thread

Applications Now Open for 12 Months of Health Benefits! 🙌

Applications are open through August 31 for eligible early childhood professionals to apply for Optima Health Benefits, a program designed to support educator well-being. Approved participants will receive a monthly stipend for 12 months to select the health and wellness benefits that best meet their needs. Available options include:

✨Dental insurance
✨Vision insurance
✨Telemedicine and teletherapy services
✨Accident insurance
✨Life insurance
✨Short-term and long-term disability insurance
✨Critical illness coverage
✨Hospital indemnity coverage
✨Pet insurance
✨Legal services
✨Identity theft and cybersecurity protection

Learn more and apply:

https://www.threadalaska.org/seed/financial-support/health-benefits

The ACCEE Fund Board needs your input! If you're a child care provider or community partner, please take 8–10 minutes to complete this survey and help shape FY27 funding priorities for Anchorage's child care system. 🙌

Your feedback is essential and will directly inform the Board's budget recommendation to the Mayor's Office.

⏰ The survey closes August 10—don't miss your chance to have your voice heard.

Complete the survey:

🔗 https://bit.ly/4pLG1ph

📣 Request for Proposals Now Open!

thread is seeking qualified coaches to partner with pre-elementary teachers in Alaska school districts participating in Learn & Grow, Alaska's Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS).

Through individual and group practice-based coaching, you'll help teachers strengthen high-quality early childhood practices that make a lasting difference for young learners.

📅 Proposal Deadline: August 14, 2026

Help us support Alaska's early childhood educators and the children they serve. 🙌

📄 View the full RFP and application details:
https://www.threadalaska.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/thread-RFP-Template_Coaching_DEED.pdf

🎉 2010 was a year of growth!

One of the exciting milestones? The launch of Parent TALK - a monthly live forum in Anchorage where parents, grandparents, and caregivers came together to learn, connect, and support one another.

From healthy meal planning 🥗 to infant care 👶 and everything in between, Parent TALK created a space for real conversations about raising young children and building stronger families.

💙 As we celebrate 40 years of thread, we're looking back at the programs and partnerships that have helped strengthen Alaska's early childhood community, one conversation at a time. Let us know if you attended a Parent TALK!

Learn more about thread's history:

🔗 https://www.threadalaska.org/thread/about-thread/history-special-projects/

The Alaska Child Care Program Office (CCPO) is continuing their 2026 Community Engagement Session series, with Session 4 taking place this Wednesday, July 29 at 12 to 2 pm. Join the conversation! 🙌

These sessions are an opportunity for providers, families, advocates, and community partners to share feedback, experiences, ideas, and suggestions related to Child Care Licensing, Child Care Assistance, Alaska Inclusive Child Care (Alaska IN!), and Child Care Grant Program regulations. Input gathered during these sessions will help inform and strengthen ongoing program changes and future regulatory development efforts. 👇

Join the meeting here:

🔗 https://bit.ly/4x06OR6

The ACCEE Fund Board is currently developing its FY2027 budget recommendation and would like your input. 👇

As part of this process, the Board is seeking feedback from child care providers and community partners to help inform funding priorities and future investments in Anchorage's child care system. Your feedback will help the Board better understand the priorities and needs of Anchorage's child care community as they finalize their recommendation to the Mayor's Office.

The survey should take approximately 8-10 minutes to complete and will remain open until August 10, 2026.

Please note that the Board has not made a final budget recommendation. This survey is an opportunity for providers and community partners to help inform that recommendation before it is submitted.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for the important work you do every day to support Anchorage's children and families. 🙌

Complete the survey here:

🔗 https://bit.ly/4pLG1ph

✨ A milestone year for thread.

In 2010, thread welcomed a new generation of leadership:

❤️ Stephanie Berglund was named Chief Executive Officer.
💜 Melinda Myers became Chief Operations Officer.
🩶 Sarah Leonard joined as Director of Marketing & Fund Development - becoming the first person to hold a dedicated marketing role at thread, marking an exciting new chapter in the organization's growth.

Today, Stephanie and Melinda are still leading thread, continuing to champion quality early care and education across Alaska. Their lasting leadership reflects the strength, vision, and commitment that have helped shape thread over the years.

🎉 Help us celebrate this important milestone! Share a message or memory in the comments.

Learn more about thread's history:

🔗 https://www.threadalaska.org/thread/about-thread/history-special-projects/

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has launched its Summer 2026 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Workforce Survey, which focuses on educators' and providers' experiences implementing licensing and regulatory systems that support children's health, safety, and learning. ✨

NAEYC is seeking responses from early childhood educators, program leaders, and providers across all settings. The survey takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete and is open until Monday, July 27.

Complete the survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GM8NCYN

🎉 Before celebrating 40 years, we celebrated a milestone that helped shape our journey.

thread marked its 25th anniversary with Growing through Generations - a statewide celebration of quality early care and education across Alaska. ♥️

From Book Party in the Park and tree plantings to ice cream socials, quilting parties, Parent TALK, and community celebrations, 25 anniversary events brought Alaskans together to celebrate children, families, and the people who support them every day. 🤗

✨ Were you part of the celebration? Tell us in the comments if you attended one of these anniversary events - we'd love to hear your memories!

Learn more about thread's history:

🔗 https://www.threadalaska.org/thread/about-thread/history-special-projects/

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration published in the Federal Register the reimbursement rates for the National School Lunch, Special Milk, School Breakfast Programs, and Afterschool Snacks for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. 🙌 In all cases, the reimbursement rates for Alaska rise for the coming year. 👇

Access the notice below:

🔗 https://bit.ly/4wP821l