children. Community Connections shares tips on how to prevent, reduce and end this behavior: comconnections.org/early-learning/what-to-do-about-biting/

Our partners at Community Connections in Southeast Alaska provide some important safety and developmental reasons why stationary saucers are better choices for babies than walkers. Check it out on their website below:

Learn about the benefits of using stationary saucers instead of walkers in this month's Early Learning Program newsletter:

https://comconnections.org/early-learning/saucers-over-walkers/

Infant Learning Program Families: We need your input on how to take advantage of an unprecedented funding opportunity that will help us support you

As part of the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, early intervention/infant learning programs across the country will receive additional funding to support children and families in need in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alaska Infant Learning Program could receive approximately $1 million if Alaska’s legislators and governor give us the authority to accept the funds. The funds must be used to support early intervention/infant learning program activities.

Examples of priority areas the funding could be used for:
• Helping families acquire technology needed to conduct virtual home visits, including Wi-Fi and phone minutes.
• Compassionate care funds for families to temporarily support uncovered service costs and/or equipment.
• Increasing awareness of infant learning programs in our communities.

This is once-in-a-generation infusion of funds could give us the opportunity to enhance programs that support children and families like yours. Your suggestions for how to use the money to strengthen our program will be used as part of our comprehensive planning process.

We’ll be hosting two meetings on July 21 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. via Zoom to take your suggestions. If you’re interested in one of these meetings, please contact your local ILP office and request an invite. If you can’t attend and still want to give us your ideas, you can submit them to [email protected]. You can also call our offices at 907-269-3666 or toll free at 800-478-9996 and ask for the Infant Learning Program if you need help connecting with your local ILP office.

This month's Early Learning Program newsletter topic from our community partner, Community Connections, will help you sort out fact from fiction when it comes to baby myths about crying, talking and connecting with others.

Bye bye, baby myths – Community Connections As Early Learning Providers, we often have conversations with parents concerning various baby myths. As child development professionals here are our opinions on some of the more common myths.