The
Camden Campaign for Children's Literacy
(CCCL)
is an
initiative of the Rutgers
University - Camden Center for Children and Childhood
Studies. It
aims to prepare children to read before they enter
school and to promote literacy as a key to intellectual
development and economic success.
RU-CCCS
TO OFFER
INFANT/TODDLER CREDENTAL -
FALL 08  |
The
Rutgers Camden Center for Children
and Childhood Studies will offer the New
Jersey State Infant Toddler Credential starting
in the Fall of 2008. Credentialing
coursework will be available for both
credit and non-credit options at the
Rutgers-Camden campus, as well as additional
southern region satellite sites. The
NJ Infant/Toddler Credential represents
a significant professional advancement
opportunity for infant and toddler
professionals and para-professionals.
The credential is designed to enhance
individual knowledge, skills and practice
in both center based and family early
childhood education programs. The official
launch of the credential was sponsored
by the Coalition of Infant Toddler
Educators (CITE) and the Professional
Impact New Jersey (PINJ) at CITE’s
March 08 conference. |
| For
more information or to reserve your space
for the fall, please contact Angela
Connor or Ingrid
Campbell at (856) 225-6739. |
|
Since
2001, the Camden Campaign for Children's Literacy
has developed and  expanded
six key initiatives in in Camden by bringing
together stakeholders interested and committed
to working with children in the community. This
group of health care professionals and teachers from
public, parochial and private schools, and preschool
programs, as well as leaders in churches, social service
agencies and community organizations aim to identify
and develop literacy-related programming to children
and to establish links with adult literacy programs
as a place for referring parents who would like to
learn to read or improve reading skills.
Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy: Key
Initiatives
| Ongoing
CCCS Literacy Programs |
1.
Prescription for Reading Program,
which
works with
Camden
health care providers to expand their literacy efforts
for children by placing volunteer readers in clinic
waiting rooms, encouraging and training physicians,
nurses and other clinical staff to discuss the importance
of reading to children, and providing books with every
well-visit.
One
major component of the
Prescription for Reading Program
is the
Reach Out  and
Read program,
which makes early literacy part of pediatric primary
care. At each "well child" visit pediatricians encourage
parents to read to their children, even newborns.
Beginning at age six months the doctor gives the child
and parents a brand new, culturally appropriate children's
book to take home. By the time the child starts school
he/she will have a home library of at least ten children's
books. Parents will understand that reading aloud
is the most important thing they can do to help their
child learn how to read and start school ready to
learn. At the start of the campaign only two sites;
Cooper Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Osborne Clinic
had Reach Out and Read and the programs
were in need of some additional resources.Now, Reach
Out and Read has expanded to seven sites throughout
the city of Camden. To
view some pictures from the Camden Reach Out
and Read Program, click
here! We also thank all
of our Rutgers student
volunteers.
2.
Blueprint for Children's Literacy. Stakeholders
within the city of Camden who are interested in
addressing children's literacy were identified and
are meeting with the Campaign's Program Director
on a regular basis. The goal is to expand collaborative
efforts by building on existing literacy programs
and expanding partnerships with other existing community
organizations that serve children by calling attention
to the importance of literacy in Camden.
3.
Parental Literacy Program. The purpose
of the Parental Literacy Initiative  of
the Camden Campaign for Children's Literacy is designed
to identify parents' literacy needs and successfully
refer them to our adult literacy partner-Literacy
Volunteers of America (LVA). Through learning-style
workshops and ground rounds, physicians and other
clinicians are trained to identify parents' literacy
needs, approach the parent in a sensitive, non-threatening
manner and to use the children's' health as a vehicle
to address the importance of literacy. The parent
or caregiver may then agree to be referred to the
Literacy Volunteers of America program set up through
the Center for Children and Childhood Studies. The
importance of parents' ability to read to their
children cannot be underestimated. Parents need
to be comfortable with their own literacy in order
to create homes where reading is valued.
4.
Child Care Literacy Training Program, Phase
II: CDA.
(See also, CLTP, Phase
I) Phase The second phase of the Child Care
Literacy Training Program is largely dedicated
to broaden the focus from early literacy training
to providing a professional pathway for
staff to gain their Child Development Associate
(CDA) certification. It also provides monthly seminars
for parents which address topics
germane to key educational principles implemented
by staff as part of CDA training....more
5.
The Abbott Pre-School Outreach Initiative.
The Abbott Pre-School Outreach Initiative has
three primary goals: 1) to work with key agencies
in Camden to get the word out to families regarding
the benefit of the Abbott pre-school decision; 2)
to assist key agencies with the registration process;
and 3) to assist childcare staff with training and
certification in order to meet Abbott standards....more
|
The
Camden Campaign for Children's
Literacy would
not be possible without the endless
support and dedication from
the following individuals from
the Camden community: |
| Rev.
Dr. Larron Jackson |
Michelle
Miller |
Jackie
Mintz |
| Diana
Walker |
Susan
Leggoe |
Patrick
Ervillus |
| Martha
McRae |
Gloria
Mitchell |
Elaine
Paynter |
| Cheryl
Williams |
Sue
Edmondson |
Deborah
Bokas |
| Many
thanks to a special group of real CCCL
champions! |
| |
|
1.
Camden Library Outreach Initiative. The Library
Outreach Initiative offered a wide variety
of free reading and artistic Programs for children
in the Camden community for the past four years. The
Library Outreach Initiative
was a collaborative project which was generated as
a result of discussions with Teresa Gorman Director
of the Camden Free Library. The Camden Free City Library
depends on residents to register for library cards
and check out books for increased funding. Better
funding equals better opportunities for all Camden
residents! The
Library Outreach Initiative
includes:
Free
and educational activities for families on
the weekends;
Registering
for a library card;
Checking
out or borrowing books;
Take
home one of our free books as part of our programs.
>>>
Camden Library Outreach Programs 2001
-- 2002 -- 2003
-- 2004
 Dr.
Seuss' Birthday at the Camden Free City Library.
by Rebecca Heritage
A
rainy day.. did not keep away.. The Cat in the
Hat ... for Lamont Dixon, aka "The Cat in
the Hat" (aka Lamont Dixon) who brought smiles
to a large audience. ...more |
2.
Child Care Literacy Training Program, Phase
I.
The Child Care Literacy Training Program
was dedicated to help childcare professionals work
with children to maximize their early language and
vocabulary development. This program  offered
free seminars
for
center
and home based childcare staff to advance and encourage
early literacy. All
Camden city childcare centers and home centers were
eligible! Free transportation
was provided and all participants received a certificate.
Since
the implementation of this program in September 2001,
eight seminar topics have been offered that have provided
training for more than 380 enrollees representing
twenty- two different centers throughout Camden. Download
a schedule for the 2003-2004 Childcare Professional
Enhancement Training for Pre-K
CDA and the Infant
and Toddler CDA programs (in PDF format).
Note: By
partnering with the Camden County
Division for Children (CCDFC) and
the New
Jersey Professional Development Center for Early
Care and Education (NJPDC), the
Childcare Literacy Training program has evolved
into the Professional
Development Pathways Initiative for Early Childhood
Educators in Camden.
To
get more information on the Camden
Campaign for Children's Literacy,
please email Angela
Connor-Morris, CCCL Program Director. |
