Spring, or at least false spring, has hit the Colorado area. We may get another snow, but I would be ok if we didn’t. I love seeing the grass green and a few buds sneaking up. I hope your weather is lovely, no matter how warm or cold it is. Just getting outside in the early morning and taking a few breaths is a great way to start the day.

I am a lifelong learner. I bet some of you are too. I got my Bachelor’s degree 25 years after high school and my Master’s degree more than 40 years after I graduated from high school. The subject I like to learn about most is the childbearing year, from pregnancy to parenting. All things about this year fascinate me. I’ve just taken a great 3-day workshop from our own Connie Bach-Jeckell. What a wonderful educator she is! There were 3 of us in the class and it was fun to make new friends and get acquainted with old ones. What will I learn next? Maybe more about mental health during this period of a mom’s life? Or what specific information do dads and partners need to be best prepared for the same period of time? What will you learn next?

Maybe you are a lifelong learner, too. Do you want to take steps toward certification, but life is a bit tight right now? Maybe you would be interested in ICEA’s scholarship program. The application period is open until the end of April. Find out more about our Scholarship Program here.

I really found the last Mentor Meeting “Bridging the Gap: Helping Doulas Navigate Medicaid & Manage Care” fascinating. I’m excited to dig into how we can serve more families with systems that are set up for this. Did you get a chance to listen? Tara van Dyke has also started a great document to keep track of what individual states are asking for. Keep your eyes open for that coming up!

Happy Spring!

Warmly,

Debbie Young

ICEA President