Mentors Like Me

Why Family Childcare educators?  Family child care offers a nurturing and educational program for children ages 2 months to 12 years and is the type of care where we find the greatest number of children African American children under 6.  When these settings are high quality and the care providers receive ongoing intensive supports to offer wrap around services, business supports, and ECE specialist that  normally found in larger childcare setting but are generally not found  integrated in-home childcare setting.  By giving these supports for children and families in settings that are culturally responsive we have a larger opportunity to reach vulnerable children. An important direct effect is that this system will build stable small businesses. Economic stability for the childcare provider sets them on at path of success by lessening child turnover do poor quality, enrollment instability because delays in payments from DHS.

Our family childcare educators follow the High Scope Curriculum, and Creative Curriculum for Family Childcare and both or Curriculum that support Black children in Early Learning Setting, they are well established early childhood curriculum that has been proven to meet the educational needs of children from all economic and cultural backgrounds. Our family childcare educators maintain regular communication with parents and facilitate parent/educator conferences throughout the year

·         Monthly home visits by early childhood professionals

·         Ongoing professional development planning using Coach/ Mentor, Home visitor model

·         On-site curriculum training and mentoring

·          Professional development planning

·         Free evening and weekend workshops

·         Educational newsletters

·         Technical assistance to address licensing and ongoing program quality improvements

·         QRIS/SPARK  participation in a culturally responsive manner

·         Family Childcare Rating Scales, and CLASS observations

·         Assistance with CDA certification and NAFCC accreditation assistance

·         Shared services

·         PEO

·         DHS Billing and administrative services

·         Consultation services with health and mental health specialists

·         Facilitate culturally relevant peer network meetings 

·         Assist childcare providers in hosting parent events to build strong provider family parent partnerships

·         Assistance with screening and assessments

·         Legal /aide

·         Resource Library

·         Annual ECE conference