LPB Sesame Street In Communities
Sesame Street in Communities (SSIC) brings together parents, caregivers, and community providers across the United States to give all children, especially the most vulnerable, a strong and healthy start. Our resources address the early learning basics like ABCs and 123s, but also help children and families cope with traumatic experiences. With the right support from caring adults, children can overcome challenges big and small.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR OPPORTUNITIES
Every day, you make a difference by helping kids and families grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. You’re an important part of the “circle of care” that surrounds the families and kids who need it most.
Watch this Lunch & Learn webinar to support you in this critical work by showing you how to use hundreds of multi-media tools to helps kids and families enrich and expand their knowledge during the early years of birth through six, a critical window for brain development. These resources engage kids and adults in everyday moments and daily routines—from teaching early math, school readiness, health emergencies, and much more!
LPB’s Statewide Virtual Family Community Summit
LPB hosted this very special virtual event for families of children ages birth to six. This hour long family summit provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to learn about the Sesame Street in Communities resources to help their children prepare for school. Three early childhood experts were available for Q&A.
Resource Links:
Finding Quality Child Care in Louisiana
LPB's Parent and Educator Newsletters
Meet Our Early Childhood Experts
Jo Ann D. LoRusso, Ph. D., earned a Doctorate degree in Early Intervention/Special Education, with a focus in early literacy, and a Masters degree in Cognitive Psychology with a focus in memory and learning disabilities. She teaches courses in early childhood development and special education at Delgado Community College and is an early childhood consultant. Jo Ann has two adult daughters, one who has a learning disability and two grandchildren, one who has Asperger’s.
Maria Teresa Blanco, MEd, is an Assistant Professor at LSU Health Sciences Center. She is Director of the LSU Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership program that serves 210 children and families in centers across the city of New Orleans. Maria has over 20 years of experience providing parent education, early intervention services, and teacher training. She serves on many local and state boards and committees that support early childhood education. Her work focuses on increasing access to high quality early childhood programs for all children and helping caregivers understand child development to support learning and identify concerns early. She is the mother of two adult daughters, one who has autism.
Jasmin Williams is a Senior Project Manager of US Social Impact at Sesame Workshop where she works to introduce and embed the Sesame Street in Communities model into communities across the country. Originally from Kansas City, MO, Jasmin received her Bachelor of Science from Truman State University in Exercise Science and her MBA in Health Administration from Avila University. Prior to her role at Sesame Workshop, she had the privilege of leading large-scale community-wide initiatives: Resilient KC and PreKC through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Jasmin is passionate about trauma informed care and uses a trauma informed approach as she works to share the Sesame Street in Communities tools and resources with vulnerable children and families.
Community Partners
