NYSPEP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: KAREN KISSINGER

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Karen Kissinger

Karen Kissinger has served on NYSPEP's Steering Committee since 2008, and is a member of New York State Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC). She also works at the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Her current work focuses on child care providers and supporting the OCFS Regional Offices. This includes training and licensing staff, enhancing quality improvement, providing technical assistance, and implementing policies related to regulations.

Karen states, "Child care providers strengthen families and communities every day. I am honored to support these 19,000 child care programs that serve over 500,000 children and their families." 

Prior to joining the Division of Child Care Services, Karen was part of Child Welfare and Community Services. In that role, she partnered with community-based organizations to prevent child abuse, reduce foster care entry, and prevent elder abuse.

Karen also serves on the Board of a Foundation to support innovative learning experiences and community partnerships with her local school district. Previous experience includes developing training for child care providers, co-teaching at a child care center, and serving on the boards of an after-school program and a youth development organization.

Honoring Fathers

Did you know there are differences in the way moms and dads raise children? For example, moms provide babies with a sense of warmth and security when holding baby against mom's chest, arms wrapped around baby, which limits movement. Dads provide babies with a sense of adventure and independence when positioning baby facing outward and bouncing or gently lifting baby in the air. Gender plays an role in parenting and in child development. Babies need engagement from both moms and dads for optimal healthy development. In recognition of the important roles father play in the lives of children, NYSPEP wishes all fathers and male primary caregivers a Happy Father's Day!

Below are two unique gift-ideas for Dad. Both support a worthy cause. 

 

Are you looking for a special Father's Day gift that supports a great cause? Ties.com is offering limited edition ties inspired by NBA stars Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Kevin Love, Lawrence Jackson, and Ronny Turiaf. All proceeds of these hand-numbered ties go to the non-profit Prevent Child Abuse America to support programs to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children.

Another way to celebrate Father's Day and support a great cause is to send a free NO MORE e-card, which honors the role of fathers in being role models of respect. Simply upload a personal photograph and select from a menu of messages that affirm wonderful men. No More is a symbol of awareness to end domestic violence and sexual assault.

NYSPEP Member Meeting & Training Institute

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE MAY 30TH EVENT! DETAILS AND REGISTRATION LINK APPEAR BELOW.

Recently, both NYSPEP and the ECAC Strong Families Workgroup initiated efforts to promote parent involvement in children's early educational experiences and success in school and center-based settings. There is growing interest in a shared definition of 'family engagement', consistent policies that support positive family learning environments, and opportunities for professional development. 

Join us on Thursday, May 30, 2013 when keynote speaker Mary McKay will present key principles - critical elements - for engaging families, challenges and strategies. Dr. McKay, Professor and Director at McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at NYU, has published over 100 peer-reviewed publications and is a well-known engagement expert. 

A panel of field experts will comment in response including: Patty Persell, Director of NYS Head Start Collaboration Project; Vito Borrello, President of EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) and Chair of the Steering Committee of the NY State Family Engagement Coalition; Barbara Jaklitsch, Senior Project Coordinator, Center for the Development of Human Services, SUNY Research Foundation, and Erika Brunelle, Family Engagement Specialist, NYS Office of Children and Family Services. An audience question and answer session will follow.

Registration is still just $25 to attend and includes: morning coffee/tea and light snack, buffet lunch, NYSPEP Organizational updates, and an afternoon breakout session. 

Check-in begins at 9:30 AM. Program starts at 10:00 AM and will conclude at 3:00 PM. 

Please CLICK HERE to register.

NYSPEP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: WYN FRECHETTE

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Wyn Frechette

Wyn Frechette, NYSPEP Credential Coordinator, is actively involved with the Credential and Professional Development Workgroups. She helped to develop the NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential and has supported about 70 applicants to successfully achieve the NYSPEP PE Credential to date. She is the primary facilitator for in-person and webinar Orientations and facilitates the Credential Review Panel, which certifies successful applicants. As such, Wyn holds an honorary seat on the NYSPEP Steering Committee.

Wyn also provides technical assistance to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. She is a consultant to the Children's Trust Fund that supports the Family Resource Center Network and conducts regional meetings for the FRC Network across the state. 

Wyn is the recipient of numerous awards including: Pediatric Links with the Community Advocacy Award, ROW A Appreciation Award, 2005 NYS Child Abuse Prevention Excellence in Parent Education Award - Lakeside Child and Family Center, 2006 NYS Child Abuse Prevention Parent Educator of the Year Award, and 2009 Evelyn M. Harris Award for Empowered Leadership - FDANYS.

NYSPEP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: LIZ HOOD

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Liz Hood

Liz Hood serves on the NYSPEP Steering Committee, is Co-chair of the Professional Development Workgroup, and an active member of the Marketing and Communications Workgroup.

She is Director, Office of Educational TV and Public Broadcasting for the NYS Education Development, located in Albany, New York. In addition to supporting the work of public television stations' educational activities, she is actively engaged in the effort to improve the learning environment for infants and toddlers at home and in child care settings.

Prior to joining NYS Education Department, Liz served as Senior Vice President, Education Activities at WMHT Educational Telecommunications. Her early career was in book selling and publishing.

Liz is a current Board Member of United Way of New York State and serves as the Board Chair of 2-1-1 New York, Inc. She also serves on the NYS Early Childhood Advisory Committee.

Liz attended Skidmore College where she studied English and Secondary Education and earned a Bachelors degree. Liz's core expertise includes management and governance.

In her personal time, Liz enjoys reading, music and knitting. She is a singer and recording artist with the trio Huxtable Christensen & Hood. The trio's two albums are "Wallflowers" (Philo Records) and "Melancholy Babies" (Front Hall Records).

NYSPEP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: MARY HAUST

NYSPEP represents collaboration between qualified parenting educators and organization that employ, fund, and support the educators. NYSPEP applauds leaders in the field. Individuals who are new to or planning to enter the field are encouraged to join NYSPEP in preparation to become tomorrow's leaders. 

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Mary Haust

Mary Haust currently serves on the NYSPEP Steering Committee. She previously worked in the Binghamton City School District for 23 years, retiring in 2004. In her tenure at the District, she served as Director of the PACT (Parents and Children Together) Program, Community Schools, Youth at Risk, Even Start, Healthy Families and Broome Community Partners.

Since 1993, she has been a National, International and State Trainer for Parents as Teachers National Center providing training to over 2000 parent educators. In addition to parent education training and technical assistance with a number of early education and parenting programs in New York State, Mary has served as a writer of training modules and parent education lesson plans for New York State’s Even Start program. She is also a contributing writer for Week by Week, Plans for Documenting Children’s Development, Sixth Edition by Barbara Ann Nilsen (2012), the Parent Guide currently being prepared for the NYSPEP New Parent Kit, and the recently released Texas Learning Pathways.

Ms. Haust served as a Middle States Commissioner of Elementary Education and continues to serve on the Middle States Early Education Advisory Board. In addition, she currently serves on the Steering Committee for Coalition for Family Engagement, an outgrowth of PIRC initiative in New York State.

She has received a number of honors including: "Friend of the Family", New York State Association of American Family and Consumer Sciences, 1995; "Friend of the Child Award", BAEYC, 1997, New York State Award; William J. Bub Award for Advocacy and Leadership, 1997; Binghamton University Alumni-in Residence Honor, 1998; Cindy Chaplin Award for Advocacy for Children, 1999; Binghamton City School District’s Distinguished Graduate Honoree: 2002. 

Mary is married…the wife of one, mother of four and most enjoyably, grandmother of ten!

NYSPEP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ANGELINA M. HART

Membership in NYSPEP is open to the public and there's room for everyone. To support NYSPEP's vision - that all children will grow up in nurturing families through enhancing parenting skills, knowledge and behavior - behind-the-scenes work plays an important role.  

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Angelina M. Hart 

Angelina M. Hart serves as the NYSPEP Coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse NY. She manages marketing and communications, coordinates events, and administers NYSPEP's day-to-day operations. A member of the Executive Committee, she is involved with both the Marketing & Communications and Professional Development Workgroups.

Angelina co-created and implemented a direct marketing program for Oracle Corporation as an independent contractor. Her campaign was ranked number-one nationwide by Oracle Channels Marketing in 2003. Angelina joined ESFPA and produced end-to-end publications; from layout and copywriting to display ad creation and operating the press. She accepted a position with NEREIA and was promoted to Communications Director within six months. She strategized with the Founding Executive Director and successfully positioned the Association to expand territory; it was acquired soon thereafter.

Angelina sought purposeful work after processing registrations and greeting annual conference attendees for Families Together in New York State (FTNYS) in 2007. In 2011 and 2012, she served as an event marshall for the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) during its annual legislative awareness day. She previously studied Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counseling (DARC) at MCC and served as President for the DARC Club. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Upsilon Alpha chapter and the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC). 

Angelina freelances as an award-winning fine artist and professional musician. She has overcome multiple traumas stemming from adverse childhood experiences and strongly supports parenting education to empower parents. She retains contact with biological family and is a member of an intentional family, forged through consciousness-based communities.