The ECCS has been busy this month with holiday events, office hours, and coordinated a donation of books for every child receiving holiday gifts from Southington Community Services.
As we approach the end of the year, all of us at the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington wish you a healthy and happy holiday season!
December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month!
It’s important to make sure all of the toys our little ones will or have already received this holiday season are safe! Keep up with current product recalls at www.cpsc.gov/Recalls.
In our August newsletter, we talked about how the criteria for testing and levels for lead poisoning have become stricter, which has resulted in more children in Southington being identified as lead-poisoned. Protecting children from lead poisoning is important for overall health and is preventable. Lead poisoning in children can cause developmental delays, difficulty learning, behavioral issues and neurological damage.
The South Central Health District (SCHD) has worked closely with pediatricians in the area to ensure they are doing the mandated screening at the 12 and 24-month checks, as well as completing mandatory reporting forms to the local health department.
The SCHD has put together this great reference for Lead Poisoning Prevention.
Find this and other resources at www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/home-safety/
This time of year can be hard for many families. You are not alone and help is available.
Southington has several agencies that provide help with food, energy assistance, rent/mortgage assistance, and unemployment/job search. Some require proof of residency and income levels, but other programs do not.
Local Mental Health services range from urgent/crisis response to in- and out-patient services, to support groups. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org.
The stress of the holidays and adverse weather can increase risks to personal safety. In an emergency, call or text 911.
The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is a family civics initiative of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity. PLTI is designed to equip parents and caregivers with the tools to become effective advocates for children and agents of positive change in their communities.
ECCS Parent Ambassador Jessica Springer-Cap shared a few thoughts on her experience with the program: “Being part of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) has truly empowered me in ways I never expected. This program helped me find my voice in my community—giving me the confidence, knowledge, and tools to speak up, advocate, and make a real difference for families and children.
One of the greatest gifts of PLTI has been the people I’ve met along the way. I’ve made lifelong friends who share the same passion, vision, and drive for positive change. We’ve supported each other, learned together, and grown into stronger leaders side by side. Highly encourage being a parent leader!”
Check out one of the upcoming Taste of PTLI sessions, which will provide a sneak peek into PLTI's impactful work, introduce coordinators from various sites, and guide you on taking the next steps:
Thursday, 12/18/25, 12:00-1:15 pm
Wednesday, 1/7/26, 7:00-8:30 pm
Register for upcoming Taste of PLTI sessions https://wp.cga.ct.gov/cwcseo/events/
More information about this 20-week course is available here.
The Southington Public School kindergarten waiver screening sessions are filling up fast. If you want your child, who will turn five years of age between September 2, 2026, and before January 1, 2027, to enter Kindergarten in the fall of 2026 sign up for a session screening online.
You can learn more about the kindergarten registration process and preschool options on our website.
As you plan your year-end giving, please consider making a donation to the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington.
Did you know that the ECCS does not receive funding from the Town of Southington or the Board of Education? Our work to support the parents and caregivers of Southington’s youngest citizens is funded primarily through grants we have applied for.
Receiving contributions from individuals like you helps support our operations and allows us to show our larger funders that there is strong community backing for this work.
There are many ways that you can support our work -
- Volunteer or serve on the Board of Directors
- Get us something from our wishlist
- Advocate
- Donate online
- Follow, Like, and Share our social media
Facebook @ECCSouthington
Instagram @ECCSouthington
Threads @ECCSouthington
X/Twitter @ecc_southington
Bluesky @eccsouthington.bsky.social
Visit www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/events/ or follow us on our social media for upcoming office hours and events in the New Year.
There are still plenty of festive events through the end of the year that you can find in the comments of the pinned post on our Facebook page.
Copyright © 2025 Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, all rights reserved.
Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington
35 North Main Street, Box 10, Suite 3A-8
Southington, CT 06489