Press Release: Hurricane Efforts 10/28/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Teaching Strategies, Inc. Provides Support to Programs Serving Young Children Affected by Hurricane Devastation

Washington, DC, October 28, 2005-Teaching Strategies, Inc. (TSI), the Washington, DC-based developer of The Creative Curriculum, has launched a relief campaign for children, teachers, and early childhood programs affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. The campaign includes replacing materials lost in the hurricanes, cash contributions, and a free resource guide entitled Helping Children Rebound: Strategies for Preschool Teachers after the 2005 Hurricanes. "The early childhood community was one of the hardest hit and fastest to respond after the hurricanes," TSI President Diane Trister Dodge explained. "We feel a great responsibility to the young children impacted by the devastation and to the early childhood programs caring for them."

Financial Relief

As part of its relief efforts, TSI matched two-for-one the monetary donations from staff and colleagues to support the Louisiana Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (LAEHCY). The effort has raised over $22,000, which is being used to purchase uniforms for each of the 1,038 displaced children now enrolled in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. "We hope that these uniforms will help children feel more settled and comfortable as they adjust to their new schools, and alleviate at least a small part of the stress that has resulted from the dramatic disruption to their lives," said Candy Jones, a TSI Senior Associate living in Baton Rouge.

TSI is also replacing materials lost in the recent hurricanes, as well as providing additional materials to centers using The Creative Curriculum that are enrolling displaced children. Thus far, TSI has contributed over $30,000 worth of materials. As preschool centers in the Gulf region continue to reopen, TSI has committed to increasing this effort. 

Helping Distressed Children

To assist teachers in helping young children after the hurricanes, TSI curriculum expert Cate Heroman of Baton Rouge collaborated with Jenna Bilmes, a noted mental health expert, to create the resource guide, Helping Children Rebound:  Strategies for Preschool Teachers after the 2005 Hurricanes. The resource guide provides guidance to preschool teachers to address the psychological needs of children who have been impacted by the recent hurricanes. 

The free resource guide, which is being disseminated nationwide, helps preschool teachers and parents identify specific behaviors that may indicate emotional concerns and provides strategies to address them in the classroom.  A similar guide addressing the needs of infants and toddlers will be released in the next few weeks.

"Despite all the devastation that has occurred, our greatest priority remains unchanged: to provide educators with the tools necessary to promote the cognitive, physical, social/emotional, and language development of young children," said Dodge. "Preschool teachers will play an important role in restoring normalcy to the lives of children so that they can continue to learn and thrive. We hope that this resource guide will aid them in this effort."

Helping Children Rebound: Strategies for Preschool Teachers After the 2005 Hurricanes can be downloaded for free at https://www.teachingstrategies.com/relief. TSI continues to accept donations for LAEHCY and to respond to centers in need. For more information about the relief campaign or to donate money, please see the TSI Web site (www.teachingstrategies.com) or contact Jeffrey Capizzano by phone at 1-800-637-3652, ext 1742, or by e-mail ( ).