INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE COURSE FIVE
BEST PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
This is intended to serve as a guide only and is not a prescriptive curriculum.
1999
Prepared from materials developed by Gwen Morgan
Wheelock College Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education Wisconsin Partners in Change Project
Edited by Harriet Alger Revised January 2006
Pam Boulton, EdD Chip Donohue, PhD
Jere Wallden, MS Jane Robinson BS Updated January 2012
Table of Contents
The Registry Administrator Credential At-a-Glance ... 3
Course Description ... 3
Course Topics/Subtopics ... 3
Course Topics/Resources At-a-Glance ... 4
Course Objectives ... 6 Course Requirements ... 6 Class Sessions ... 7 Advance Preparation ... 7 Resource Support ... 7 Activities... 8
Orientation to the Course ... 8
Child Development Theories ... 8
Child Development Research ... 9
Curriculum ... 10
Environments ... 11
Family Engagement ... 12
Weblinks ... 17
The Registry Administrator Credential At-a-Glance
Course Description
This is the fifth of six courses designed to prepare participants to receive a credential as a child care administrator. Like the other five courses, it is developed to meet the needs of those who are employed or would like to be employed as administrators in child care programs, Head Start, nursery schools, school age programs, family child care, child welfare service agencies, public and private schools, and other early care and education programs.
This course covers child care as a family friendly community; integration of child growth and development principles into all aspects of the program; establishing and maintaining quality in program; developing partnerships with families; multi-cultural and anti-bias approaches in curriculum, materials, activities and relationships; space design and equipment. 3 credits.
Course Topics/Subtopics
Child Development Theories
• Child growth and development: major theories, principles and practices
• Integrating child growth and development principles and practices into program curriculum, schedule and activities
Course 1 Administration and Supervision Course 2 Operations Management Course 3 Financial Management Course 4 External Environments Course 5
Best Practice Course 6 Leadership Quality Programs for Children and Families Systems and Systems Thinking Financial Management Strategic Thinking and Planning Child Development Theories Vision and Planning The Many Roles
of the
Administrator
Management Theory
Budgets Regulatory Laws and Quality Child Development Research Reflective Practice The Role of Policy Assessing Business Practices
Tools Marketing Curriculum Leadership Supervision Stakeholders Financial
Planning for Quality Grants and Fundraising Environments Integration of Concepts and Skills Partnerships with Parents Regulatory Laws/Legal Issues Social Programmatic Issues Family Engagement Theories of Change Changes in Systems
Policy Issues and Advocacy
Community Outreach and Collaboration
Child Development Research
• Concern for the development of the whole child: physically, socially, emotionally, morally, intellectually and artistically
Curriculum
• Integrating multi-cultural and anti-bias curriculum, materials and activities into all aspects of program
• Using licensing, funding and accreditation to set program standards Environments
• Designing and/or adapting space for early care and education programs
• Choosing supplies and equipment to promote healthy growth and development and quality programs
• Utilizing environmental rating scales Family Engagement
• Establishing and maintaining good communication and partnerships with families; involving families in all aspects of the program
Course Topics/Resources At-a-Glance
BOLD Resources are REQUIRED
Course Topic Subtopics Resources Child Development
Theories
Theories Practices and
Principles
Models of Learning and Teaching
Critical issues in early childhood professional development
The Child’s Job: Talking to Parents About Child Development
“Who’s the Boss? Young Children’s Power and Influence in an Early Childhood Classroom Child Development
Research
Whole child Brain research
How to Build a Babies Brain Linking Brain Principles to Higher Quality EC
Education
Policy Brief: Brain Development and Early Learning
Societal Change and the Growing Divide Between Knowing and Understanding Brain Research and Its Implications for Early Childhood Programs – Applying Research to Our Work
How Singing Songs with Infants and Toddlers Helps Brain Development
Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards High Quality child care: Luxury Option or
Standard Equipment Curriculum Materials/Equipment
Activities Multi-cultural Anti-bias
Anti-bias and Inclusive Case Studies Use Simple Questions to Guide Decisions about DAP
Issues of Diversity Looking In, Looking Out: Redefining Child Care
and Early Education in a Diverse Society Wake Up and Smell the Demographics
Transforming for Diversity
From Theme-based to Emergent Curriculum Brain Research, Infant Learning, and Child Care Curriculum
Early Childhood Curriculum Models – Why, What and How Programs Use Them
Strategies for Dual Language Learners Chopsticks and Counting Chips
Where we Stand on Curriculum Assessment and Program Evaluation
Multiple Perspectives on Quality of EC Programs
Rethinking Holidays from an Anti-Bias Perspective
Environments Rating scales Empowering places
and spaces
Designing Empowering Environments for Children, Parents and Teachers
Designs for living and learning: Transforming early childhood environments.
Caring Spaces, Learning Places: Children’s Environments that Work
The Role of Culture in Designing Child Care Facilities – Creating Culturally Reflective Environments
Breaking the Code: Changing Our Thinking About Children’s Environments
Great Places to Be a Baby: Infants’ and Toddlers’ Learning Environments
Reflecting, Discussing, Exploring: Questions and follow-up Activities for Environments That Inspire ITERS
ECERS FCCERS SACERS
Family Engagement Family support How Family Friendly is your Center Our Family Friendly History Embracing the Values of Family Support
‘You Are Welcome’
Recommendations for Improving Services to Infants, Toddlers and their Families
Considering Our Curriculum in Working with Families
Little Listeners in an uncertain World: Coping Strategies for You and Your Young Child After Traumatic Events
Child Retention in Wisconsin Child Care Settings: Understanding the Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors that Impact Expulsion and Retention in Early Care and Education (SFTA) Family Friendly Child Care Audit Tool From Parents to Partners
Course Objectives
Students will demonstrate the following:
• Knowledge of child development theories and principles and the ability to apply them to quality programming
• Knowledge of curriculum standards and early learning standards
• Knowledge of licensing, funding and accreditation requirements for quality programs and ability to apply them to program planning
• Knowledge of professional and ethical guidelines for best practice in early care and education programs and the ability to apply them to program planning
• Ability to plan for the development of the whole child physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually and artistically
• Ability to plan for and implement a family-centered child care community
• Understanding of diverse cultures of families served, and ability to apply this understanding to recruitment, staff development, organizational relationships, and program planning
• Knowledge of how to establish and maintain good communication and partnerships with families, and to promote strong and meaningful family involvement in the program
• Ability to plan for integration of a competent curriculum, materials and activities into all aspects of the program
• Knowledge of design principles and practices for the use of space in early care and education programs
• Ability to choose developmentally appropriate supplies and equipment for early care and education programs
• Understanding of program evaluation and ability to apply it for program improvement • Knowledge of environmental rating scales – ITERS, ECERS, FECERS
Course Requirements
Class Sessions
Each class described below is for a three-hour session with an appropriate mid-class break. The length of sessions can vary according to the time span and format of the course (semester, one week intensive, etc.) but must meet for 36-54 hours for 3 credits with the number of class hours dependent on the requirements of the higher education institution offering the course.
The credential course sequence should be offered in formats and at sites easily accessible for the majority of the prospective students, most of whom who will already be working in early childhood or related fields. Online and other distance learning methods, evening courses, weekend courses and intensive short courses with the required number of hours are formats that have been
successful.
The sequence of the material will be different in the intensive format from the sequence in the semester format. One major difference is the use of different strategies in creating a laboratory for learning about group development. The intensive format provides daily opportunities for this purpose where the semester course, with its long intervals between sessions, requires team-building and reflective experiences as part of each session. Specific suggestions on this and other differences of approach between intensive and semester formats are included in this guide.
Advance Preparation
• Review the course topics and objectives
• Prepare course outline and calendar for the course format being used
• If you choose to use outside experts in your course, you will need to arrange for local individuals within your area
• Mail any materials that you expect students to bring to class or complete prior to class. This includes books and materials that the students need to purchase
• Copy materials on the Registry Project Preparation Guide and any other materials that you will be using
Resource Support
Materials and articles are available by contacting The Registry or visiting the Registry site at http://www.the-registry.org/Credentials/Administrator/Documents/
Other materials may be obtained by contacting the Wisconsin Child Care Information Center. For more information about child care and Wisconsin Child Care Information Center services, please contact the CCIC staff via email at [email protected] or by calling 800-362-7353 or 608-224-5388.
* Articles available through Child Care Information Exchange website http://ccie.com/exchangeaccess/
Once students have purchased the WI Registry Package they can access On Demand Articles by following these instructions:
1. Visit the website: www.childcareexchange.com 2. Click on 'log in' in upper right corner
4. First time visitors will need to create an account by entering the same email that was used to purchase the package.
5. As students create an account, they will identify a password
6. Once the account has been created, click on 'My Account' to allow access to Articles On Demand.
** Article/activities available in the Handout section See Weblinks for additional resources.
Activities
The activities listed here are suggested but not required. Information about how the activity may be used is included.
The activities are grouped by topic not listed in a particular order and may be used as they fit into the course design and format. It is important, however, that activities be presented in the course for which they are listed to prevent duplication of materials.
Orientation to the Course
In the intensive format, introductions are usually more successful if they are done a few at a time rather than all at once if there are more than 15 students. It is also important in the intensive format for members of the class to learn each other’s names more rapidly than in the semester format. The timetable for learning names in a semester course should be the same number of class sessions as in the intensive course, even though the length of time between sessions will be greater.
Icebreakers are important to help people feel more comfortable and to develop a cohesive group. This applies to online and distance education courses as well as all formats. Here is a link for ideas on icebreakers. Some ideas work better for certain class formats but others can be adapted to fit more than one type of format.
Training Games Icebreakers:
http://training-games.com/pdf/40FreeIceBreakers.pdf
Child Development Theories
History of Early Childhood Field
Talking Points
• Review child development and family development theory. Start with concepts from Piaget and Erickson that everyone knows and accepts. Then go to the idea of a holistic approach to all aspects of development, stressing the role of the family
• Scientists study children from different perspectives, i.e. cognitive development, social development, emotional development, physical development, moral development. Illustrate with a chart of these types of research. Early Childhood professionals and practitioners believe that they cannot be separated. We insist on looking at the whole child (Use quotes from L.K. Frank)
• Discuss recent brain development research and its importance to the work of child care. Use Newsweek article May 1996. Quote Brazelton that his group can tell that an infant has
decided not to succeed by the age of 9 months • Basic concepts of the early childhood field:
o whole child, aspects of development simultaneous and intertwined o unique child
o child in context of family, families as partners o developmental appropriateness
o care inseparable from education
o child-initiated action, prepared environment
Resources
• Model of Learning and Teaching **
• Zaslow, M. & I. Martinez-Beck. (2006). Critical issues in early childhood professional
development. Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks publishing Company.
• Greenman,, J (2007) The Child’s Job: Talking to Parents About Child Development *
• Lee, Y. and Recchia, S (2008) “Who’s the Boss? Young Children’s Power and Influence in an
Early Childhood Classroom, Early Childhood Research and Practice, Vol. 10, No. 1 pp. (9).
Child Development Research
Research
Have students explore the latest research on brain development and early childhood. Discuss implications of the latest research.
Resources
• How to Build a Babies Brain **
• Rushton, S (2011) Linking Brain Principles to High-Quality Early Childhood Education * • Policy Brief: Brain Development and Early Learning
http://www.wccf.org/pdf/brain_dev_and_early_learning.pdf
• Elkind, D (2011) Societal Change and the Growing Divide Between Knowing and
Understanding *
• Schiller, P (2001) Brain Research and Its Implications for Early Childhood Programs – Applying
• Hannaford, C How Singing Songs with Infants and Toddlers Helps Brain Development
http://www.jackstreet.com/jackstreet/KIAT.hannaford.cfm
• Steering Committee (2008) Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, Second Edition. WI
Department of Public Instruction
• High Quality Child Care: Luxury Option of Standard Equipment
http://oldweb.naeyc.org/ece/1997/02.pdf
Curriculum
Center Visits
Visit other centers as a group or individually. View their brochure and family handbook: do they have a family perspective or a program? Discuss the center visits regarding creativity,
individuality, and diversity.
Talking Points
• Physical development, health and safety • Social/emotional development
o Nurturing, caring
o Autonomy vs. dependence • Cognitive/intellectual development
o Exploration and discovery: learning about their world o Thinking/ problem-solving
o Communication: verbal, body language, reading and writing • Creativity, individuality, diversity
• DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice • Play
Multicultural work with Families
Visit or talk about a center to assess multicultural aspects of the curriculum.
• Use Louise Derman-Sparks Anti-Bias Curriculum and/or other recent publications
• Show and discuss the video: Essential Connections: Ten Keys to Culturally Sensitive Child Care. The video is available from Wisconsin Child Care Information Center at 608-224-6173 • Show continuum of attitudes on culture: racism, color-blind, tourist, multi-cultural, cultural
democracy
Multiple Intelligences
Use Gardner’s work on multiple intelligences Anti-Bias and Inclusive Case Studies **
Resources
• Looking In, Looking Out: Redefining Child Care and Early Education in a Diverse Society ** • Issues of Diversity **
• Use Simple Questions to Guide Decisions about DAP **
• Transforming for Diversity http://cecl.nl.edu/public/issues/dlsu11.pdf • Hernandez, L, (2009) Wake Up and Smell the Demographics *
• Beyond the Journal (2003) Chopsticks and Counting Chips
http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200305/Chopsticks_Bodrova.pdf
• Kashin, D (2011) From Theme-based to Emergent Curriculum*
• Katz, L.(1999) Multiple Perspectives on the Quality of Early Childhood Programs
http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED428868.pdf
• Lally, J (1998) Brain Research, Infant Learning, and Child Care Curriculum*
• Trister-Dodge, D (2004) Early Childhood Curriculum Models – Why, What and How Programs
Use Them *
• Where we Stand on Curriculum, Assessment and Program Evaluation
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/StandCurrAss.pdf
• Bisson, J Rethinking Holidays from an Anti-Bias Perspective
http://faculty.weber.edu/rwong/edu3200/Eng-RethinkingHolidays.pdf
• Nemeth, K Strategies for Dual Language Learners
http://www.jackstreet.com/jackStreet/WMBKnaeyc.Nemeth.cfm
Environments
Space Utilization
Design of space for child care: existing centers and new buildings; indoor/outdoor. Video or slide presentation should be secured, if available. Visit a center to assess space and space utilization.
Resources
• Curtis, D., & Carter, M. (2003). Designs for living and learning: Transforming early childhood
environments. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
• Greenman, J. (2005). Caring Spaces, Learning Places: Children’s Environments that Work.
Redmond, WA: Exchange Press.
• Stoecklin, V (2001) The Role of Culture in Designing Child Care Facilities – Creating Culturally
Reflective Environments *
• Duncan, S (2011) Breaking the Code: Changing Our Thinking About Children’s Environments * • Greenman, J (2004) Great Places to Be a Baby: Infants’ and Toddlers’ Learning
Environments*
• Friedman, S (2005, May) Reflecting, Discussing, Exploring: Questions and follow-up Activities
for Environments That Inspire. Young Children on the Web, pp. 1-7.
• The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ECERS-R) • The Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale – Revised (ITERS-R)
• The Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale – Revised (FCCERS-R) • The School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS)
Family Engagement
Talking Points
• Child care as community
• In a good child care program, each group of children, their families, and their caregivers constitute a little community. People in the community know each other well and care about each other. They have figured out rules for living together and most of the time they live by the rules. Both children and adults intervene when someone goes outside these rules
• Good teachers and caregivers know how to facilitate the development of a new group
• Discuss ways of helping children join the group and ways of making separation easy for both children and families
• Focus on ways to build a group using names, individuals, team building, development of rules and conflict resolution
• Use family-friendly audit tool from Work/Family Directions (1997)
• A director also needs skills in community building: helping staff and families to feel supported by the community, building teams, helping to resolve conflicts, facilitating communication among staff and families
• Very few centers have succeeded in fully realizing the potential for community in their programs, especially in making families an integral part of the community. Most very good centers have achieved community for children and staff
Family-Centered Directors
Talking Points
• Part day/full day programs • Models for mildly ill children
• Family supportive add-on services
• Family’s need to understand the program for their child
Family-Centered Assignment
How family centered is your early care and education program? Develop a written analysis that covers relevant topics that may include the following:
• Family Friendly Audit
• Staff/family relations: can staff empathize with working family members? Are there any unresolved conflicts/ disagreements on values?
• Process of enrollment and separation • Day to day communication with families • More formal reporting to families
• Ways used to seek family input
• Family-centered ways of delivering child care
• Delivering other family-centered services that help family members balance work and family responsibilities
• Advice and help to family members on raising children, work/family issues • Referrals to other community services that families might need
• Jobs in your program for members of the community, with training and opportunity for advancement
Discuss the analyses of participants’ programs regarding family-centered practices.
Family-Centered Plan
Using the analysis made of family friendly practices and services in your program, write a plan for the future that addresses the following:
• What improvements are needed to make your program more family friendly? What strategies will you use to make these improvements?
• Family-centered directors
• Best practices for family friendly services o part day, full day options o models for mildly ill children o family friendly add-on services
o family’s need to understand and help to plan the program for their child • Review Unrelated Business Income idea from Financial Management course
• Brochure and family handbook: do they have a family perspective or a program perspective
Supporting Families
The early childhood program as part of the family’s environment vs. the family as part of the program’s environment. Role play situations with directors and family members.
Talking Points
• Communication with families
• What families really want—review research. • Teacher knows child really well
• Teacher is warm and caring • Child is happy
• Child is safe • Child is learning
• Child is helped to get along with other children
Staff Training
Talking Points
• Building both child and family focus into all competency areas
• CDA competencies with family focus: integration into all competency areas • Family relations as an issue in staff development and personal growth • Boundaries:
o Continuum of family roles: o Purchaser of services
o Family involvement, participation o Family education
o Family empowerment, control
o What family relations should be the responsibilities of director? Staff? o Different approaches of different programs
Specialized Help for Families
Referring families to community services. It is important to find resources that provide hope, growth opportunities, respect, not just therapy or dead ends.
• Child abuse and neglect • Family violence
• Special needs of child: physical and mental health, language, cognitive • Need for social services for families
• Job opportunities or education opportunities for family members
Families and Quality
Talking Points
• Discuss the importance of the families in development, importance of family partnership with staff. Use Dorothy Keister’s concepts on self-esteem in “Who Am I?” and the interactive co-evolution theories of development
• General concepts of development in scientific study apply to the development of families as well
• Include some key points on family development. Invite an expert on this to come as guest lecturer.
• The concept of caring is generally missing from our literature but is essential to development (see Morgan teaching notes on caring)
• Resources that directors can use for quality developmental services, using existing best practices tools to improve quality:
o APHA/AAP standards
o NAEYC accreditation standards o CDA criteria for competencies of staff o Harms and Clifford rating scales o DAP guidelines
o Anti-bias curriculum
o Try to locate resources on family development
• Beyond standards, achieving quality by changing hearts and minds: o Staff training
o Concepts of motivations and change o Concepts of continuous improvement o Concepts of caring
o Concepts of education
o The skill of communication: among staff and with families
Establishing Meaningful Partnerships with Families
Talking Points
• Quality depends on a partnership with families • Discuss major conflict areas:
o Policies on children’s illnesses
o Policies on families late in picking up children o Policies on family involvement
o Values conflicts between staff and families over child behavior, concern for “academics” in the curriculum
• Discuss ways in which centers/programs can help families better understand the content of the teaching programs. Contrast US programs with Reggio Emilia where families and staff share a sophisticated understanding of the program
• Give the group an introduction to presentation skills. See Margie Currie and Margie Carter (1996). Spreading the News, NAEYC
• Discuss partners perspective: Families and child care supplement one another and work together with focus on the unique individual child
• Share some good solutions to current issues between families and staff. Discuss ways in which staff can help parents understand the program i.e. posting children’s work with attractive presentation or framing and captioning; developing a slide show that describes activities and the reasons for them and shows the children enrolled in learning situations
• Refer back to history of our field as family centered
• Discussion of observation skills and why they are important. How to observe in ways that report facts, not judgments. Preparation for visiting centers and using ECERS & ITERS, Harms and Clifford or other checklists/rating scales
Role Plays: Family Roles and Relationships in Child Care
Talking Points
• Barriers to communication with families include a we-they orientation that pits staff against families.
• Customer orientation in child care
• Most child care programs can improve the marketing of their service to families and can provide higher quality by tuning in on family needs
• Communication requires listening for the other person’s message, not just focusing on the one we are sending. Families are our customers and our service should reflect that we listened to them and heard about what they need from us
• Key question is whether we are program-centered or family-centered, i.e. do we see families as supportive of the life of the program or do we see the program as supportive of the families’ lives, helping them to be good family members and good working people
Resources
• How Family Friendly is Your Center ** • Our Family Friendly History**
• Embracing the Values of Family Support**
• Family Friendly Child Care Audit Tool
http://www.abcdependentcare.com/docs/family-friendly-audit-tool.pdf
• Kennedy, A (2008) ‘You Are Welcome’: an Ethical Approach to Child Care * • Recommendations for Improving Services to Infants, Toddlers and their Families
http://www.wccf.org/pdf/ece_infant_toddler_spring-2011.pdf
• Carter, M (2000) Considering Our Curriculum in Working with Families * • Keyser, J (2006) From Parents to Partners; Redleaf Press
• Child Retention in Wisconsin Child Care Settings: Understanding the Attitudes, Beliefs, and
Behaviors that Impact Expulsion and Retention in Early Care and Education (SFTA) http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/states/wi_retention_expulsion_survey.pdf
Websites for Best Practices
http://www.cde.state.co.us/resultsmatter/RMVideoSeries.htm Free videos directors can use to enhance teacher training
http://www.ckfwi.org/toolbox.html
Covering Kids & Families has developed the Toolbox to help schools and community organizations connect uninsured families to BadgerCare+, Wisconsin’s public health insurance program.
http://www.collaboratingpartners.com/
Collaborating Partners has information on WMELS, curriculum and assessment, 4K, disabilities, and professional development.
Weblinks
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/ccic/
WI Child Care Information Center http://www.naeyc.org/newsroom/NAEYCradio NAEYC Radio
http://cecl.nl.edu/
National Louis University, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
http://www.the-registry.org/ The Registry
http://ccie.com/exchangeaccess/ Child Care Exchange Log in
http://cecl.nl.edu/radio/mccormickradio.html McCormick Radio
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc
Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (Office of Head Start)
http://www.nncc.org/
National Network for Child Care
http://www.wccf.org/
WI Council on Children and Families
Collaborating Partners
http://www.naccrra.org/
National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
http://www.earlychildhoodwebinars.org/presentations/ Free webinars on early childhood issues.
http://www.cde.state.co.us/resultsmatter/RMVideoSeries.htm Results Matter Videos: Improving Academic Achievement
http://www.ccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=41 Center for Child Care Workforce
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/advanced-search/library
National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center
http://www.zerotothree.org/ Zero to Three
FAMILY
http://www.iamyourchild.com/ Parents Action for Children
http://www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/ Strengthening Families
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/
WI Department of Health Services
http://www.wiimh.org/
WI Alliance for Infant Mental Health
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/
http://www.childwelfare.gov/
Child Welfare – Protecting Children
http://www.aecf.org/MajorInitiatives/KIDSCOUNT.aspx
Annie E. Casey Foundation – Helping Vulnerable kids and families succeed
MANAGEMENT
http://managementhelp.org/ Management Help
http://www.missionstatements.com/
Large variety of mission statements
http://hr.blr.com/
Compliance tools for Human Resources
http://www.mindtools.com/
Skills and techniques for personal effectiveness, stress management, creativity, problem solving, and memory improvement.
LEADERSHIP
http://www.ted.com/
TED Talks – search leadership or any other topic to find intriguing presentations on any topic
Connections: AC Credential and WI YoungStar
4 Regulatory Competencies
• Education –
o Lead Teachers, Directors, Family Providers
• Environment and Curriculum –
o Self-Assessment and Quality Improvement Plan;
o Environment Rating Scales (ITERS, ECERS, FCCERS) o WMELS
• Business and Professional Practices – o Yearly Budget planning and assessment o Review of Tax Records
o Parent Handbooks
o Employment Policy and Procedures o Model Work Standards
o Professional Development (Staff Evaluations, Professional Development Plans) o Staff Benefits (Salary scale, health insurance, paid vacation/sick)
o Parent Involvement
• Child Health and Wellness – o Nutritious meals
o Health and Safety Standards o Physical activity
o Social/Emotional Development training
o Family Protective Factors/Strengthening Families training