Santa Clara CARES 2.0 is a program designed to support early educators pursuing a college degree by providing individualized educational planning services. Stipends will be offered to participants who complete coursework identified in their Professional Development and Education Plan (PDEP), as long as funding is available. Currently, CARES 2.0 does not provide stipends to support training or other professional development activities that are not related to obtaining a college degree. CARES 2.0 has an ongoing enrollment system and there is no specific application period; participants may access the program at anytime during the year. Stipends will be issued throughout the year. For additional information click here, or contact your partner agency, such as PTRAC, 408-295-0650.
Supportive Teaching & Educational Practices for Understanding Preschoolers
(STEP-UP)
STEP-UP strives to achieve the following outcomes for those who care for children in informal settings, such as family, friends and neighbor (FFN) child caregivers:
1) Increased availability of educational opportunities for FFN providers related to high quality care and child development.
2) Increased availability of materials to help FFN incorporate use of high quality child development information into care.
3) Increased use of high quality child development information.
4) Increased networking among FFN providers.
Play n’ Learn encourages school readiness by building on knowledge and concepts learned at home. Social emotional development is fostered through activities. All children are welcome!
Mobile Lending Library brings toys and materials to you. Items that encourage learning for Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers include; books, music tapes, puzzles, blocks, art materials and more.
Workshops, Networks and Resource Sharing are ongoing. Topics include Child Development, CPR, First Aid, Nutrition, Health, Safety and Information about starting a Family Child Care Business.
For more information, contact Kathleen Duppong, STEP-UP Program Manager, at 408-297-3295, x303, kathleen@choices4children.org.
Parent Education and Quality Early Learning Opportunities (QELO)
Choices for Children collaborates with local School Districts, the Child Care Community and Community Based Organizations, to provide Parent Education classes aimed at supporting and enhancing knowledge of early education. In conjunction with the parenting classes, a child development enrichment program is offered to children whose caregiver is attending a class.
Subject areas covered in the parenting classes includes, but is not limited to:
· Ages and Stages of Early Child Development,
· Health, Nutrition, & Feeding Dynamics (5 Keys to Raising a Happy, Healthy Eater)
· Behavior Challenges,
· Kindergarten Transition
· Identifying Areas of Concern or Special Needs,
· Developing Healthy Family Relationships, and
· Literacy
CFC staff coordinates with Early Childhood Educators to develop and provide opportunities for children to participate in developmentally appropriate early learning activities that support their cognitive, socio-emotional and physical growth while their parent/caregiver is participating the workshop session. Workshop Facilitators engage the Early Educators by assisting in planning opportunities for parents and caregivers to interact with the children during the workshop series, model appropriate interactions, provide positive reinforcement to participants and build on “touchpoints” to promote the integration of information presented during the workshops. Contact Barbara Kasnic, Barbara@choices4children.org, or see the calendar for upcoming offerings.
CPR & First Aid Training
CFC offers MEDIC FIRST AID's Pediatric CPR and First Aid for Children, Infants, and Adults. This two year certification in CPR and first aid emergency medical response is intended for child care providers, teachers and parents. The 8-hour training is provided in an easy-learning, low-stress class environment with lots of confidence building and hands-on practice. Contact Michelle Scatena, michellescatena@sbcglobal.net, 408-835-5136 or please see the calendar for upcoming offerings.
Children’s Waiting Room Services
at Santa Clara County Superior Courts
CFC’s Parent and Provider Services provides free, drop-in care in the Courthouse Children’s Waiting Rooms (CWRs), child care centers for parents to use who have business at the Superior Court's Notre Dame Courthouse in downtown San Jose, or South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill. The CWRs are open Monday – Friday: 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are closed on court holidays.
Experienced and well-qualified teachers provide enriching, age-appropriate activities such as arts and crafts, puzzles and games, books and music activities for children ages 2-12 years. Children can use the CWRs for up to 4 hours a day, but not more than 12 hours a week, on a first come, first served basis. No more than 6 children can be cared for at either of the CWRs at any given time, however there is the potential to expand capacity at the Morgan Hill location in the future.
In addition to enriching child development services, safety for the children who use the CWRs is high priority. The parents must remain in the courthouse during the time their child is staying at the CWR. Only the person who checked the child into a CWR can take the child away from that CWR and can enter the CWR where the child is staying.
For more information about CFC’s Courthouse child care services, contact Barbara Kasnic, CFC Parent and Provider Services Program Operations Manager, (408) 297-3295 x246, barbara@choices4children.org..
Educational Pathways Program
The Educational Pathways Program at Choices for Children offers supportive services for community early care professionals and for CDI center staff in all California regions. These services include:
· Private professional growth advising for each staff member to create a customized plan for attaining a California Teacher Permit, upgrades, renewals and degree progress.
· Researching CARES stipend programs in each county to assist center staff in accessing extra funds
· Transcript review for purposes of attaining permits and CARES stipends
· Providing each CDI center location with current listings of all ECE classes available in the evenings and on weekends, online or other distance learning options for each semester, quarter and summer session for community colleges in Santa Clara County. Other CDI Centers in California regions can request research as well.
· Providing resource, contact names and numbers for community college ECE Departments and 4 year college Child Development Departments.
· Provide appropriate paperwork and permit application and CARES stipend clinics to assist staff through the application process.
· Provide coaching for center staff with fingerprint issues through the process of applying for the Certificate of Clearance through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to improve their chances of obtaining a Child Development Permit.
· Assist staff w/ international transcript issues research appropriate agencies for assistance with evaluation
For additional information, contact Maxine Shea, Program Manager, 408-297-3295 x227, maxine@choices4children.org.