Deb Quinlan

Position: MECC Cares for Kids

Trish Peters

Position: MECC cares for kids

Lindsay Havran

Position: MECC Cares for Kids

Vangi McCoy

Position: MECC Cares for Kids

Lisa Henry

Position: MECC Cares for Kids

Mary Dodd

Mary Dodd

Position: MECC Chief Knowledge Officer

A conversation about spanking

Many of us have heard and perhaps said things like: “I was spanked as a kid and I turned out all right.” “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” “It’s a parent’s job to discipline their child.”...

DATE: March 5, 2015 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Make A New Year’s resolution that will last a lifetime

By Mary Dodd Now that the holidays are over, the new toys have lost their novelty, and some New Year’s resolutions have already been broken, make a resolution that will last your kids (and our...

DATE: Jan. 15, 2015 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Preparing your child to succeed in kindergarten

By Sahara Thurston and Geof Byerly As children approach kindergarten age, parents are often more nervous than their children, wondering whether their kids will be ready academically, socially,...

DATE: Aug. 28, 2014 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Fall into healthy eating

Fall is here with its busy “back to school” schedules and iffy weather. Even in these conditions, with a little creativity and improvisation it’s possible to keep up healthy practices. The...

DATE: Sept. 12, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Books and children

July is national literacy month, and Cortez families have reason to celebrate. Thanks to Reach Out and Read Colorado and the Imagination Library/Cortez Rotary Foundation, our youngest residents...

DATE: July 11, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Ways to beat kids’ blues in summertime

School’s out for summer, the weather is hot and the kids are bored. What to do to keep those summertime blues away? Being new to the area. I found myself in a conundrum on where to go and what to...

DATE: June 6, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Meeting children’s mental health needs

When young children experience mental-health challenges, it impacts their educational and social development as well as the well being of the entire family. May 9, 2013, was National Children’s...

DATE: May 9, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

April is Month of the Young Child

April is the Month of the Young Child and the perfect time to share what our local early childhood council has been up to over the past 12 months. We know that what happens to children in the...

DATE: April 18, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Parenting with a hand's free approach

An art teacher asked first graders to draw pictures of their families. In many of the drawings the adults were holding rectangular objects that she thought were books, and were standing apart from...

DATE: March 8, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Strong, healthy teeth begins in infancy

February is Dental Health Month and it's important to teach your child good oral hygiene habits early! The American Dental Association recommends creating a dental routine early to ensure a...

DATE: Feb. 8, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Providing quality preschool education is hard work

In July of 2012, the Cortez area preschools were selected to participate in the Colorado School Readiness Program. This project provides services that help the early learning facilities attain...

DATE: Jan. 11, 2013 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

Give your children the gift of character this season

Bullying, disrespectful behavior, cheating, tardiness, vandalism, profanity and drug abuse hinder child development, student achievement, school safety and public confidence. They can be traced to...

DATE: Dec. 7, 2012 | COLUMN: MECC Cares for Kids

click here to add your event
Area Events