News & Notes

4C Family Newsletter | September 2025

Posted on by Scott Gunnerson

Community Coordinated Care for Children is dedicated to building stronger communities and families. We believe every child deserves a bright and successful future. This newsletter is part of our mission to lead the community by providing high-quality services that improve the lives of children and families.

In-kind contributions are essential for matching government funding, enhancing services, building community strength, and ensuring program sustainability. The Learning Genie Parent App makes tracking in-kind contributions easier. In-kind contributions are not merely a financial necessity for Head Start programs but a cornerstone of a thriving, community-centered approach to early childhood education. 

Parents, families, and community members play a vital role in creating a brighter future for our children by donating their time, resources, materials, and services. The Learning Genie Parent App provides convenience, real-time updates, and easy tracking of In-Kind contributions. The app records In-Kind donations, allows you to view history, and access support. You can submit time for classroom assistance, parent meetings, or educational activities with your child.

If you want to view a guide on using the Learning Genie Parent App, you can click here. To learn how to get started, click here. See when parent training comes to your Head Start site, List view, Calendar view. Have questions about the Learning Genie Parent App, click here.

Your involvement truly makes a difference and supports the success of our Head Start program.

Health, Nutrition & Wellness

Understanding health screenings and follow-ups: Health screenings and follow-ups are essential for young children. They help detect health issues early and promote healthy development. Pediatricians and healthcare professionals conduct these screenings, which include physical exams, developmental assessments, vision and hearing tests, and evaluations of mental and behavioral health. Following up on any concerns is vital, as it allows for prompt intervention and treatment, reducing the risk of long-term health problems.

Affordable, nutritious meals: Everyone needs good food to stay healthy. But many people can’t access it. Location makes a difference. Some areas have few supermarkets, which raises prices and limits fruit and vegetable options. Anyone can struggle to get enough healthy food. This can happen to adults and kids of any age. To learn more, click here.

Oral health habits for young children: Good habits include starting early, using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and brushing twice daily while flossing once a day. It’s also vital to limit sugary drinks and snacks and schedule regular dental visits. For more information, click here.

Well-child visits and immunizations explained: Well-child visits are routine checkups with a pediatrician to track a child’s growth, development, and overall health, while immunizations are vaccines that prevent infectious diseases. For more information, click here.

Teaching personal hygiene: Teaching young children about personal hygiene should be fun, consistent, and easy to understand. Focus on handwashing, bathing, and brushing teeth by demonstrating these actions and explaining why they matter. Using positive reinforcement, visual aids, and age-appropriate tools can make hygiene a positive and engaging part of their routine. To learn more, click here.

POLICY COUNCIL

4C Head Start Policy Council meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the 4C Early Head Start Ferguson Child Development Center, located at 644 Ferguson Drive in Orlando, Florida. For more information about the 4C Head Start Policy Council, click here.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Find upcoming free, family-friendly events in Central Florida on the Community Calendar:

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Local public libraries offer a variety of ongoing events like story times. Use these links to learn more about the programs available to your family at a nearby library.

LOCAL PROGRAMS

Head Start
The 4C Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start programs promote school readiness and child development for eligible low-income families with children from birth to 5 years old, click here.

Neighborhood Centers for Families
NCF is made up of nonprofits, agencies, churches, and groups that work together to provide family-friendly, accessible services and activities to Orange County families, click here.

Sign up for the monthly 4C Family Newsletter alerts and other timely information about resources and services. To subscribe, click here.