The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region serves children and families located in the seven counties that comprise northern Florida’s Big Bend: Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla.

The Coalition strives to create a seamless system of services to better prepare children for entry into kindergarten by providing information resources to aid parents in finding quality child care, holding screenings and assessments to identify any developmental issues in children, and offering technical assistance and professional development opportunities to child care providers.

By focusing on children, families, and parents as individual parts that comprise a whole, the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region is able to help build a community where all children are prepared for success in school.

Announcements

Run for Reading 5K
On Saturday, October 11, 2008 the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region is hosting the Run for Reading 5K. The event will be held at Tom Brown Park's Goose Pond Trail starting at 8:30 a.m. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Fees are $12 per person before October 1st, and $15 day of the race. There will also be a free one mile “Fun Run” for children! The event is open to everyone to have fun. We encourage you to bring gently used books to be given away to families in our office. All proceeds will go towards the Early Learning Coalition’s Book program, which will provide families with children books.

Greenville Provider Resource Room Opens
Come and see the new updated Greenville Provider Resource Room. All members of the Provider Network are welcome to come and use parent involvement kits, professional development kits, developmentally appropriate activities, a die cutting machine, and much, much more. For more information, please contact the Greenville Office at 850-948-2016.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Early Learning Coalition is partnering with local businesses and community organizations to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to northern Florida. The Imagination Library is a program designed to provide, at no cost, brand new age appropriate books for children under the age of five. All it takes is $30 to provide 12 books for 1 child for 1 year. Download the attached pledge form and help give children in our area the gift of reading. For more information, call 850-385-0551.