Wednesday, July 15, 2009

2007-2008 Community Report Card

The Clinton County Early Care and Education Initiative
2007-2008 Community Report Card

Vision Statement: High quality early care and education is a valued priority

Mission: To educate, assist and involve Clinton County families, businesses and communities in understanding and valuing the important role quality early care and education plays in determining future success.

Objectives:
• To increase understanding of the importance of quality early care and education
• To educate the public to the true cost of quality early care and education
• To give the community tools to identify and select quality early care and education
• To increase awareness of the impact of early care and educational issues upon the business community


Did you know?
• In the US, an estimated 6 million children under the age of 3 spend some or all of their day being cared for by someone other than a member of their immediate family
• In Clinton County, there are over 2,000 kids under the age of 5 years old.
• There are over 4,440 children under the age of 14 living in Clinton County and only 750 registered child care spots in 2008?
• The Infant Development Program is not a day care, but provided services to 95 children special services and pre-school and added a classroom and 13 children with autism.
• The Lycoming-Clinton Early Intervention program provided services to 79 families.
• The Ross Library provided literacy programs to 4500 residents.
• Over 50% of licensed providers are enrolled in the Keystone Stars program

What has the Clinton County Early Care and Education Initiative done to address these issues in 2007-2008?
• Provided free school readiness information for parents of children enrolling in Kindergarten in the Keystone Central School District, the Lock Haven Catholic and Christian Schools and the Charter School.
• Staffed an educational display at the Children’s Festival in which @1,000 children and families attended last year
• Developed an educational display at the Clinton County Expo in which @9,000 residents attended
• Provided resources for Licensed childcare providers for Child Care Provider Appreciation Day in May
• Accepted a proclamation from the Clinton County Commissioner acknowledging Childcare Provider Appreciation Day
• Developed and distributed an updated listing of all licensed providers in the county
• Sponsored educational radio advertisements on how to choose quality childcare and promote Keystone Stars, PA Promise for Children and Pre K Counts Initiative

• Collaborated with the Local Interagency Coordinating Council to host a variety workshops to educate providers and families new early care issues
• Develop and maintain a website that provide early care and education information (www.clintoncountychildcare.org)
• Worked with the Lock Haven downtown Manager and the Clinton County Economic Partnership to educate the business community on early care and education issues by hosting a business forum
• Enhance the Early Care and Education Lending Library at Clinton County Cooperative Extension and the Ross Library and their branch libraries
• Tested and updated in collaboration with Emergency Management and local childcare providers an emergency notification phone chain
• The Chair of the planning team maintains the status of a certified child care training through the PA Pathways Training System
• Worked in collaboration with Penn State Cooperative Extension and licensed child care provide to increase professional development opportunities for requirements for the Keystone Stars program from special funding from the Central Regional Key
• Met with local legislators to gather support for early care initiatives
• Coordinated the PA One Book Initiative in Clinton County
• Serves on the advisory committee for the Pa Pre K Counts Initiative
• Worked with local childcare providers and the school district to host a school transition experience for children ready to enter kindergarten
• Conducted a county-wide school readiness survey with parents of pre-schoolers, pre-school and Kindergarten teachers
• Promoted Keystone Stars, PA Pre K Counts and PA Promise for Children in the Clinton County Community

Benefits to Quality Care and Education:
• Research indicates the skills learned in the first five years of life are critical to future school success
• For every $1 invested in quality early childhood programs, there is a long-term benefit of $17 in public savings by increasing the likelihood that children will stay in school and become employed
• Children demonstrate greater social skills as pre-schoolers, kindergarten and primary grades
• Children show greater motivation for learning and commitment to school and have better school attendance rates
• Demonstrate better classroom behavior and have better relations with teachers and classmates
• Parents who have access to quality childcare are more likely to maintain steady employment, contribute to the community and become productive workers and community members
.

For more information: Contact Laurie Welch at 570-726-0022 or visit www.clintoncountychildcare.org

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