EARLY LEARNING LINKS

The First Steps to ensuring that all Kent County children have the early learning opportunities that build healthy brains.

First Steps is committed to ensuring that all Kent County children are ready for kindergarten—socially, emotionally and intellectually. From the time they’re babies, young children need a stimulating environment that allows them to explore and discover. To develop social skills, they need a responsive, nurturing caregiver and positive interactions with others.

More than 60% of all infants, toddlers and preschoolers in Kent County have two parents in the workforce and are cared for by someone other than their parents or guardians. The quality of early care and education—whether it is provided by a grandparent, a neighbor, the church or a licensed center—makes a big difference.

High quality early learning provides a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for infants and young children.  High quality programs have well-trained staff, small group sizes and language-rich environments.  They actively engage parents in their children’s learning.

First Steps is taking a broad and comprehensive approach to improving the quality of early care and education in Kent County:

• A Quality Rating Improvement System is being developed for licensed and regulated centers and homes.  The QRIS is currently in the final stages of the planning process.
• Staff education and training specific to infant-toddler development is crucial to achieving greater quality assurance. Providers will have increased opportunities for education and professional development.
• Parents have to demand high quality care. First Steps is educating parents about what constitutes quality.

However, approximately 60% of early care and education is provided by non-regulated relative and aide providers. Family, Friends and Neighbor Care, as it is known, is the oldest form of child care.

Nearly 1,600 infants and toddlers in Kent County are cared for by state-subsidized relative and aide providers. Many more families have a similar arrangement, with no state subsidy.

No specific training is required for Family, Friends and Neighbor care, but research demonstrates the providers, children and families benefit from support.

In the next few months, First Steps is starting a pilot project in the 49507 zip code, the community in Kent County with the highest number of state-subsidized relative and aide providers. We are going into the neighborhoods offering mentoring, playgroups and other resources.  It is our intent to then work with this pilot group to form a program that will expand into additional communities.