Creating a Shared Vision
In order to create a model that met everyone’s needs, we began with the end in mind. It helped to make sure that all involved understood the why the effort was so important. It was good to begin with a shared meeting of all who were to be involved. These two activities helped to get everyone on the same page.
Activity # 1
Divide those present into two groups. Each group should either have the story of Jane or Juan. Each group should read their story and answer the following questions.
Think About Juan
Juan is three. His Mom is starting a new job and will work from 9:00 – 5:00. She will be making $8.00 an hour and working 40 hours a week. This will be her first job in almost 10 years. She is worried about how that will affect her boys. Ever since her husband left, things seemed to be so complicated. He had worked and she had stayed at home caring for the children. She doesn’t know where he is now; she just knows her isn’t paying child support and isn’t seeing the boys. That seems to be especially hard on Juan. He is the youngest and was very close to his father.
She had intended to enroll Juan in Head Start because her neighbor had told her such good things about the program and the support it could give to her, Juan and the older boys. Now she just didn’t know what to do. The local Head Start site has only a half-day program so she doesn’t see any way she can send Juan there. She could get him to school in the morning on her way to work, but she just didn’t know what do about the afternoon. She has no way to get him from there to somewhere else for child care. Besides, she thinks that even getting used to going to preschool will be hard for him. His is so shy. She just can’t see him getting used to two places at once.
She had gone to look at the local child care center. Juan could be there all day and the amount she would have to pay, in addition to the fees that the Department of Human Services would pay the center would be tight, but manageable. She liked the center and the staff she met during the visit. She wishes they had the same extra supports that Head Start has, but for now this is the best choice she can make for Juan.
Think About Jane
Jane is four. She gets up at 6:00 in the morning so that her Mom can drop her off at her child care center at 6:30 when it opens and be to work by 7:00.
Jane spends her morning with Ms. Diana and Ms. LaShaundra. She likes being in their classroom playing and learning with her friends. After spending her morning at the center, she is dropped off at the Head Start center for the afternoon class. Even though she loves Jane’s child care center, Mom doesn’t want Jane to miss the great experience her older brothers had in Head Start. The hours spent at Head Start also saves Mom money that would be spent on full-day child care fees at the center and money is tight.
It was easier for Mom when the older boys were in Head Start because she wasn’t working then and spent a lot of time in the classroom. Life is much busier now and Mom hates to see Jane go to two places, but she can even see the dentist while at Head Start and that is one less place to have take time off to get Jane to. Jane loves her Head Start class too. Mr. Jason and Ms. Jamie have lots of great things for her to do and learn. Sometimes though, she falls asleep in class and misses some of it.
At 4:00 the child care center bus picks Jane back up and takes her back to the center. Ms. Anita and Ms. Lucia have taken over the classroom now and it’s time for snacks and the playground.
When it’s time for the center to close at 6:00, either her Mom or aunt picks Jane up. Two nights a week Mom goes to school and she stays at her aunt’s, has dinner and plays with her cousins until Mom comes at 8:00.
Child Care
Activity
Divide into groups of four to eight people. Depending on the number of groups you have, give each one or two categories of stakeholders for brainstorming. Ask each group to answer the following:
The Early Childhood Partnership Initiative
Head Start/Child Care Partnership Results
Children…
The Community has a larger number of high quality early education and care slots for children 0-5 years of age. Employers have a workforce that is more stable with less absenteeism and staff turnover due to the availability of quality education and care for employees.
Activity # 1
Divide those present into two groups. Each group should either have the story of Jane or Juan. Each group should read their story and answer the following questions.
- What is positive about the child care situation for the child and for the parent?
- What is the downside of the situation?
- What could be done to make the best possible situation for children?
Juan is three. His Mom is starting a new job and will work from 9:00 – 5:00. She will be making $8.00 an hour and working 40 hours a week. This will be her first job in almost 10 years. She is worried about how that will affect her boys. Ever since her husband left, things seemed to be so complicated. He had worked and she had stayed at home caring for the children. She doesn’t know where he is now; she just knows her isn’t paying child support and isn’t seeing the boys. That seems to be especially hard on Juan. He is the youngest and was very close to his father.
She had intended to enroll Juan in Head Start because her neighbor had told her such good things about the program and the support it could give to her, Juan and the older boys. Now she just didn’t know what to do. The local Head Start site has only a half-day program so she doesn’t see any way she can send Juan there. She could get him to school in the morning on her way to work, but she just didn’t know what do about the afternoon. She has no way to get him from there to somewhere else for child care. Besides, she thinks that even getting used to going to preschool will be hard for him. His is so shy. She just can’t see him getting used to two places at once.
She had gone to look at the local child care center. Juan could be there all day and the amount she would have to pay, in addition to the fees that the Department of Human Services would pay the center would be tight, but manageable. She liked the center and the staff she met during the visit. She wishes they had the same extra supports that Head Start has, but for now this is the best choice she can make for Juan.
- What is positive about the child care situation for the child and for the parent?
- What is the downside of the situation?
- What could be done to make the best possible situation for children?
Jane is four. She gets up at 6:00 in the morning so that her Mom can drop her off at her child care center at 6:30 when it opens and be to work by 7:00.
Jane spends her morning with Ms. Diana and Ms. LaShaundra. She likes being in their classroom playing and learning with her friends. After spending her morning at the center, she is dropped off at the Head Start center for the afternoon class. Even though she loves Jane’s child care center, Mom doesn’t want Jane to miss the great experience her older brothers had in Head Start. The hours spent at Head Start also saves Mom money that would be spent on full-day child care fees at the center and money is tight.
It was easier for Mom when the older boys were in Head Start because she wasn’t working then and spent a lot of time in the classroom. Life is much busier now and Mom hates to see Jane go to two places, but she can even see the dentist while at Head Start and that is one less place to have take time off to get Jane to. Jane loves her Head Start class too. Mr. Jason and Ms. Jamie have lots of great things for her to do and learn. Sometimes though, she falls asleep in class and misses some of it.
At 4:00 the child care center bus picks Jane back up and takes her back to the center. Ms. Anita and Ms. Lucia have taken over the classroom now and it’s time for snacks and the playground.
When it’s time for the center to close at 6:00, either her Mom or aunt picks Jane up. Two nights a week Mom goes to school and she stays at her aunt’s, has dinner and plays with her cousins until Mom comes at 8:00.
Child Care
- Typically designed to provide up to 11.5 hours of service Monday through Friday
- Serves a larger age span than Head Start, so the center may provide for the child care needs of the whole family
- Provides comprehensive services to meet the needs of the whole child
- Offers a variety of ways for parents to be involved with the program and learn about child development and advocating for the needs of the children
- Has assets for staff professional development
Activity
Divide into groups of four to eight people. Depending on the number of groups you have, give each one or two categories of stakeholders for brainstorming. Ask each group to answer the following:
- When we are successful, what will that success look like for ? Categories: children, parents, child care providers, Head Start staff, the community (If several agencies are working on this model together, include a stakeholder group called partners)
- Generate an example to get everyone started. Ex. Children: will have the consistency and security of being in one classroom all day, allowing them to build relationships with primary teacher/caregivers and classmates.
Children…
- receive full-day, high quality education and care in one setting,
- have consistency and security in being in one classroom, allowing them to build relationships with their primary caregivers and their classmates.
- experience active learning in dynamic, developmentally appropriate environments that blend the best of the child care and Head Start worlds.
- are less stressed, more focused workers because their children receive high quality early education and care in one setting.
- understand their role as first and most important teachers of their children and are active in the life of the center, as many possibilities for parental involvement exist that respect their schedules.
- are better consumers because they know the indicators of quality education and care.
- have classrooms filled with diverse groups of children.
- have greater resources to invest in the center to train and stabilize staff and enhance the curriculum and environment.
- are able to offer more services to the entire center and additional supports to families.
- uses its resources and capacity flexibly to be responsive to the needs of its families.
- is fully enrolled with children in classrooms and settings spread throughout its service area.
- is an active participant in the early childhood professional community.
- have a deeper knowledge of and respect for the variety of settings in which quality early education can be provided.
- have developed a respect and trust for each other, which encourages them to look for additional ways to serve families together.
- have a model that is of high quality and replicable within Wayne Co. and beyond.
The Community has a larger number of high quality early education and care slots for children 0-5 years of age. Employers have a workforce that is more stable with less absenteeism and staff turnover due to the availability of quality education and care for employees.
