Program Support

 

 

The Quality Perspective

 

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.

 

 

ENHANCEMENT/IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PROGRAM SUPPORT

 

 

ENHANCEMENT/IMPROVEMENT GRANTS (continued)

 

 

 

 

TRAINING GRANTS

 

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.

 

 

CDA SCHOLARSHIPS

 

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.

 

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000

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PROGRAM SUPPORT

 

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES

 

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 TRAINING

 

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).

 

 

 

 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

 

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

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Program Support

 

 

ARKANSAS CHILD-CARE FACILITIES GUARANTEE LOAN FISCAL REPORT

(Comparison By Year)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000

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Program Support

 

 

CHILD-CARE FACILITIES FUNDING/ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING

 

DCC&ECE and ADED have a working partnership to assist in the development of quality child-care programs in Arkansas.  DCC&ECE provides the pre-application review for ADED to determine the viability of potential child-care projects.  ADED provides grant funding for construction or renovation of child-care facilities which will serve a majority of low -to moderate-income children.  These grants are available only to city or county governments.  During SFY 1999-00, projects for renovation/construction were finalized in the following locations: Augusta, Corning, Hazen, Allport and Batesville.

                                   

 

 

 

CHILD-CARE RESOURCE CENTER

 

The Child-Care Resource Center is a lending library and resource center for child-care providers throughout the state.  All licensed and registered child-care providers may apply for a user card and will receive a catalog of resources available.  The resource center is available for use by providers for training and staff development activities. 

 

 

 

 

TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER/EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVES

 

For child-care providers outside the central Arkansas area, the 15 Educational Service Cooperatives offer access for early childhood providers to the Teacher Resource Centers.  Services available include:  access to equipment, materials, books and personnel to assist in developing quality instructional materials.  Support for preschool materials/curriculum is provided by DCC&ECE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000

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Program Support

 

 

ACCREDITATION/APPROVAL SYSTEM

 

This system identifies programs which demonstrate a quality educational program for young children. Programs which are funded through Arkansas Better Chance funds and programs which receive contract funds through DCC&ECE must comply with the approval standards.  Approval as a quality educational program is available for child-care centers and child-care family homes.  Programs which meet state or national accreditation standards provide parents access to a refundable tax credit which doubles the state child-care tax credit available through the state tax system.

 

PROGRAM	PROGRAM MEASUREMENTS	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99	1999-00
APPROVAL SYSTEM	Percentage of All Licensed Programs Approved	N/A	N/A	N/A	9%	11%
	Number of Programs Approved	169	265	264	243	297
	Percentage of ABC Programs Approved	75%	90%	95%	97%	95%
	Percentage of Child-Care Contracts Approved	N/A	N/A	31.5%	38%	37%

 

 

CHILD-CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL CENTER

 

Parents can access information on all licensed/registered child-care homes and centers by accessing the DCC&ECE web site at: http://www.accessarkansas.org/childcare/ or through the 1-800-445-3316 line.  All licensed and registered homes and centers are included in the referral database.  This web site also includes information on all services available throughout the division, including information for parents on selecting child-care programs.

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000

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Program Support

 

 

ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE PROGRAMS

 

DCC&ECE, in cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas State Board of Education, administers the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) Programs.  Funded by the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, ABC programs are intended to serve educationally deprived children.  Children’s ages range from birth through five years of age.  Children are placed in developmentally appropriate programs, including HIPPY (Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngster).  Eligible students must have at least one of the following characteristics:  low-income family, parents with low educational level, low birth weight, child to a teen mother, a family with a history of substance abuse/addiction, eligibility for Title I services, eligibility for services under Public Law 99-457, (a family with a history of abuse or neglect, a victim of abuse or neglect, or have demonstrable developmental delays as identified through an appropriate screening).  ABC programs are operated by local school districts, Educational Service Cooperatives, community-based non-profit centers, Head Start programs and University programs.  Services may be home-based, such as the HIPPY program or Parents as Teachers (PAT), or center-based programs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000

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program Support

 

 

 

QUALITY INITIATIVE PILOT PROJECTS

 

One-year demonstration projects beginning July 1, 2000, financed through CCDF quality improvement funds, were solicited through a competitive process.  The programs, focused in specific concept areas, will keep detailed records of program implementation processes and develop replication manuals for distribution to others wanting to develop similar programs in their communities.

 

 

Mentoring/Support Programs

 

ASU Childhood Services	Develop system of mentoring; identify group of mentor trainers; and design infant/toddler, pre-school and family home self-study modules.
Paris Schools	Rural quality approved program serving birth to five-year-olds will serve as model site for new rural caregivers/directors and produce a resource guide for other schools and centers.

 

Pre-Employment Training

 

ASU Childhood Services	New employees participate in quality training and then at lab sites deepen understanding while gaining skills.  Mentors recruited/paired with new employees.
North Arkansas College	Individuals who want to enter the childcare field, but feel they do not have the skills needed, will receive intensive training and work in child-care settings for field experience.
Presbyst. Urban Council	Special trainers will mentor new family child-care providers, demonstrating                                                             teaching styles and activities appropriate for infants and toddlers through weekly                        visits.
Univ. of Ark. Fayetteville	Establish laboratory schools to provide high quality training for entry-level child care staff from local providers.  Substitute referral list to provide staff release time.

Reduction Infant/Toddler Ratios

 

Paragould Schools	Individualize goals, Creative Curriculum training, self-study leading to national accreditation, invite staff from other centers to join their on-site CDA training class.
UAMS - ARCARES	Evaluate improvements in quality of care that result from implementing a high quality program and effects on high-risk infants and toddlers.
UAMS ECCO Child Dev.	Establish a stable, reliable Volunteer Corps.  In addition to initial training, volunteers placed with an experienced mentor.

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

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Program Support

 

 

 

QUALITY INITIATIVE PILOT PROJECTS (continued)

 

 

Reduction Staff Turnover

 

ASU Dept. of Elem. Educ.	Professional development through "smorgasbord" approach--select activities for their needs--maintain portfolios to be evaluated--receive recognition for accomplishments.
Foothills Technical Inst.	Combination of tuition scholarships and incentives promote participation in      professional development experiences by staff in licensed child-care facilities

School-Age Initiatives  

 

ASU Childhood Services	Method to assist school-age programs with accreditation--support network for programs, self-study modules, public presentation and informational pamphlets.
Siloam Springs CDC	After-school program for children's social, personal, and academic needs--family resource center--materials, videos and seminars.
UAMS - ARCARES	Demonstration/evaluation of steps taken, barriers, resources, sample forms, policies and procedures related to achievement of quality programming and accreditation.
Vilonia School District	District-wide after-school program designed to virtually eliminate "latch-key" children--monthly family offerings through technology and literacy open houses.
YWCA of El Dorado	Collaboration efforts allowing the school district and the YWCA to develop a comprehensive after-school enrichment program for children in the community.

 

                            

 

        

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source:  Program Support Unit

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2000

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