Foundation Grant Funds Family-Centered Child Care Project

Fostering partnerships between parents and staff benefit children

Early investment in children's well-being and preparing them for school success are top priorities of The Schenectady Foundation. Toward that end, the Foundation has helped sustain the work of the Child Care Coordinating Council, which has substantially improved the quality of child care programs throughout the county.

"We have realized that many of the families in the programs are in crisis. Not only do they need quality child care, but they also need help accessing health care, literacy education and parenting skills, among others," said Abbe Kovacik, Education Director at the Council."

To address this, a $25,000 grant from The Schenectady Foundation enabled the Council to launch a one-year pilot program helping a traditional child-centered program adopt a family-centered approach. The YMCA's Lally Center in Scotia was selected to participate in the project from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007.

"The family-centered approach supports families by empowering them to access community resources and build partnerships with child care providers," said Project Coordinator Lori Edwards. "Research has shown that when strong relationships exist between parents and educators, beginning with child care providers, that children benefit greatly from those relationships, making the children more ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. Our goal is the optimal development of the child, the family and the teaching staff."

"This project is unique because it is driven by the parents and staff. I'm not going in and assessing their needs. The parents and staff are working together to figure out what is needed, and I help them get it," said Ms. Edwards.

When staff members said that they needed help reaching parents, for example, Ms. Edwards assisted them in finding better ways to communicate. "It turned out that emailing many of the parents was the best way to keep them informed. Parents said they wanted to hear positive news, too, not only reports about problems."

The project focuses on five areas of change: child development curriculum, parent education, administration education, facility improvement, and health and nutrition.

"We've had success concentrating on the first four of these areas. and we are working now on the health and nutrition component," said Ms. Edwards. In response to what parents and teachers are concerned about, arrangements are being made for lead screenings and for presentations on child and family nutrition from the nutritionist at the Child Care Coordinating Council.

"At the beginning, we kept hearing that parents would not want to participate in the project. But, in fact, when parents were asked to be involved, they have been there. We have had steady parental involvement in the project."

In August, a Family Heritage Celebration was well attended with at least 30 families turning out.

"At the celebration we had some wonderful West African drummers. One of the mothers saw how much her baby enjoyed moving to the beat and now takes him to a parent-child music class once a week. It's very exciting to see what has grown out of this program. Parents are not always aware that they can be involved in their children's child care and education. The project empowers parents," said Ms. Edwards.

To recognize the important influence family involvement has on the developing child, a committee of family members and teaching staff selected toys, books and art supplies to enhance development. The items were placed in backpacks bearing the logos of the YMCA, the Schenectady Foundation and the Capital District Child Care Council, and given to every family during the Family Heritage Celebration.

With grants from The Schenectady Foundation and the YMCA, exciting new materials were purchased for every classroom – from the infant room through the kindergarten – books, games, toys, art supplies, dramatic play supplies such as toy kitchens and costumes, musical instruments, cd players, blocks, soft climbing apparatus and more. "The new materials and program supplies got everyone enthusiastic and provided another opportunity for communication between parents and teachers," explained Ms. Edwards.

Visit www.cdcccc.org for more information on this family-centered child care program and other programs of the Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council.