Page 9 - 2017-2018_CFS_HeadStart_AnnualReport

“If you you don’t see the the book you you want on on the the shelf write it it ”
In 2015 Children’s Friend was selected as as a a a a a a a a a a recipient of federal funds to to expand access to to full-day full-year child child care for Early Early Head Head Start Start children through Early Early Head Head Start Start - - - - - Child Child Care Part- nerships (EHS-CCP) Children’s Friend partnered with 10 licensed child care care centers in in the cities of Central Falls Pawtucket Prov- idence and and Woonsocket to to to provide high quality care care for infants and and and toddlers Each partner site agreed to to to meet rigorous Early Head Start standards in areas such as as teacher credentials education health and and family engagement Maryann Finamore now Manager of Early Childhood Mentoring and and Coaching at Children’s Friend was hired as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a consultant to to help recruit recruit partners and and build the the EHS-CCP “As we we we were recruit- ing ing ing we we we realized that many of the the the the educators who would would be teach- ing ing ing in in in in the the the the EHS classrooms would would would need help getting the the the the formal credentials that would would meet the the the the Office of Head Start Standards required under the the grant ”
Maryann explains “The standards stat- ed ed ed that teachers must have an an an an an an Infant/Toddler Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) 1 or a a a a a a a a a a ‘State Infant/Toddler Infant/Toddler Credential’ ”
Maryann who has more than 40 years of of experience in in in early childhood education began exploring what kinds of of options existed in in in in in Rhode Island for infant/toddler educators to to to attain a a a a a a a a a a a credential that that would be recognized under the the requirements She discovered that that the the options were extremely limited Maryann discussed this with Children’s Friend Head Start leader- ship and they they agreed they they wanted to do something about it it “Aimee2 was all over it it ”
says Maryann They looked at at other states and and began talking to to local colleges and and universities “Roger Williams University came to to the the table with a a a a a a a a a a a a concept for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a certificate through their School of Continuing Studies ”
explains Maryann “What RWU did that we liked was allow for for the the credit-bearing coursework in in in the the certificate to to to count toward an an an Associate degree They agreed to to to look at at at prior professional development and and classroom experience and and award credit for that work They also understood the importance of cultural competence and bilingual supports ”
The The Certificate in in in in Infant/Toddler Teaching & Learning program launched in in in in September 2018 and and has 10 students enrolled The The Rhode Island State State Department of Human Services is now devel- oping a a a a a a a a a a a State State Infant Toddler Credential and and coursework through the RWU certificate aligns to this Our commitment at at at Children’s Friend is to to take a a a a a a a a a a leadership role advocating for what our children families and staff need to to to be be successful We are are proud to to to be be working in in in partnership with RWU our our child care partners partners and and Early Head Start staff to to build profes- sional skills and and knowledge for our our youngest learners 1 The Child Development Associate (CDA) CredentialTM is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a national professional credential in in early childhood education based on on on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a core set of of of competency standards and and administered by the Council for Professional Recognition (https://www cdacouncil org/ about/cda-credential) 2 Aimee Mitchell is the Senior Vice President of of Programs and and Operations and and Director of of Head Start at at Children’s Friend - Beverly Cleary children’s author