CICC has launched a national campaign to help parents, professionals, agencies, caregivers and others better identify and assist young children with special needs. The kick-off announcement took place October 26, 2004 at the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, D.C.

As part of the launch, the Early Childhood Development Division of the Children's Defense Fund hosted a free workshop, "Using the CICC Discovery Tool and Referral System as an Early Childhood Education and Early Identification Methodology." The workshop was attended by representatives from a variety of organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the Child Welfare League of America.

The CICC Discovery Tool and Referral System, which is a central component of the Campaign, is unique in that it provides - simultaneously - the following three types of services online:

• It educates parents and staff about normative child development during their child's first five years of life.

• It assists in identfying whether a young child may have special needs that require professional attention.

• It connects users of the Tool to a wide range of professionals, community resources and educational materials.

The results of the Tool are in the form of a Developmental Profile that can be printed out and shared with others.

Dr. Alvy (shown above with Jo Johnson of The Child Welfare League of America at the Washington, D.C. workshop) and CICC hope to bring the Tool - and its benefits to the attention of thousands of parents and others through a series of speaking engagements around the country and through a network of partnerships which are now being formed.

Two types of partnerships are available, Co-Sponsoring Partnerships for organizations and companies, and Encourager Partnerships for individuals and organizations. Partners can be parents, grandparents, other family members, child advocates, child care workers, civic, professional and religious groups, schools, community agencies, government departments and private companies. Individuals and organizations who become Encourager Partners can raise funds for themselves or their organizations.

CICC founder and Executive Director, Kerby T. Alvy, Ph.D., will be the featured speaker at two sessions of the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC) Conference being held Nov. 10 -13 in Anaheim, Calif.

On Friday, Nov. 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Anaheim Marriott (Marquis Ballroom), Dr. Alvy will be speaking on Bringing Parenting Education in the Early Childhood Care and Education System: A Movement Whose Time Has Come.

Based on CICC's landmark research report, Bringing Parenting Education in the Early Childhood Care and Education System, Dr. Alvy will discuss how parents and professionals become more knowledgeable, better trained and connected to their children and the children they serve. In addition, he will explain how the results and realities of the three-year project clearly show how much can be accomplished by bringing an array of innovative parenting education services into the early childhood care and education system.

Then on Sat., Nov. 13 from 11 to 1 p.m. at the Anaheim Hilton (Pacific Ballroom A), Dr. Alvy will speak on Young Children with Special Needs: How to Identify and Help Them by Using the New Internet-based Discovery Tool and Referral System. The CICC Discovery Tool and Referral System has been used successfully throughout the nation by thousands of parents of young children, caregivers, agencies, and professionals in the early childhood education field.

Consisting of a series of age-specific questions, it helps parents and others quickly identify a variety of learning, communication, motor skill and behavioral problems that may not have been recognized or simply overlooked. It also connects them immediately to important community services and agencies throughout the United States that can help. It is this methodology that is being used in The National Partnership Campaign to Find and Help Young Children with Special Needs (see first story).

CICC will also have a booth (#507) at the Conference Expo in Halls C and D of the Anaheim Convention Center.

For more information about NAEYC and 2004 Annual Conference go to their Web Site at www.annualconference.naeyc.org

To arrange for Dr. Alvy to speak to your group or organization, write ciccparenting@sbcglobal.net or call CICC's toll-free number, 1 (800) 324-2422.

The Urban Education Partnership, an independent, not-for-profit organization that helps students in high-need public schools improve their academic achievement by partnering with educators, parents and the community, is hosting parenting instructor training workshops in CICC's three parent-training programs in December and January.

• Effective Black Parenting / December 6 - 10, 2004
• Confident Parenting / December 13, 14, 15, 2004
• Los Niņos Bien Educados Program / January 10-14, 2005

All of the workshops will take place at the Urban Education Partnership offices located at 315 W. Ninth St., Suite 1110 in Los Angeles. Open to the general public, the Urban Education Partnership will also be sending members of its staff to be trained.

According to CICC Founder and Executive Director Kerby T. Alvy, Ph.D., "The research is very clear that positive parental involvement in both children's lives and in their schooling is the most important factor in children - regardless of whether they are poor or rich - achieving their potential in school."

"The collaboration with The Urban Education Partnership will allow both organizations to expand what they have to offer to schools in the United States and give the Urban Education Partnership full access to our national model parenting skill-building programs, and especially access to our programs for parents of children of color, many of whom are in urban settings."

Urban Education Partnership's CEO, Yale-educated lawyer Johnny Darnell Griggs, reinforced Dr. Alvy's observations. "Myself, and our entire staff, is looking forward to many more successful collaborative projects with CICC."

For more information, on attending these or other parenting instructor training workshops being held throughout the United States, click here.

Please help further CICC's mission of Strengthening the American Family through parent education and training. A wide range of funding sources is used to keep the Center operating and expanding.

The most important funds that CICC receives are from the thousands of individuals who have made tax-deductible contributions. These important funds are used by CICC to provide free parenting services for needy families, to support the organization's advocacy efforts, and to support the Center during emergencies.

The most important funds that CICC receives are from the thousands of individuals who have made tax-deductible contributions. These important funds are used by CICC to provide free parenting services for needy families, to support the organization's advocacy efforts, and to support the Center during emergencies.