FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 3, 2004
Contact: Tom Uribes (559) 278-5366 or 246-1717


PHOTO OPPS: An open house and tour of the Joyce M. Huggins Center, located in the Kremen Education Building Atrium downstairs, will be held on Friday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon for the visiting participants to view Fresno State’s pioneering early education programs. Also, a reception for the Better Baby Care Campaign will be held on Friday from 7 to 9 pm in the Conley Art Gallery on campus with Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and Fresno County Supervisor Chair Susan Anderson. Other visuals: children’s paintings will adorn the tables at the institute in the Satellite Student Union from 1- 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Bambini: Improving Early Childhood Education
Institute is Nov. 5 and 6 at Fresno State

The Bambini Early Childhood Education Institute – focusing on new approaches to infant and toddler education featuring experts from California, the United States and Italy -- will be held on Friday afternoon, Nov. 5, and all day Saturday, Nov. 6, at California State University, Fresno.

More than 200 early education professionals from throughout the nation have registered for the institute, “Bambini: Innovative Ideas for Creating Responsive and Resourceful Early Childhood Programs,” which will include major presentations in two sessions in the Satellite Student Union:

• Friday, Nov. 5, from 1 to 7 p.m.; and

• Saturday, Nov. 6, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Also, a reception to kick off the Better Baby Care Campaign - Fresno County will be held on Friday, Nov. 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Phoebe Conley Art Gallery (Conley Art Building – 5225 N. Backer Ave.) where Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and Fresno County Supervisor Chair Susan Anderson are expected to attend to discuss role the city and county in that project.

The Better Baby Care project is one of the members of the consortium of agencies that participates in the Fansler Institute for Leadership in Early Childhood Education at Fresno State which is coordinating the Bambini Institute along the early education programs at Fresno State and Fresno City College.

The Institute for Leadership in Early Childhood Education is a professional development project dedicated to enhancing leadership and quality in early childhood education and sponsored by a regional consortium of agencies and organizations.

This weekend’s event will offer a stimulating exchange of ideas on innovative learning approaches for Early Childhood Education, said Dr. Shareen Abramson, Fresno State early education professor who is the institute coordinator along with Kristin Sullivan, chair of the Child Development Department at Fresno City College.

“This exciting and innovative exchange of ideas covers early childhood learning approaches from Italy that support a constructive change process,” she said.
Special presenters for the institute are:

• Lella Gandini, liaison in the U.S. for dissemination of the Reggio Emilia Approach to early education and co-author of Bambini and the Hundred Languages of Children;

• Ron Lally, co-director of WestEd, Center for Child and Family Studies, director of the Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers (PITC) and executive producer of 15 infant/toddler training videos; and

• Cindy Oser, director of the Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, West Coast Office.

Abramson said the Bambini institute this weekend represents a growing partnership between the programs at Fresno State and Fresno City College and is attracting interest from throughout the nation as well as a participant from Japan.

The non-credit institute costs $185 to attend; one optional unit of credit is available for an additional fee of $50.

The Joyce M. Huggins Center (located in the Kremen Education Building Atrium) is open for an optional visitation on Friday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon when a tour for the participants will be offered to view Fresno State’s lab where 150 youngsters participate in early education programs.

At the Better Baby Care Campaign Kick-Off reception at 7 p.m. Friday, Autry and Anderson will be joined by Zero to Three Director Cindy Oser, according to Fresno County's Better Baby Campaign Director Michelle Roman.

Roman said the campaign works in collaboration with existing national, state and local organizations to bring attention to and improve systems that affect the quality of infant and toddler child care in Fresno County.

“My main focus currently is on public awareness and advocacy in our community on the importance of investing in our infants and toddlers,” she said.

The Better Baby Care Campaign is a nationwide project through ZERO TO THREE based in Washington, D.C. Currently 11 states participate in the Better Baby Care Campaign and Fresno is the only county on the West Coast that is funded under this program, Roman said.

“We have become the national model for this campaign with hopes of replicating this program statewide through funds from First Five California,” she said.

Better Baby Care Campaign highlights include plans for improving infant care and resources for Fresno County.

Romans said that at the reception, Autry will discuss his innovative solutions, goals and ways to engage the community on the importance of investing in our youngest citizens while Anderson will discuss the new projects that the county has invested in for the children and families in Fresno County.

For more information about the Bambini institute, contact Abramson at (559) 278-0226. For the Better Baby Care reception, contact Roman at 930-7832.

Background -- Institute for Leadership in Early Childhood Education

This professional development institute is dedicated to enhancing leadership in early child-hood education (ECE) and enhancing the quality of ECE. Research clearly demonstrates that quality ECE programs with well-qualified ECE teachers and skilled ECE leaders provide significant benefits to children, especially those who are at risk, increasing later academic achievement, social competence and economic and life success.

The institute is sponsored by a regional consortium of agencies and organizations including: D. Paul Fansler Institute for Leadership in Early Education, Fresno City College, West Hills College, First Five of Fresno County, Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers (PITC) Central Valley Region, Support-ive Services, Inc., Children's Services Network, AB 212/CARES, Early Head Start, Local Planning Council, Migrant Head Start, Fresno County Child Development Consortium, Better Baby Care Fresno and others.

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Copy prepared by University Communications staff members.