December 12
As more parents and caregivers of young children participate in the work force, the provision of quality day care is rapidly becoming a major concern for early childhood educators, researchers, policymakers, employers, and parents. A key to quality day care is the provision of specific training in child care for caregivers. Training is a powerful index of competence for caregivers and is strongly and positively linked to program quality.
Sixty years ago, there were 157 nursery schools, nationwide. Early childhood teachers did not need training to be considered effective because teaching was considered an inherent art (National Committee on Nursery School, 1929). Today, 61 percent of children ages 0–6 who are not yet in kindergarten (about 12 million children) receive some form of child care on a regular basis from persons other than their parent and training is recognized as essential to the provision of quality day care.
United Way Northwest Indiana Success By 6 initiative works to create powerful synergies to improve the lives of young children by engaging with multi-sector community partners, including business, health and human services, education, government and community groups. We use an outcome-focused approach to study the problems facing children ages 0-6 in their communities, analyze the root causes, and develop effective solutions.
Success By 6 plans and implements a number of powerful strategies in major focus areas designed to impact community systems, as well as peoples’ lives. These focus areas include: influencing public policy, creating greater public awareness, quality early care enhancement, parenting education, literacy, family resource centers, and health care.
We are offering a free 3 month training speaker series “Small Steps Big Successes” at the Valparaiso University campus beginning January 31, 2011 for all parents, caregivers, childcare providers and early childhood educators. Registration is limited to the first 75 participants (limit 5 staff per agency). There will be a free gift for any staff who attends all three sessions. All sessions will be held at the Valparaiso University NSC RM 224 and pre-registration is required.
Session I: Monday January 31, 2011 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
The Great Discovery: Searching Beyond Behavior and Toddlers to Uncover Meaning
Speaker: Lisa Henley, Program Director of the Child Care Quality Initiative at the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral.
Session II: Monday February 21, 2011 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Managing Challenging Behaviors in Children with Special Needs: “Does ‘Special Needs’ mean ‘Special Privileges’?
Speaker: Melissa Khosla, OTR/L is a pediatric occupation therapist with a master’s degree in child development from the Erikson Institute. **
Session III: Monday March 28, 2011 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Thinking outside the Box: Looking Beyond What You Know
Speaker: Dana Jones, Early Childhood Specialist at the Indiana Department of Education working with the Developmental Preschools and Title I Preschools.
Please RSVP to Kimberly D. Hendricks Workforce Development Services, Inc. Child Care Resource & Referral 840 Broadway 3rd Fl Gary, IN 46402 Direct Line: 1-219-882-0033 x 321 Toll Free: 1-866-582-2229 Fax: 1-219-882-9253
