Program Support
The Program Support Unit within the Division provides developmental services to child-care programs, staff and parents through several methods. Developing and implementing new programs for young children includes expanding currently operating programs and improving all child-care programs. The professional developmental activities include training and technical assistance services which encourage and ensure quality child-care services for young children. The professional and program developmental activities are inherent to ensuring quality child care for Arkansas children. Specific program activities include:
BASIC ORIENTATION COURSE FOR CHILD-CARE STAFF/CHILD-CARE ORIENTATION TRAINING (CCOT)
Developed through the Vocation-Technical Education Division (now Department of Workforce Education), funding is provided by DCC&ECE to support basic health/safety and orientation training to new staff and providers in child-care. The training system utilizes secondary vocational centers, post-secondary vocational schools, technical colleges, colleges, and universities as training sites throughout the state. There is no charge for the 20-hour course.
|
PROGRAM |
PROGRAM
MEASUREMENTS |
1995-96 |
1996-97 |
1997-98 |
1998-99 |
1999-00 |
|
CHILD-CARE ORIENTATION TRAINING |
Number of
Persons Enrolled |
916 |
739 |
1,049 |
1,066 |
1,172 |
|
|
Percentage
of Persons Completing the 10 Modules |
56% |
50% |
46% |
52% |
55% |
|
|
Number of
Sites Providing Training |
22 |
20 |
42 |
49 |
59 |
|
|
Number of
Classes |
70 |
53 |
77 |
78 |
88 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grants are made available to providers for the purchase of equipment, materials and supplies to enhance program quality and assist with maintaining licensing standards. Providers must demonstrate age-appropriate immunizations for all children in care to qualify for grants. Grants are available to assist newly operating programs as start-up resources and to improve the quality of care provided in child-care settings in the state.
In 1999-00, total grants awarded of $520,775 affected the care of 18,483 children in licensed and registered child-care settings. Forty-seven (47) grants were awarded for newly established programs to assist in start-up support for expansion of capacity of care. Care was increased by 1,388 children in these locations.
|
AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000 |
|
|
|
|
2-26 |
|
PROGRAM |
PROGRAM
MEASUREMENTS |
1995-96 |
1996-97 |
1997-98 |
1998-99 |
1999-00 |
|
ENHANCEMENT GRANTS |
Percentage
of Grant Applications Approved |
74% (730) |
76% (748) |
74% (649) |
76% (699) |
82% (523) |
|
|
Percentage
of Grant Applications Denied |
26% |
24% |
26% (144) |
24% (217) |
18% (116) |
|
|
Percentage
of Denied Applications Which Are Due to Incomplete Immunization Audits |
50% |
78% |
96% (138) |
48% (104) |
62% (72) |
|
|
Percentage
of Approved Grants Which Are Used to Correct Licensing Deficiencies (Outdoor,
Indoor, eg.) |
15% |
16% |
10% (63) |
37% (259) |
59% (304) |
Training grants are available to assist providers
in accessing training for CPR and Red Cross Safety. CPR training is required
for licensure and this grant assists providers in paying for this required
training. Four hundred twenty-six (426)
child-care providers accessed CPR/Red Cross training through support from the
DCC&ECE.
Scholarships are made available to individuals
working in child-care programs to assist in training which leads to
certification under the Child Development Associate Credential. This nationally recognized credential
provides a practicum for child-care workers and assists them in improving the
learning environment for children in care.
Arkansas currently has a total of 2,130 persons with the Child Development Associate Credential. This decrease reflects the turnover in trained staff occurring throughout the state.
|
PROGRAM |
PROGRAM MEASUREMENTS |
1995-96 |
1996-97 |
1997-98 |
1998-99 |
1999-00 |
|
CDA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
Number of Scholarships Awarded |
N/A |
728 |
1,118 |
510 |
752 |
|
|
Number of New CDA’s in State (Assessments) |
236 |
435 |
528 |
541 |
510 |
|
|
Total CDA’s in State |
N/A |
N/A |
2,092 |
3,114 |
2,130 |
|
AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000 |
|
|
|
|
2-27 |
Professional development sessions, seminars, workshops and training opportunities are being funded through the DCC&ECE, allowing child-care professionals throughout the state to participate in improving their skills. Contracts for these professional development activities offer a wide variety of training for all levels of caregivers. Support is also given to on-going associations offering conferences on early childhood issues.
Business management sessions are held in different areas of the state to encourage child-care providers to implement good business practices in their small businesses. Cooperative efforts are encouraged among the participants which include the University of Arkansas (Little Rock and Fayetteville) Small Business Development Centers and the Arkansas Child-Care Providers Association (ACCPA).
|
PROGRAM MEASUREMENTS |
1995-96 |
1996-97 |
1997-98 |
1998-99 |
1999-00 |
|
Small Business Development Center/Business of Child Care |
N/A |
300 |
325 |
350 |
500 |
Technical assistance is available by
self-referral or referral from the licensing office to all child-care programs
in the state. Childhood Services,
affiliated with Arkansas State University, has established a group of early
childhood professionals to offer this assistance at no charge to providers.
ARKANSAS CHILD-CARE FACILITIES LOAN GUARANTEE FUND
Loan grantees are made to assist with the
development of new facilities or expansion of existing facilities, particularly
in low-income, rural areas that demonstrate a need for additional quality child
care. Guarantees are available to a
maximum of $25,000 and may be used for operating capital, as well as capital
outlay.
|
AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000 |
|
|
|
|
2-28 |
ARKANSAS CHILD-CARE FACILITIES GUARANTEE
LOAN FISCAL REPORT
(Comparison By Year)
|
PROGRAM |
Oct. 1, 1993 |
Oct. 1, 1994 |
Oct. 1, 1995 |
Oct. 1, 1996 |
|
Guarantee Fund Investment |
$355,888.37 |
$365,546.72 |
$380,998.03 |
$376,488.53 |
|
Current Total Guarantees In Place (Fund Exposure) |
$183,000.00 |
$141,000.00 |
$151,755.00 |
$125,821.00 |
|
Current Total of Loans Guaranteed |
$354,250.00 |
$301,750.00 |
$446,192.00 |
$431,024.91 |
|
Participating Financial Institutions |
5 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
|
Total Defaults |
$ -0- |
$2,389.62 |
$ -0- |
$ -0- |
|
Capital Reduction (Accrued Interest Applied Before Capital is Accessed) |
$ -0- |
$ -0- |
$ -0- |
$ -0- |
|
Total Guarantee Applications Denied/Rescinded |
$308,445.00 |
$75,000.00 |
$114,900.00 |
$75,000.00 |
|
PROGRAM |
Oct. 1, 1997 |
Oct. 1, 1998 |
Oct. 1, 1999 |
Oct. 1, 2000 |
|
Guarantee Fund Investment |
$372,076.51 |
$395,915.72 |
$428,563.19 |
$432,416.50 |
|
Current Total Guarantees in Place (Fund Exposure) |
$84,366.00 |
$80,366.00 |
$77,500.00 |
$103,300.00 |
|
Current Total of Loans Guaranteed |
$372,052.91 |
$183,052.91 |
$179,470.00 |
$266,500.00 |
|
Participating Financial Institutions |
9 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
|
Total Defaults |
$25,000.00 |
$3,950.07 |
$ -0- |
$ -0- |
|
Capital Reduction (Accrued Interest Applied Before Capital is Accessed) |
$ -0- |
$ -0- |