Promoting Child Health and Wellness: A Close Look at the Child Care Health Consultation Program
In a recent discussion with Morgan Carpenter, the Program Manager of Health Services, and Balqisa Hassan, the Health Coordinator of Family Childcare Provider (HUB), we delved into the intricacies of the newly launched Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC) program. This program, officially introduced this summer, is gaining momentum as it strives to provide essential support to immigrant and refugee family childcare providers, with a particular emphasis on the East African community.
At the heart of the CCHC program lies a commitment to building health equity for East African immigrant and refugee children served by Family Child Care (FCC) providers. Through intensive supports, including one-on-one consultations, trainings, and coaching, the program aims to empower providers with the knowledge and resources necessary to address health, cognitive, and social-emotional concerns among children under their care.
The CCHC program offers a range of services designed to enhance the health and well-being of both providers and children. From in-depth consultations to tailored trainings on early childhood development and professional practices for health and safety, the program equips providers with the skills and awareness needed to promote optimal health outcomes.
One of the key goals of the CCHC program is to increase accessibility to health support by building capacity, systems, and resources. Through "light touch" services, providers have access to a menu of trainings, health consultations, and technical assistance, as well as referrals to resources as requested. This approach ensures that providers can access the support they need, when they need it, to best serve the children in their care.
With a renewed emphasis on health promotion and preventive care, the CCHC program aims to increase the number of children who are immunized, screened, and referred for health concerns. Additionally, the program seeks to enhance providers' knowledge of early childhood development and encourage the adoption of professional practices for health and safety.
Recognizing the diverse cultural backgrounds of East African providers, the CCHC program is committed to delivering culturally and linguistically responsive services. By acknowledging and respecting providers' cultural identities, the program aims to foster trust and collaboration, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to children.
While the CCHC program has seen positive outcomes in its initial phase, the team remains dedicated to continuous evaluation and growth. By refining their approach and adapting to the evolving needs of providers and children, the program aims to maximize its impact and promote lasting health and wellness within the East African childcare community.
As an integral component of Voices of Tomorrow's commitment to building a resilient and supportive childcare network, the CCHC program stands as a testament to the organization's dedication to promoting child health and wellness. Through tailored support, ongoing training, and community connections, the program aims to empower East African childcare providers to provide high-quality care that promotes the health and well-being of the children they serve. As it continues to evolve and expand, the CCHC program is poised to play a vital role in fostering a nurturing environment for providers and children alike.
Empowering Families: Voices of Tomorrow's New ECLIPSE Program Paves the Way for Holistic Childhood Development
In a bold move toward fostering the holistic development of children and families, Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) is pleased to introduce the adoption of a new program called ECLIPSE, which stands for Early Childhood Intervention and Prevention Services. It is designed to provide mental health and trauma-informed support for children enrolled in the VOT preschool program and their parents and families. At the heart of ECLIPSE is a commitment to providing tailored support for each child. Hangatu Dawud, the program’s mental health professional emphasizes this approach, stating, “Creating a tailored Individual Care Plan (ICP) for each student allows me to identify their areas of need and growth, with the goal of creating measurable treatment goals to improve each child’s well-being.”
The primary focus of ECLIPSE is to offer therapeutic services for families experiencing hardships or facing at-risk factors that could jeopardize overall family development. With a particular emphasis on children with behavioral issues, ECLIPSE recognizes the importance of overall well-being, encompassing the mental, emotional, and social growth of a child.
To further emphasize the urgent need for support, research findings published by Front Public Health in the National Library of Medicine from 2023 highlight a significant prevalence of mental health conditions within the Somali population. The study reveals alarming rates with anxiety affecting 34.9% of individuals, PTSD at 30%, and depression at 32.1%. These staggering statistics underscore the profound impact of prolonged conflict, displacement, and associated psychological distress, emphasizing the pressing requirement for specialized programs like ECLIPSE.
The impact of ECLIPSE extends beyond the confines of the classroom. The program actively engages with families one-on-one in their homes, providing various modes of communication, including Zoom, phone sessions, and meeting families in alternative safe spaces. This ensures that support is seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life, accommodating the busy schedules of families.
Alongside one-on-one meetings, the program includes monthly check-ins facilitated by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). This team includes a licensed mental health professional, a program coordinator, a health manager, teachers, and Family Support Specialists (FSS).
“The goal is to have them throughout the school year, and then provide a transition plan for when they exit the VOT preschool program,” Farheen Khalid, the program coordinator, said.
She emphasizes the importance of these additional monthly meetings, saying that this space allows for ongoing communication between professionals and parents, and gives them an opportunity to address parents’ requests and concerns directly. Establishing a foundation of trust and collaboration early on, ECLIPSE aims to empower families to navigate a spectrum of challenges effectively.
ECLIPSE currently offers 30 slots, ensuring a personalized and in-depth approach. The program utilizes regular screenings, such as the DECA (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment), to monitor a child’s social-emotional well-being, behavior, and self-regulation. If further evaluation is needed, the DECA-C (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment, Clinical), is employed, incorporating 40 questions to understand parents’ observations of their child’s behavior.
ECLIPSE does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the program tailors its support to the unique dynamics of each family. Recognizing and building on existing strengths, ECLIPSE empowers parents to become active participants in their child’s development. To alleviate the stigma associated with therapy, the program adopts a culturally sensitive and informal approach, breaking down barriers and promoting open communication.
To acknowledge and accommodate the diverse backgrounds of the families it serves, the mental health professional leading the ECLIPSE program is fluent in both English and Somali. This offers a dual-language capability to ensure effective interaction and understanding. Families already enrolled in the VOT preschool program can qualify for ECLIPSE by meeting certain indicators outlined in the ECAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) application.
Voices of Tomorrow’s ECLIPSE program is a beacon of hope for families facing adversity. By combining early childhood intervention with a family-centric approach, ECLIPSE is poised to make a lasting impact on the mental health and well-being of children and parents alike. As the program evolves and expands, it holds the promise of becoming a model for other organizations committed to fostering the healthy development of future generations.
Common Mental Health Disorders in the Somali Community
Voted Best Child Care 2023 by Seattle Times' Best in the PNW
We are pleased to announce that Voices of Tomorrow has been named an award winner in The Seattle Times’ Best in the PNW contest!
Each year, the Best in the PNW contest calls for nominations from all around the Pacific Northwest to determine gold, silver and bronze winners in 282 categories. Voices of Tomorrow was awarded the bronze medal for Best in Childcare.
VOT provides technical assistance and professional development to childcare providers in their native language. In addition to our six preschool classrooms, we work with providers where early learning childcare and education is done in a home setting. We provide back-end support for those who are interested in becoming a licensed childcare provider. We also support existing childcare providers with applying for new grants and prepare them to be successful business owners. Our goal is to help children grow up with a strong sense of who they are and where they come from, while recognizing and embracing their uniqueness as an individual.
We provide wraparound support for the East African community, although we center our services on children with a focus on early learning as well as cultural and linguistic preservation. VOT also started implementing the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to ensure children being cared for by our network of providers have access to good quality, nutritious meals. In addition, we provide mental and behavioral health resources with a focus on trauma-informed care for the children and their whole families.
It is truly an honor to have been chosen as one of these 722 businesses across the Pacific Northwest. This year, The Seattle Times said it received over 14,000 nominations from over 11,110 businesses. During the voting process, 116,321 individuals cast their ballots, and submitted 227,250 votes. This year, 722 businesses were recognized with at least one award.
Thank you to those who voted for our organization. This recognition is a testament to the individuals, supporters, and families we have touched in some way. We are so lucky to call the Pacific Northwest home, and we look forward to many more years of celebrating the best businesses in our region!
You can find the full list of categories and award winners here.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Department of Education and Early Learning visit VOT’s Child and Family Center
Members of the City of Seattle and the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) paid a visit to the Dayaax and Gayleer classrooms at Voices of Tomorrow’s Child and Family Center on Thursday, September 14th. Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) co-founders, Iftin Hagimohamed and Zamzam Mohamed, gave them a firsthand look at what the experience is like for the teachers and students enrolled in VOT’s Seattle Preschool Program (SPP).
Mayor Bruce Harrell was joined by Dr. Dwane Chappelle, the director of DEEL, and Leilani Dela Cruz, the director of DEEL’s Early Learning division. They spoke about their desire to highlight the importance of early childhood education and their hope for more dual-language programs.
“What you see here at Voices of Tomorrow is learning, conflict resolution, love, and bicultural and multicultural training opportunities,” Mayor Harrell said. He praised the hard work and compassion of the teachers and staff inside the classrooms.
DEEL is responsible for leadership, coordination, and policy development for early learning programs in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, community organizations like VOT, and other government agencies.
“I want to encourage all families to take advantage and get your young scholars enrolled in a preschool program,” Dr. Chappelle added. He spoke about the benefits of early learning education and how preschools prepare children for success in K-12 classrooms.
Leilani Dela Cruz is the director DEEL’s Early Learning division, which also oversees the City of Seattle’s Child Care Assistance Program.
“We want to highlight the phenomenal work being done here at Voices of Tomorrow,” Cruz said. “Studies do show that dual language programming impacts a child’s educational training and builds cultural understanding, language proficiency, and cognitive skills.”
Among the guest speakers was also a returning parent, Faraah Hassan. Her son had just finished kindergarten and is starting first grade after going through VOT’s dual-language program. Now, her daughter is also enrolled in the preschool program.
“I’m a testament to so many parents who continue to come to VOT and access their services,” Hassan said. She stressed the importance of VOT’s mission to preserve children’s cultural identities.
“I can proudly say that I still speak Somali, I speak Somali to my kids, and it’s very important for them to also not lose their identities in the education system,” she added.
VOT’s executives, Iftin and Zamzam, expressed the need for more support for teachers as well as more investments in mental and behavioral health services. Mayor Harrell and Dr. Chappelle ended their visit with a promise to continue investing in programs for early learners. VOT was very honored to celebrate our start of the 2023-2024 school year by opening our doors to Seattle’s city leaders, and we welcome the opportunity to have them visit us again!
Fostering Health and Nutrition: Empowering children through Voices of Tomorrow's new Nutrition Program
Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) has started implementing its latest program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), to ensure children being cared for by our network of providers have access to good quality, nutritious meals. CACFP is a USDA-funded childhood nutrition program for qualifying daycare homes who meet the requirements set by the state. It plays a vital role in making nutritious food more accessible to low-income children, families, and providers. By providing children with nutritious and well-balanced meals, we hope to nourish their young minds and continue to help them flourish.
Through this program, dedicated caregivers personally invest in providing nourishing meals and snacks to the children under their care. If they are eligible and if the meals align with the prescribed nutritional guidelines, the CACFP steps in to reimburse providers for two meals and one snack per child on a daily basis. The program is targeted toward children under the age of 12 and homeless youth up to the age of 18. It helps improve the quality of daycare homes by making well-balanced meals more affordable, and it allows providers to supply the children in their care with high quality nutritious meals as well as get reimbursed for related expenses.
Najib Hassan, VOT’s CACFP program administrator and monitoring specialist, oversees the verification of eligibility criteria to determine whether daycare homes qualify for program enrollment.
“Our primary focus is ensuring the providers voices are being heard within this program,” he said. “Having someone who understands you is key, so sharing the same culture and background makes it more comfortable for them to voice their concerns.”
Families with limited financial means also benefit from the program, as it equips their children with the essential resources required for healthy growth and the cultivation of positive habits. By focusing on children under 12 and extending support to homeless youth up to 18, the program touches on a critical period of growth and development.
One of VOT’s core values is being culturally responsive, which makes the implementation of this new program not just fitting but essential. CACFP promotes fairness, community involvement, and cultural understanding to ensure that everyone has a positive and meaningful experience. There are other organizations that sponsor this program, but many of VOT’s providers are East Africans and English is not their first language. That’s where VOT steps in to provide language support and make a culturally responsive program. As an organization deeply intertwined with the community, introducing this program is a natural progression, as it is a vital resource to many providers and families, we are already dedicated to assisting.
In embracing the CACFP, Voices of Tomorrow is not only introducing a new initiative but also upholding the commitment to fostering holistic growth within our communities. As CACFP emerges as a promising childhood nutritional program, it offers a glimpse of our organization’s dedication to quality, equity, and cultural responsiveness in action.
Through the thoughtful leadership of Najib Hassan, CACFP embodies VOT’s values of inclusivity and understanding, reaffirming that the pathway to a more promising tomorrow begins with nourishing the voices of today.
The Mind, Body, and Culture wraps up its second year with notable successes
Voices of Tomorrow’s Mind, Body, and Culture program is the first of its kind to integrate home visits with trauma-informed therapy. The two-year pilot phase of the MBC program, which is aimed at families and children from birth to age 3, finished with notable successes in assisting families and enhancing parent–child connections. This ground-breaking initiative gave over a thousand resources to families which provided critical support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources included necessities like diapers, wipes, strollers, car seats, and winter clothes.
Since its inception, it has demonstrated its value in treating mental health and creating resilient families. So far, more than 60 families have received assistance from the MBC program, building a community of parents through its "Promoting First Relationships" curriculum. Beyond verbal communication, the MBC program helps parents build stronger bonds with their young children. The program also offers parents activities and suggestions to include and encourage for their older children, extending its reach to older siblings in East African immigrant and refugee households.
The MBC program’s impact extends beyond children. One of its most remarkable accomplishments to date is its commitment to helping parents pursue their educational and career aspirations. Many parents signed up for the fall semester of school, and the program assisted them with FAFSA and the application process. Through their efforts to help parents in addition to children, the MBC program opens doors of opportunity and success for the entire family.
Another way that the MBC program fosters a close-knit community is that it allows parents to engage in an open dialogue about the issues and shared experiences that affect them. The program demonstrates Voices of Tomorrow’s dedication to respecting and understanding various cultural backgrounds through health-related topics, like making wise decisions during Ramadan.
During the two-year pilot phase, home visitors continued their efforts to link families with resources and pathways to stability despite having to contend with busy schedules and parents returning to school or work. The program's flexibility allows parents to request help with everything they need, assuring a customized strategy to handle their circumstances.
VOT is devoted to helping families even throughout the summer as the staff move into their planning phase. The MBC program is structured around the family, devoting an hour to meetings with parents, with the first half concentrating on establishing the first connections. The remaining time is spent addressing any unique requirements parents may have and creating a secure and encouraging atmosphere.
By surveying families at the beginning of the program, the MBC team is able to monitor changes and advancement throughout time, highlighting the program's success in fostering positive improvements in families' lives.
Voices of Tomorrow’s MBC program is committed to enhancing and expanding the influence it has on local families. The program's effectiveness and ongoing demand for its services have encouraged its continuous development to guarantee that East African immigrant and refugee families continue getting the resources and help they deserve.
Provider Success Stories: Khadra and Saida
Interview with Khadra Hassan
“The technical support team has helped me to the best of their ability, Hafsa Mohamed specifically has helped me with the Renovation grant and multiple other grants but that one was a big project, and it was eventually approved.I cannot even begin to put into words how beneficial it has been and how thankful I am to them for their support. I get informed of new grants and latest updates all the time; they also host information sessions which are helpful. Having a support team who are in the system and consist of people who speak the same language as me and have the same culture creates a sense of confidence to be able to ask them any questions I might have. These services are particularly important to have available to providers like me because they work to bring useful grants and information to my attention.
It makes me comfortable hearing things being explained in my language and it is more important than receiving that same information in English because some of us have a language barrier. Even if we talked all day, I could not effectively communicate how important it is to receive this help from Voices of Tomorrow. I am glad I found them. They are different from other services because of the specific community they focus on, in this country there is systemic racism and staff that have the same background are more likely to help you more sincerely while other people could be biased towards you based on your skin color or name. There are stereotypes on people speaking a different language they automatically might assume you don't have the ability to understand, which is not true it's just that there is a language barrier and most of us have learned and become successful in our homeland but how do you get that across to someone who doesn't speak the same language? Language does not equal knowledge because most of us have wisdom and have been through hardships like civil war, but we are still resilient.
So having someone from the same background supporting you is not something to take lightly. It creates comfortability to ask any question you might feel you need to know and guide you in the right direction even if something goes wrong while you might restrict yourself with another person based on the possibility that it might be taken out of context.”
Interview with Saida Alim
VOT: “Tell me about your experience with the support team in your own words?”
Saida Alim: “I attended several information sessions about grants. It helped me understand the grant better and decided if it was a good fit for me beforehand. Each session breaks down deadlines and what to prioritize, so overall it has been extremely helpful. The first grant I worked with Voices of Tomorrow on was the Child Care Stabilization grant, they focused on receipt collection, penalties, what is allowed and what is not, and most of all it helped me prepare in case there was an audit. They gave us diverse ways to not only keep track of our receipts but to prevent them from getting deleted or going missing. The session helped me be more mindful of how I currently keep track of my receipts. These sessions are an effective way to give providers the confidence to apply for funding and use it for what it is meant for.”
VOT: “Why is it important to have services like this available to childcare providers?”
Saida Alim: “The better question is why would it not be important? It is people from your own community teaching you step by step on how to successfully comply with WAC requirements, rules, and policies, how to troubleshoot your handbook in case there is a grant coming up and you do not have the correct wording to apply. VOT (Voices of Tomorrow) speaks on behalf of providers when it comes to DCYF (Department of Children, Youth, and Families) with things like daycare providers being shut down for minor things that could have been prevented. VOT is a backbone for providers because they have someone that is a representative of them that speaks their language and has the same background, so I believe VOT is a valuable tool for providers.
VOT: “Would you recommend the service to others?”
Saida Alim: “In a heartbeat. Just knowing that they are there for me gives me ease, if I have a question that they are there to answer it. Just by their existence, I know I have support even if I do not use some of their other services. If more providers knew the benefits of some of the programs I have participated in, they would be singing songs about you all.”
2023 Auction and Gala Fundraiser raises over $100,000 for East African early learning facility.
The Voices of Tomorrow Auction Gala on Friday, June 9th, 2023 at the Golf Club at Newcastle was a glamorous and fun-filled evening that left a lasting impact on the donors, distinguished guests, and the future legacy of VOT. Set against a gorgeous backdrop with panoramic views of Seattle and Bellevue, guests arrived with excitement, dressed to the nines, ready to support our cause and make a difference. Thanks to the success of this event, Voices of Tomorrow raised about $100,000 to go toward building the first East African Early Learning Center in the region. It will enable us to serve even more families and children through behavioral health programs and additional early learning classrooms.
The live auction took center stage at the gala, offering up exclusive items and experiences for bidding. The items up for auction included beautiful works of art, hand carved African artifacts, a cabin stay near Mt. Rainier and a week-long resort stay in the Bahamas. The attendees inspiring’ enthusiasm and generosity played a big role in creating a successful night to remember. The funds raised will undoubtedly empower Voices of Tomorrow to continue our invaluable work, supporting and guiding the East African community through trauma counseling, healing, and mental health programs. Our donors and sponsors played a crucial role in making all this possible, showing incredible support and generosity. To all who attended, your belief in the mission of Voices of Tomorrow and your willingness to contribute will always be remembered.
We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering commitment to nurturing the voices of the future. We also express our sincere appreciation to the dedicated team of volunteers, event organizers, and staff members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring flawless execution with their meticulous planning, attention to detail, and passion for the cause. We look forward to the fruits of our labor, and continuing our valuable work to ensure each child grows up to be successful and proud of their heritage!
Voices in Touch Newsletter: Edition 2
Stay up to date on policy and advocacy topics affecting your work in Olympia, King County, and Seattle.
2024 Brings a New Governor to Washington, and Candidates are Heating Up Their Campaigns. Now is the time to get registered to vote and mail in your ballots!
THE RUNDOWN
In early May, Washington’s three term Governor, Jay Inslee, announced his decision to not seek reelection. The popular Governor’s departure leaves an opportunity for Democrat and Republican candidates alike to share a new vision for the state.
So, Who Is In the Running?
TOP DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES
Bob Ferguson: The current Attorney General, and the early top pick amongst all candidates. Ferguson’s lists numerous priorities in his campaign announcement, including defending civil rights, protecting the environment, and standing up for working families.
Hilary Franz: As current Commissioner of Public Lands, it is no surprise Franz cites climate change as one of her top priorities. She also lists housing, and income inequality as key challenges to tackle.
Mark Mullet: A current State Representative from Issaquah, and previous city council member. Mullet shares education issues, affordable housing, safer neighborhoods, and climate change as his focal points.
TOP REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
Dave Reichert: Previous U.S. Representative & King County Sheriff announced his bid for governor in late June. Since he left office, Reichert says he has been frustrated with what he says is the government becoming too powerful. Since he announced his candidacy, Raul Garcia has dropped out of the race and endorsed Reichert. Garcia intends to run for a U.S. Senate seat in 2024.
Semi Bird: Current school board member in Richland (South-Central) WA, who considers himself a “constitutional Christian conservative”. His goal if elected is to hold government officials accountable to the citizens they serve.
Elections will take place in 2024, meaning plenty can change! Now is the perfect time to make sure you're registered to vote and stay informed about candidates messaging.
Find more details on the governor’s race here:
Candidate Profiles | Most Recent Polling
AT A GLANCE
- Jay Inslee’s time as WA State Governor is coming to an end in 2024.
- Candidates are ramping up their election campaigns to replace him.
- Now is a great time to register to vote, and stay updated on the upcoming elections!
ON OUR NEXT EDITION
More details on voting and upcoming King County Elections.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!
CLICK HERE to submit your responses to our short questionnaire & let us know what you want to learn about next!
For additional questions and comments, email [email protected].
What it’s like to spend a day in Voices of Tomorrow’s preschool
In Somali, there is a word that symbolizes hope and prosperity. Saytuun, an evergreen tree that has been cultivated since ancient times, is known for its valuable oil and its ability to survive in harsh environments. The saytuun olive branch is a representation of friendliness and peace. Just like how an olive tree symbolizes hope, so do the students in Voices of Tomorrow’s Saytuun classroom.
Saytuun is a preschool classroom offered by Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) that fosters a warm and welcoming environment for children. The classroom is decorated with shades of green and brown, reminiscent of the colors of an olive tree. VOT works to cultivate a brighter tomorrow for today’s children through programs that educate elevate and empower the East African community. VOT introduced the first Somali English dual language preschool program in the world, where children are encouraged to explore, learn, and grow in a safe and nurturing environment while embracing diversity and accepting their differences. The Saytuun classroom instills these values in its students, preparing them to become responsible and compassionate individuals in society.
The children in the Saytuun classroom are taught to respect each other and resolve conflicts peacefully. These values are essential for children to learn as they grow and interact with other people in the community. Teacher Sonia Ruiz strives to listen to each child's concerns and needs, allowing them to communicate their likes and dislikes. She wants her students to develop communication skills and become aware of their own emotions so they can learn how to effectively communicate with others. She does this by going above and beyond to make sure that students who need extra support receive proper encouragement and more time to understand a topic in class. Ruiz also gives her students the option to choose their downtime activity each day, allowing them to build confidence in their own decisions. When a student changes their mind, Ruiz asks what the student dislikes about their current activity and then helps them find an activity that she thinks suits their preferences.
The skills developed in a dual language program get passed onto the next generation. Saytuun trees are equipped to handle harsh environments. VOT’s Saytuun classroom prepares its students to do the same. While the mainstream school system is just now realizing the importance of diversity and inclusion, VOT’s preschool was founded to uplift East African immigrant and refugee children. In the long run, preschool programs like the Saytuun classroom ensure our children will prosper in a world that was not designed for them and without them in mind.