Case Study

Beginning in November 2007, the Early Learning Specialist for Provider Support began training providers in Creative Curriculum, as well as providing technical assistance to providers after program monitoring. She found that while providers’ VPK classrooms were excellent, the infant and toddler classrooms in many instances were not meeting required standards. Many infant/toddler rooms were bare with very few supplies. It was almost as if they thought children could not learn before age three. Teachers were focused on meeting the children’s custodial needs but not much more. The Specialist began focusing on the development of these classrooms by using quality dollars to purchase materials and supplies that were desperately needed to bring these classrooms up to standards. Training was offered and materials were given to providers that successfully completed the training sessions. Technical assistance was offered to providers as part of the follow-up to monitoring, providing supplies as needed. Infant and toddler classrooms were fully stocked with materials. Staff began providing developmentally appropriate practices in these classrooms and came to understand that learning begins at birth. Programs showed marked improvement with education and support from the Coalition.

Training and Workshops

The Coalition has a wide array of services available to assist providers in offering high quality early education and care programs. The Coalition Program Staff is dedicated to furthering the quality of child care through specialized services to meet the needs of our providers. Services include:

Provider Training

Training and educational opportunities are offered on a variety of subjects related to early education and care and are designed to increase the knowledge-base and improve the skills of the provider’s staff. Click here for our current Training Calendar.

Directors’ Meetings

The Coalition hosts meetings for both center directors and owners of family child care homes for the purpose of networking and discussion of timely topics. The meetings are generally held monthly. For information about Directors’ Meetings, please call Tammie Fulmer for Milton or North Santa Rosa County: 850-983-5595 or Kelly Tolbert for South Santa Rosa County: 850-916-5424

Mobile Resource Van

The Coalition provides a Mobile Resource Van that offers items for loan to family child care homes. The van includes books, toys and other supplies that providers may use in their home for a limited time. For information on van visits, please contact Delana Traweek at 850-983-5335.

Provider Lending Library and Resource Room

The Coalition’s Milton office houses a provider lending library and resource room. Providers may choose from a variety of children’s books and educational resources to use in their homes or centers for a limited time. Providers may also make appointments to use the Coalition’s laminating and Ellison machines. For information, please call 850-983-5313.

Developmental Screening and Assessment

It is a fact that most brain development occurs within the first five years of life and that the stimulation the brain receives during these early years greatly influences cognitive and language development as well as social and psychological behavior later in life. To assist in meeting the needs of our birth-to-five-population, the Coalition provides materials, training and oversight for child care providers on required screening and assessment instruments.

Screening
The Coalition utilizes the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) as a screening tool. This instrument provides a quick record of a particular point in each child’s development. The ASQ includes questions about the following: communication, gross motor, problem solving, personal/social as well as questions about hearing, vision and other medical issues. The screening instrument is used to identify those children in need of additional services and enables Coalition staff to make referrals to appropriate agencies.

Assessment
The Coalition utilizes The Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum as an assessment instrument to review the cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development of young children. The instrument records child progress at three summary checkpoints throughout the year and assists providers in program planning.

Health Screening

Research has shown that healthy, active, and well-nourished children are more prepared and motivated to learn. In order to assist providers in identifying children with healthcare issues, the Coalition employs a nurse to conduct health screenings, including vision, hearing, height and weight, as well as reviews of immunization records. The nurse is also available to provide training and in-service education to providers on health-related topics such as the importance of physical activity, healthy nutrition, universal precautions, as well as many others. The Coalition nurse also works with providers and parents in making referrals to dentists, optometrists or other appropriate agencies for children needing services.

Quality Initiatives

As funding is available, the Coalition offers Quality Initiatives for child care providers. These initiatives include educational scholarships, mini-grants for quality enhancement activities, and the purchase of toys, books and supplies. The Coalition is also a local leader in the provision of numerous training opportunities from knowledgeable, well-respected experts in the fields of early education and child development.