The Gila River Indian Community Regional Partnership Council (GRIC RPC) for First Things First has been quite busy in the month of August and September. Several of its council members, including the Regional Coordinator, Cathy Thornton, have been conducting presentations to all but two districts within the Community.
In addition, the GRIC RPC conducted a Community Workgroup Session on Wed, Sept. 17, at the Early Education Childcare Center, located in Sacaton. The focus of the session was to better understand the needs of children ages 0-5 years, and families within the boundaries of the Community. The workgroup wanted to identify and determine the needs and assets for children and families within the Community boundaries.
Invitations were sent through e-mail and public notices were distributed for parents, school administrators, educators, community leaders, elders, health professionals, and doctors. Some members of the GRIC RPC where present during the Community Workgroup Session to answer questions regarding First Things First and how it will benefit the Community.
"The members of the Regional Partnership Council believe that community participation is a key component necessary for the success of the GRIC RPC," said Priscilla Foote, Chairperson for the GRIC RPC.
"It is through the active participation of parents, families, community leaders and service providers that the GRIC RPC will obtain the information needed to make decisions that will provide the maximum benefit to the children and families of Gila River."
The work session was considered a success and the information gathered from the workgroups was prioritized under the areas of Health, Access and Quality, Professional Development, Family Support, Collaboration, and Communication. As a result of the work session, the GRIC RPC gained a better understanding of needs, assets, and priorities within the boundaries of the Community. In turn, this helps the GRIC RPC to develop funding plans with a projected rollout of funding expected in July 2009.
The GRIC RPC also gathered information on children ages 0-3 years old from parent surveys. The surveys helped the GRIC RPC understand parent concerns relating to the lack of childcare programs serving children 0-3 years of age. Input regarding early childhood development was also gathered throughout the districts. All information gathered is being processed by the GRIC RPC so that funding decisions can be made wisely with the priority being children.
The GRIC Regional Partnership Council is in the process of creating a funding plan for $500,000 to be distributed yearly. Funding will go toward enhancing existing programs that serve children 0-5 years old, and their families.
The GRIC Regional Partnership Council is also finishing their Needs and Assets Report. The report was focused on gathering information on programs serving children ages 0-5 and their families. Information was requested from all Tribal departments that serve children. The GRIC RPC conducted a meeting in October to finalize and adopt the report. The report will then be submitted to the Education Standing Committee, and then onto the Community Council.
Through the Needs and Analysis Report, parent surveys, and community outreach, the GRIC RPC concluded that Family Support, Health, and Quality and Access to early childcare programs shall be their focus areas for the next three years.
"The Needs and Assets Report has several inconsistencies that are not related to the Community, but relate to State and Nationwide studies that may or may not include Indian Communities. Some of the Tribal Departments do not document the information that would be beneficial to the GRIC RPC, but that doesn't mean departments do not have information. It maybe that the information requested is not specifically researched and categorized or; the information isn't broken down in a format that can be easy accessed," said Duane Johns, Vice Chair of the GRIC RPC. "I believe continued efforts by the GRIC RPC, and the Tribal Departments can lead to successful collaboration between programs in regards to data collection, so programs can identify what is working, what is not, and therefore, better meet the needs of all children within our Community."
The GRIC RPC would also like to thank GRTI, Early Education Childcare Center, and Special Education Services who were sponsors of the September 17, 2008 Community Workgroup Session,
For further information please contact: Cathy Thornton, FTF GRIC Regional Coordinator,
Office: (602) 771-4991 Cell: (480)-297-4815 or
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