Personal Mission Statement We believe children learn best in a developmentally appropriate environment that is supported and nurtured by knowledgeable

and warm caregivers, being sure the environment and activities are all appropriate for the childs development, regardless of age. Children learn at different paces, therefore activities should be accommodating to each child. Children thrive when supported and challenged at the same time to ensure educational growth.

Agency Mission Statement Our mission is to partner with families of our community to enable all children to have equal opportunity to learn in a safe and developmentally appropriate environment, enhancing all areas of development, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, disability, or religion.

Program Sponsorship Statement Program Sponsorship Statement Young at Heart Furniture Furniture handmade by retired seniors and veterans Partnering in providing volunteers for the ACTIVE Program, and providing shelving and furnishings for our learning centers.

Dr. Frank Rodgers, M.D. Strong children, strong community Providing free childhood physicals for all newly enrolled children

Program Philosophy Our philosophy, as a high quality child care center and as a contributing member in the community, is to always provide a developmentally appropriate environment to all family and childrens needs. This means that, to the best of our abilities, we will individually assess each child and family, adjust to their needs, and know and grow their interests.

Program Description We are a privately-owned not-for-profit early childhood education center that values serving those in our community. We do this by partnering with seniors and veterans through our ACTIVE program and providing quality childcare for the local National Guard base. To show our belief in the importance of high quality child care, we are accredited by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). We are actively enrolled in Paths to Quality and CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program). We also accept childcare vouchers through CCDF (Child Care Development Fund) in order to assure that income is not a barrier to high quality child education and care. All of these aspects provide a strong foundation for excellent childcare. We provide childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. Our operating hours are Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

ECED 210 Early Childhood Administration Section Two Parent and Community Relations Group 5 A Better Child Early Learning and Care Center Brienna Baker, Joanna Jenkins, Kelly Harmer, Tomi Lessaris, Millie Mfune Ivy Tech Community College

Volunteer Policies We are partners with the A.C.T.I.V.E. Project, Achieving Community Through Inspiring Volunteer Excellence. This is an organization that promotes community volunteers getting involved with young children. The stronger the community is tied to children, the more a child will benefit from this support system. A copy of the program is attached. While it is important to us to have volunteers, we must provide safety first. Parents, guardians, or community members who want to volunteer will complete a criminal background check. A clear background check will allow the person to volunteer at the center. A person volunteering shall not be convicted of any crime, during or before their volunteer time, due to drug or alcohol abuse or child abuse of any kind. This is to provide safety for the children and staff members in the center.

Volunteer application form Name __________________________________________________________________ Maiden name, if applicable _________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________ Phone number ___________________________________________________________ Driver License number ____________________________________________________ Social Security Number ____________________________________________________ Have you ever been convicted of a crime? _____________________________________

________________________________________________________________________ Signed and dated (consent for background check)

You will be notified of the results. Thank you for volunteering.

A Better Child Early Learning and Care Center

A.C.T.I.V.E. Achieving Community Through Inspiring Volunteer Excellence

Merriam-Websters Online Dictionary defines community as an interacting population of various individuals in a common location. In todays society, people are still often segregated, albeit unknowingly at times, by their age. How often are sixty-year-olds connected to six-yearolds? Or where would thirty-somethings find anything in common with preteens? Through volunteer programs, the young and the young-at-heart can find a meeting place to learn, to experience, and to grow. In the A.C.T.I.V.E. program, adults with a variety of strengths, abilities, hobbies and experiences are matched with community youth centers and programs. Each volunteer is asked to offer an hour weekly or bi-weekly at a center in an area of interest of their choosing. The youth at the center are given a choice of activities to sign up for, with a limit of five children in a group, so that no volunteer is overwhelmed and staffing needs can be taken into account. Interest areas are as varied as abstract art/painting to yoga to knitting to basketball. Training is provided free of charge to volunteers. It includes topics such as bullying, child abuse awareness, and dealing with emotional issues, along with state required issues. Certain trainings must be completed before any interaction with children, along with mandatory background checks. Other trainings are offered as needed or available. The training itself is a good avenue for volunteers to serve, by leading the session or serving in some other capacity during a training session. Volunteers are not be required to maintain staff ratios; paid staffing will be scheduled as appropriate for the activities so that the volunteer is free to interact with the children and to build

a healthy relationship. The aspects of respect and responsibility for and within the community will be a focus for the group, with the volunteer modeling the behaviors desired from members of the community. All materials needed for the children to fulfill the activity being shared by the volunteer will be provided by the program or center. Some volunteers may simply need to be able to transport other volunteers to various locations. Some volunteers may be asked to help in preparation. Some volunteers will be wonderful story-tellers. Some may be an extra pair of eyes or hands on a field trip. There is always a place for someone somewhere to help in a community. A quarterly dinner reception is hosted jointly by all centers participating in the A.C.T.I.V.E. program to show appreciation and recognition to the volunteers. This will be held in a location convenient to all participants and volunteers. Since the program will have no other costs except materials/transport costs, this reception is funded by the centers benefitting from the program. Thus the A.C.T.I.V.E. program is self-supporting and cost-efficient. Participation in the program is its own best reward for the community at large, as a connection point and as an outreach to the future of the community.

Child Recruitment Policies Recruitment will take place in steps for the comfort of children and families. The first step is an interview with the parents without the child present. The director will meet with the family when it is convenient for the family. Questions and concerns will be addressed. Then a walkthrough of the center and an introduction to the staff members will take place, and the family will be provided forms for completion. Forms will include family composition, important family members and events in the childs life, a history of any negative events in the childs life, and some interesting facts about the child. The staff will have a solid knowledge base upon which to build a welcome atmosphere for each child. The second step will be to visit the childs home. This is essential both in getting to know the child and family, and for letting the child understand the people who care about him trust the people who will care for him at the center. This visit will be short since families are busy. The third step is to have the child visit the center. This is to allow the child to explore and learn about their new center and the people in it. The age of the child will determine how long this visit is arranged for. Infants and toddlers the visit will be longer whereas for preschool age children the visit will usually be less than an hour. Families are encouraged to stay and observe or join the class activities, if desired. The fourth step is to be implemented in different stages. We at A Better Child Early Learning and Care Center understand that working parents need a place for their children to be cared for and to be safe. Allowing them to bring their children for a shorter period on given days may put more strain on the family. We want the families to know that once the first three steps are finished we are committed to making their child feel comfortable. We do, however, have a system that allows for children to gradually work up to full day if their parents can.

Infants and toddlers will visit for three hours each morning from 8:00-11:00 for three days before new friends are added. Every child will have five days of two to three hours each day before returning for full days or longer than three hours. Preschool age children will arrive and stay for three hours from 9:00-12:00. Preschool children will only need two days of orientation before being added to the group. School aged children shall not have to undergo stage 4. In order for A Better Child Early Learning and Care Center to function at its best we cannot exceed 166 children. In an instant that we receive a larger enrollment then there will be a waiting list per age group. If a child moves out of the center the next in line in the correct age group shall be first to be called.

Board Relationship Structure TOPIC 1- Whom we shall represent This board shall represent A Better Child Early Learning and Care Center. TOPIC 2-Purpose The purpose of this board is to ensure that A Better Child Early Learning and Care Center is functioning properly, staff is licensed and well trained, needs are met, and issues that arise are handled in the correct manner. TOPIC 3- Board Members Responsibilities Board members will serve the committee to the best of their ability. If a time comes where a board member is not able to complete their duties, the board will address the problem. Board members are responsible to attend meetings and to obtain information for the entire board when asked. Members of the board will be chosen from the community, the sponsorship programs, the families of enrolled children and the center staff.

TOPIC 4- Voting procedures Board members are selected and removed by 2/3 vote by all members. Members will be voted for a two-year term on an alternating yearly basis. Votes on issues or changes during meetings shall be held to the same 2/3 standard. TOPIC 5- Meetings Board members will meet every three months for regular meetings. They will be notified of meeting time and place through email and telephone calls. Meetings will be for board members, child care staff, and parents of children who attend the center. In the event that a board member cannot make it a delay vote will be in place for twenty four hours, during this window the board member may cast a vote via email or telephone conference with said members of the board. TOPIC 6- Committees As follows these people are head of said committees to coincide with the board. Tomi Lessaris - Executive Committee Kelly Harmer - Personnel Committee Millie Mfune - Finance Committee Brienna Baker - Building Committee Joanna Jenkins - Program Committee

Needs Assessment Number of Children166 children total

Ages of Children16 Infants 20 Toddlers 20 Two Year Olds 60 Three-Five Year Olds 20 Kindergartners 30 School-aged children

Resources to obtain informationChild Care Resources and Referral Agencies Census figures Health Department data

An online survey for potential parents to complete, free and easy to access: The survey shall ask Number in household Ages of children Need for child care Time/days/ and amount of time that children would need to be cared for by the center

Special needs of any children What the best child care option for families would be How far families would travel for child care and if they prefer a center close to home or close to the work place

Procedures for Referrals and Resources It is the responsibility of the director to locate a list of agencies that have special services appropriate for the center. Once the director finds agencies that can be helpful the director should visit and gather information. The director will gather information for later use and have a contact person from the agencies on hand in the event it is needed. The director should compile their own list of agencies that they have found helpful, which have been researched, and it shall be on hand for use when it is needed. Teachers and staff should consult the director before they suggest agencies to another staff member or parent. No agency should be considered without the directors approval. If a teacher or staff member has an agency that they feel could benefit the center, they should provide the information to the director. The teacher may follow up on the agency with the directors approval. Organizations will proceed in the same manner. Directors will acquire information and visit organizations they see fit for staff of the center. Organization attendance will not be required. If a teacher or staff member has an organization they would like to be a part of in the professional world, they will need to inform the director with information. The director will then decide if the organization fits standards for the center.