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Resources

There are unlimited resources to help you learn about the importance of Early Learners.

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211

You are not alone. Every day people turn to 211 for information and support – whether financial, family, health, or disaster-related. The call or text is free and confidential.

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Parent Connection

Finding information or help in raising children with disabilities and special health care needs doesn't need to be difficult. That's where we can help by serving as a resource center for information, referrals and support. Resources are available at no charge to families of children with disabilities or special health care needs.

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CDC

From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves. Track your child’s development and act early if you have a concern. The CDC provides resources on how to help the development of your children.

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SD Statewide Family Engagement Center

SDSFEC unites students, families, schools, and communities together by focusing on learner needs from “cradle to career.” SFEC strives to ensure that all learners—especially English Language Learners (ELL), economically disadvantaged learners and minority students—have the support they need to achieve academic, career, and life goals.

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DSS

Strengthening and supporting individuals and families by promoting cost-effective and comprehensive services in connection with our partners that foster independent and healthy families.

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DOE/Step Ahead

This website is dedicated to kids. From the moment they're born, they're learning - through experiences, exploration, interactions and attention. How do we help them Step Ahead before they start kindergarten? By first educating ourselves. Throughout this site you'll find developmentally appropriate goals for children’s development and learning at each age level (infant, toddler and preschooler).You'll also find ideas for helping them reach their full potential at each stage. Research shows that children who experience quality care and education are better prepared for school and throughout their lives.

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Head Start

Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children's growth in many areas such as language, literacy, and social and emotional development. Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child's first and most important teacher. These programs help build relationships with families that support family well-being and many other important areas.

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NAEYC

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. The association comprises nearly 60,000 individual members of the early childhood community and more than 50 Affiliates, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. Together, we work to achieve a collective vision: that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.

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Zero to Three

Their mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At ZERO TO THREE, we envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential. This site includes developmental growth of children, early learning resources, parenting resources and public and advocacy resources.

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The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment

The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment’s mission is to stop all maltreatment against South Dakota children in order to foster resilient families.

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MOPS

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) supports moms through monthly or bimonthly meetings and playdates. You can find the listings for our local groups at

MOPS.org

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SDSU Extension

SDSU Extension works with childcare programs and providers to increase school readiness and enhance social, emotional growth and development among South Dakota's youngest citizens.

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South Dakota Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) System

South Dakota’s Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) system promotes the health, safety, and development of young children in early childhood programs.  The ECE statewide training system was established to meet the growing demand for early childhood and school-age training and to help recruit and retain quality child care providers across South Dakota.  Five regional offices make up the SD Early ECE System:
 

  • Region 1: Early Childhood Connections, Rapid City

  • Region 2: The Right Turn, Inc.,  Pierre

  • Region 3: Sanford Children's CHILD Services, Aberdeen

  • Region 4:  Family Resource Network, Brookings

  • Region 5: Sanford Children's CHILD Services, Sioux Falls

 

ECE programs offer a systematic approach to providing early childhood and school-age education services and technical assistance.  Services are available to all child care providers, parents, and others involved in the day-to-day care of children and youth.  ECE agencies can also assist communities working on the development of quality child care programs and services.  A regional map and contact information for each office can be found at: https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/educationalopportunities/sites.aspx.

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The Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) system offers a continuum of state, regional and local face to face and e-learning training opportunities from entry level training to specialized certificate and credential programs for child care providers.  The system also provides technical assistance and coaching opportunities to state registered and licensed child care providers in a variety of topic areas.  In addition, programs such as Pathways to Professional Development Career Lattice are offered to promote education, training, and professional growth of child care providers and training for parents of children birth to age 3. 

Additional information on the ECE system and upcoming training can be found on the following website: https://dss.sd.gov/childcare/educationalopportunities/.

Resources for Educators and Parents

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Black Hills Reads

Black Hills Reads, an initiative of United Way Black Hills, helps to ensure children are proficient readers by the end of third grade. They have compiled activities for children centered around reading and learning.

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SDPB Learners Connection

South Dakota Public Broadcasting has FREE educational resources for learners in preschool through high school, to help with at home learning.

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PBS Kids Daily

Is your child’s school closed due to coronavirus concerns? PBS KIDS’ new weekday newsletter offers activities and tips you can use to help kids play and learn at home.

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Free Resources for Teachers, Parents & Students by Lakeshore

Explore 1000+ free resources for teachers, parents & students! You'll find everything from writing prompt calendars to at-home learning videos & more!

Need more resources?

We would love to give you more resources and ideas on where to find more info.

Bring this to your community?

We have developed tools and ideas for you to make your community and Early Learner community.

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