ECCS Receives Funding From Barnes Memorial Trust 

Posted on September 29th, 2017

The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington (ECCS) recently received funding through the Southington Community Well-Being Grant Initiative from the Bradley Henry Barnes & Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust at the Main Street Community Foundation.

This grant supports five ECCS projects that focus on the overall well-being, health and betterment of over 5,100 youth age 0 to 9 years old in Southington. The initiatives funded through the grant are (1) ensuring children who have delays or disabilities receive the support they need as early as possible and smoothly transition between the Connecticut Birth to Three Program and the Southington Public Schools, (2) recognizing developmentally appropriate behavior in young children, ways to handle challenging situations and promoting social and emotional competence, (3) proper nutrition and how it impacts future health and obesity levels (4) the physical, cognitive and social-emotional benefits of play and doing so safely and (5) proper car seat usage.

“We are grateful the Barnes Memorial Trust Advisory Committee recognizes the importance of supporting the Town’s youngest citizens,” said Joanne Kelleher, director of the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington. “Four of the well-being initiatives were selected based on feedback the ECCS solicited from parents and childcare providers about issues they were concerned about.”

The focus on car seats and child safety restraints was selected because of the passage of Connecticut Legislature’s Public Act 17-230, effective October 1, 2017. The law, which has new weight and age requirements for rear-facing, front-facing and booster seat usage, impacts all children under the age of 8.

Through this grant the ECCS will host several workshops, promote proper car seat usage and bicycle safety, participate in the Healthy Family Funfest on Sunday, February 25, 2018, and expand the resources and information available to parents and childcare providers on the ECCS website and social media.

The Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust was established by the late Bradley Henry Barnes of Southington to support the healthcare needs of Southington residents. The Southington Community Well-Being Grant Initiative is a pilot program that supports nonprofit organizations that operate programs for the overall well-being and betterment of Southington residents.

About the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington

The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington is a group of committed educators, parents, grandparents, healthcare and childcare providers, business owners, civic organizations and members of the community who are deeply invested in the growth, development and academic success of young children in Southington. The Collaborative’s mission is that “all Southington children will enter school ready to learn.” ECCS is dedicated to three goals: 1) Advocating for high quality preschool and childcare; 2) Empowering parents and families through workshops and educational programs; and 3) Being a wide ranging resource for community members on the subject of early childhood care and education. The Collaborative receives operating support from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain which also acts as its fiscal sponsor. For more information on the Collaborative, contact Joanne Kelleher, Director, at southingtonearlychildhood@gmail.com or visit www.southingtonearlychildhood.org.

About the Main Street Community Foundation

The Main Street Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for both present and future generations in the communities served by encouraging and promoting gift planning, prudent stewardship of assets, effective grant making and community leadership.   Nonprofit public charity, created by private citizens, the foundation works with donors who wish to build permanent charitable endowments to support the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. For more information, visit www.mainstreetfoundation.org.