Recent research suggests that over 90% of brain development occurs before age three, and approximately 60% of children from birth to 5 years old have both parents working and are in child care during these formative years. This makes the role of child care workers more important than ever.

The Early Care and Education staff at the Partnership are working to help child care providers refine and improve their programs to meet the developmental needs of children in this age range. We work with all types of programs: licensed, licensed-exempt, preschools, nursery schools, child care centers and family child care homes and in any place young children are learning and developing while away from their immediate family.

Being an Early Care and Education teacher is a difficult task requiring long hours and a great deal of patience. Contrary to what some might think, Early Care and Education programs are not a very profitable venture. The cost of operating high quality programs often leaves little for staff salaries. Turnover for child care workers is around 30%. Our job is to help providers meet the many challenges they face. We have been told by child care providers that they would not have continued in the field had it not been for support from Partnership Programs.

Some of the things the staff at the Partnership do to help child care programs are:

• Provide on-site training for providers--for many we are their only resource
• Program consultation, phone support
• Help with licensing
• Help with accreditation
• Provide a lending library for providers
• Conduct group meetings where child care providers have an opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and discuss their challenges and solutions
• Emotional Beginnings Curriculum Training
• CPR and First Aid Training

Contact Early Care and Education (ECE):

Kathy Edwards
Director
Email: kathy.edwards@thecommunitypartnership.org