Imagination Library available in 12 more communities
Through a recent round of grants funded by the Rasmuson Foundation, Best Beginnings is now helping 48 Alaska communities promote child and family literacy through Imagination Library. News Release - July 21, 2010
Community Grants Available from Best Beginnings
Best Beginnings is taking applications for Imagination Library and Early Childhood Partnerships, two community programs in Alaska that enhance the lives of young children and their families. News Release - April 15, 2010
2010 Report to Alaskans Now Available
Interested individuals can download a copy here or contact the office for a hard copy. 2010 Report to Alaskans
Imagination Library expands to more communities Twelve Alaska communities will be added to the Imagination Library roster under a second round of grants announced recently by Best Beginnings. The grants are funded by a $150,000 grant to Best Beginnings from the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED). News Release - Jan. 26, 2010
Imagination Library Headed to Kuskokwim Villages
Babies and young children in 10 villages along the Kuskokwim River will be eligible to receive a free book every month from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, thanks to a commitment from the Kuskokwim Education Foundation (KEF). News Release - Dec. 22, 2009
Early Learning Activity Guides Now Available in Yup’ik
Marie Meade and Yup'ik toddlers will demonstrate activities from the new Best Beginnings Early Learning Activity Guides written in Yup'ik at a special event, Thursday Oct. 15, 2009, at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium News Release - Oct. 12, 2009
Proposals Sought to Expand Imagination Library
In an effort to expand a children’s book program more broadly in Alaska, Best Beginnings is soliciting proposals to launch or sustain Imagination Library in new communities and expand it in communities that already have the program. News Release - Oct. 9, 2009
Public invited to launch of Early Learning Activity Guides in Yup’ik -
A guide to age-appropriate activities that prepare young children for success in school is now available in Yup'ik; one for Infants (birth-18 months), one for Toddlers (18 months-3 years), and one for Preschoolers (3-5 years). The first launch of the guides will take place Sept. 23, 2009 in Bethel, Alaska. News Release - Sept. 11, 2009
Family-Friendly Activity Guides Now Available in English
A guide to age-appropriate activities that prepare young children for success in
school is now available in English; one for birth to
age 3, and one for ages 3 to 5. Published through a collaboration of Best
Beginnings and the Alaska Departments of Education & Early Development (DEED) and
Health & Social Services (DHSS), the booklets are free of charge. News Release - July 22, 2009
Grants Awarded for Early Childhood Partnerships Nine organizations in Southeast, Southcentral, coastal, and Interior Alaska will
receive grants to foster early childhood partnerships in their communities. Best
Beginnings is working with public and private partners to build a comprehensive early
childhood system in Alaska. News Release - July 21, 2009
Best Beginnings Requests Applications for Early Childhood Partnerships
Best Beginnings is granting $50,000 over the next year to help fund community‐based early childhood partnerships as part of an effort to develop a statewide early childhood system with improved collaboration and increased local‐level decision‐making. News Release - June 15, 2009
Best Beginnings Awarded Grant to Engage Business Leaders
Best Beginnings recently was awarded a $10,000 grant by the Partnership for America’s Economic Success to facilitate an early childhood investment summit engaging Alaska’s business leaders. National speaker on business and economic issues, Bill Millett, to headline. News Release - May 13, 2009
Best Beginnings Brings “Imagination Library” Home to Alaska
Best Beginnings is helping to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library home to more than 7,000 Alaska children, thanks to $85,000 in matching grants raised from the Rasmuson Foundation, ConocoPhillips Alaska and The CIRI Foundation. Children in participating communities eligible for free books from birth to 5th birthday. News Release - April 28, 2009
Spanish-language activity guides help develop children’s brains
Best Beginnings, a statewide organization that advocates for early learning and literacy, has published activity guides in Spanish to help parents and other adults provide babies and young children with activities to foster healthy brain development. News Release - Sept. 18, 2008
Early Learning Receives Boost from ConocoPhillips
Best Beginnings, Alaska's early learning initiative, received a financial boost of $100,000 from ConocoPhillips. Wendy King, vice president of external affairs for ConocoPhillips, presented the check to Abbe Hensley, executive director for Best Beginnings, at an Early Learning Council meeting in mid-April. News Release - May 12, 2008
Early Learning Recommendations Go to Governor
A public engagement campaign, a standards-based rating and improvement system for child care and early learning programs, and increased funding are among the key recommendations issued to Gov. Sarah Palin in the wake of a statewide conference she convened on early learning. News Release - March 27, 2008
Alaskans from Kotzebue to Ketchikan Gather in Anchorage for Governor’s Summit on Early Learning
Legislators and statewide leaders from Alaska business, non-profit, faith community, education, philanthropy, early care and learning, and tribal organizations gather to hear from national and state experts on the importance of investing in early learning. The group will use that information to craft recommendations for Gov. Sarah Palin and other policy-makers. News Release - December 5, 2007
States to Convene Summits on Early Childhood Development
To help states develop policies that address the needs of at risk
infants, toddlers and preschoolers, the NGA Center for Best Practices
(NGA Center) today announced 10 states will receive $10,000 grants to
support Governors' Summits on Early Childhood: Alaska, Connecticut,
Florida, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and
Virginia. News Release - June 7, 2007
News Release - July 21, 2010 
2010 Report to Alaskans