Head Start Program - Report Example

Head Start Program Research has proven that higher quality child care results to greater language, cognitive and social skills, which are important key measures of children’s school readiness (Child Care Bureau, 2007). The North Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care Agency, Inc. is one of the largest non profit child care resources as well as referral agencies that focuses work to assist families acquire an excellent quality child care which is available, accessible, and affordable in New Jersey. The institution acts as the advocacy and coordinating agency, providing large number of services for families, child care providers, individuals, children, and workers or employers in Passaic County, New Jersey. At present, the agency continually works for the expanded family and child care at an affordable cost and shows commitment in this helpful action. In addition, the services offered by the agency include: Child care services referral to parents in Passaic County, conducts assessment, training and monitoring to ensure that quality care is given by the care providers, management of voucher programs, providing technical assistance to their clients, Federal Child Care Food Program Sponsoring, contract development and management assistance, training among staff, technical assistance and conference administration to support child care resource, supports growth of child care providers’ coalitions and finally, maintaining library set up for children. Moreover, North Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care Agency’s Programs have been very useful in the community through the various programs like Head Start Program, Family Child Care for five or less, Child Care Referrals, Child Care Centers, Abbot Preschool, After-school Programs, Summer Programs and Training for Care Providers on Special Needs of Children. Head Start caters developmental and social services to families with low-income. Special focus is given on helping preschoolers develop their skills in reading and math, which are very necessary skills in school. Basically, the program facilitate children to get ready for school by preparing their health, nutritional, educational, social, plus other services for children and families. Also in this program, involvement of parents is very essential. The Family child care program in the same way renders care for children whose age is five or less, in their own home. New Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care Agency, Inc. (4C’s) is state registered and may refer families to a family child care home. For institutions caring children whose age is 6 and above, license from the State must be obtained. Similarly, The Child Care Program which render services to children (age 6 and above) meet the basic standards required by the State for staff, numbers of children and space. This condition is important because in New Jersey, child care centers are being inspected by the Department of Children and Families. New Jersey 4’C also render referral services to parents who are seeking schools in Passaic and Paterson area for their child whose age is three or above three. Families must inquire prior to October 31 to start school that year. This program also includes before and after school as well as summer care for families with eligible income. Families with annual incomes more than 300% of the FPL shall pay out-of-pocket, fee-for-service expenses directly to the provider. Providers may charge them the full cost of Abbott Wraparound or may set payment amounts based on the present prevailing market prices. For families with children ages 5 or older, North Jersey 4’C can assist them in finding before- and after-school programs (or school-age care). After school programs can be in schools, child care centers or recreational centers. There are several licensed and non licensed school-age child care programs but North Jersey 4Cs only gives referrals to licensed programs or those which are legally exempted from licensing. The agency also has “Free child care program” in which referrals are offered to all families settled in Passaic County. 4Cs has a record of family child care homes, child care centers, nursery schools, after school programs, and summer camps. The staff supply referrals which best meet a familys child care needs. Aside from the aforementioned services, North Jersey 4Cs does not only cater services to families with normal children but also those whose children have special needs. Trainings are being offered to the provider community with special attention to the inclusion of children with special needs. In New Jersey, there is an advocacy organization for parents with children who have special needs that are the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN). SPAN is committed to help families and most especially children with the greatest need because of disability; discrimination based on race, poverty; language, sex, immigrant, or homeless status; child welfare, or juvenile justice systems; involvement in the foster care, geographic location; or other special circumstances. On the other hand, North Jersey 4’C is not just limited to the care services for families and children. The services are also extended for Care Providers. They help facilitate in the increase supply of affordable yet competent child care providers by training, recruiting and monitoring them as well. It caters a whole range of services to all child care providers, these services include: Free marketing assistance, library services (Consists of various references and equipment that may be borrowed for free), technical assistance as individually needed, subsidies for parents to enable child care be affordable, access to community resources and opportunity for professional development. As the agency provides the aforementioned aid, Family Child Care Providers continues to operate their own business, set their respective hours and fees, and pay no fees for referrals. Furthermore, North Jersey 4Cs is a sponsoring organization for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The food program is a federally funded program which reimburses registered family child care providers for the healthy meals that they serve to the children in their care. Participation in this program is optional. Providers must maintain program requirements in order to participate in the program. Regular monitoring visits by North Jersey 4Cs staff are conducted to see that the providers are meeting federal nutritional requirements. In relation to training and monitoring, Family Child Care providers must attend the twelve (12) hours of training prior to and for the purpose of renewal of their Certificate of Registration. The registered FCC providers will be issued of coupons for the 12 hours training and shall be attended. The said training is free of charge. Also they must have current basic knowledge of 1st Aid and CPR certification prior to or within 6 months of renewal or new Certificate of Registration issuance. The missionary works of t he North Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care Agency, Inc. is very essential at the present, considering the growing demand in child care as well as quality child care providers. Its adherence to the State’s Quality Standards in the provision of family assistance and child care resources is worth rewarding. The agency must continue to monitor their programs and child care outcomes. Proper measures must be adopted by the agency to assess the progress and the over-all well being of every child enrolled with them and this can be achieved by conducting proper evaluation on the quantity and most especially the quality of children’s progress, their partner care givers, partnership or relationship with the community, curriculum of the partner schools and their effective teaching methodologies, family, physical environment and other essential indicators. Children are today’s future. Their welfare must be the top priority of any State, caring, nurturing them and ensure that they are placed in the best child care providers and facilities. In the same way, parents and guardians must be educated in terms of choosing a qualified child care providers, in order that safety, health, well-being, and development of their children are ascertained. References North Jersey Community Coordinated Child Care Agency, Inc. Official Website (2006) Retrieved December 16, 2008 from http://www.nj4c.org/index.html Child Care Bureau (2007) Systemic approaches to improving quality of care. Child Care Bulletin. 32; 1. Read More