Introducing the…
Orange County Parent Child Center’s
STARS SUPPORT PROJECT
For Registered Home Providers, Licensed Centers & Afterschool Programs
Thanks to a grant from the Vermont Children’s Trust Fund, the Orange County Parent Child Center is pleased to announce the creation of the STARS Support Project. Beginning in the fall of 2011, OCPCC will begin a comprehensive assistance project for registered family home providers and licensed early childhood centers and afterschool programs who are interested in beginning the Vermont STARS process or in pursuing higher recognition status.
STARS (Step Ahead Recognition System) is Vermont’s quality recognition system for child care, preschool, and afterschool programs. Programs that participate in STARS are stepping ahead — going above and beyond state regulations to provide professional services that meet the needs of children and families. [http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/stars]
Only 19 of 80 (24%) early childhood and family home programs in Orange County hold a current STARS quality rating. OCPCC hopes to close that gap and increase the quality of care offered to children and families. OCPCC understands how difficult it can be for programs and their staff to access the resources they need to implement a quality rating and improvement process and the subsequent steps associated with it. The supports OCPCC will offer include:
- Survey all licensed & registered programs in Orange County to gauge interest/status in STARS.
- Distribute detailed materials about the benefits associated with acquiring STARS.
- Assist programs in identifying specific areas of the application where they are struggling & help to design specific supports in those areas.
- Establish a “Substitute Fund” with specific criteria linked to the STARS application allowing providers to cover their programs while they attend pertinent meetings.
- Perform a detailed analysis of professional development opportunities currently available to providers and if necessary, offer additional courses/workshops.
A key element of this project will be collaboration with the STARS Coordinators and the Child Care Project. It is the intention of the program to compliment and expand current supports, without duplicating efforts.
TO LEARN MORE…
CONTACT EMILY MARSHIA @ 888-685-2264 OR emily@orangecountypcc.org