Transcription
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, IncEarly Head Start Child Care Partnership2020/2021 Annual Report
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 2 of 20Table of ContentsTable of Contents . 2Vision and Mission . 3Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) Work . 3Governance . 3Our Year in Review . 4Provider Partnerships . 5Community Partnerships . 5COVID-19 Growing Stronger Partnerships . 6Enrollment . 8Characteristics of Children and Families Served . 9Family Services . 10Health, Dental Health, and Nutrition Services . 11Disabilities and Mental Health . 12Internal Monitoring and Quality Assurance . 13Professional Development . 13Education and Technical Assistance . 13Most Recent Review Results . 17Financial Report . 17Early Learning Coalition of Palm Bach County, Inc. Audit’s Report . 19
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportVision and MissionOur VisionPage 3 of 20GovernanceThe ELCPBC’s governing body (Board) make up isguided by the Florida Office of Early Learning and itsEvery child in Palm Beach County is Ready tomembership meets the requirements of the Head StartSucceed in School and Life.Act. Membership representation on the board includesthe following individuals or designees: Department ofOur VisionChildren and Families Services Circuit Administrator,Superintendent of Schools, Regional WorkforceBuilding community-wide commitment forDevelopment Executive Director, Palm Beach Countycomprehensive, high-quality early learningHealth Department Director, Children Services Councilenvironments that benefit the children and families ofChief Executive Officer, head of local licensing agency,Palm Beach County.Early Head Start Director, President of Palm Beach StateEarly Head Start CCP WorkCollege, member appointed by the Palm BeachCounty Board of Commissioners, a licensed attorney, aEarly Learning Coalition of Palm Beach CountyCertified Public Accountant (CPA) or individual with(ELCPBC) Early Head Start Child Care Partnershipsimilar background, a representative of programs for(EHS-CCP) program serves a total of 270 childrenchildren with disabilities under the federal IDEA, aunder its two grants: 150 children and their familiesrepresentative of faith-based child care, aunder Grant 04HP000217, and 120 children and theirrepresentative of private for-profit child care, includingfamilies under the expansion Grant 04HP000149.family child care homes from Palm Beach County, aWe serve children and their families in thecommunities of Belle Glade, Pahokee, Riviera Beach,West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, and Delray Beach,Florida. Services are delivered in partnership with anetwork of early learning centers and familychildcare homes. We are a year-round program,providing services 10 hours per day, 240 days peryear.parent with a child(ren) served by the agency, and arepresentative from western Palm Beach County. Thesemembers have legal and fiscal responsibility foroverseeing the EHS-CCP program.Board of Directors Chair: Howard S. BurnstonThe Policy Council is comprised mainly of parents ofcurrently enrolled children, joined by communitymembers with an interest or background on earlyWe work in conjunction with ELCPBC’s Family Serviceschildhood education. The Policy Council meets monthlyteam to dual-qualify families who meet eligibilityand is responsible for the direction of the EHS-CCPrequirements for Early Head Start and Schoolprogram, including program design, and long andReadiness/CSC Scholarships. This tenet of the EHS-short-term goals. They also make decisions on programCCP program supports continuity of care for childrenoperations, curriculum, and annual budget, and assist inafter their time in the EHS-CCP program.monitoring the program to ensure compliance with theHSPPS. The EHS-CCP Policy Council Chair serves as aparent representative on the ELCPBC Board, therebyensuring a link between governing body and PolicyCouncil.Policy Council Chair: Steven Coulanges
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 4 of 20Our Year in ReviewEach year, I have the honor of reflecting on our EHS-CCP program’s successes,innovations, and challenges. As I reflect on last year’s challenges, I can confidentlyreport that our EHS-CCP program staff adapted to them with overwhelming resilience.Successes presented themselves in many forms: we successfully adjusted to the manychanges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as did the providers with which ourprogram partners. While the pandemic forced us to remain home and socially distance,our program quickly and successfully turned the switch from in-person to virtualinteraction. We effectively continued to adapt to new means of communications tobetter reach families and keep the engagement momentum on through weekly/bimonthly webinars, parent meetings, and monthly policy council meetings. Partnershipswithin the community grew and strengthened as staff maintained regular contact withfamilies, assessed their needs and connected them with resources in their community.In addition, even throughout temporary closures, our partner providers succeeded inkeeping their families engaged by means of wellness phone calls, virtual meetings,virtual tours, ReadyRosie, and other engagements activities.Furthermore, through opportunities offered by the Office of Heard Start and the CARES Act funding, our program was ableto serve families remotely, increase mental health services to families, partners, and staff, purchase and distributeeducational materials to families and partners, purchase and supply partners with cleaning, and PPE materials, as well asoffer partners mini grants which they utilized to purchase electronic equipment, health and safety supplies for theirenvironment, and supplies for families in need.Lastly, with the hard work and support of the board of directors, the policy council, and all staff, our program successfullycompleted both Focus Areas One and Two reviews with no areas of concerns or findings, other than to follow up with theregional office for support regarding the filing of the SF-429A form.As we prepare to return to full in-person services, our focus continues to be the health and safety of the children andfamilies we serve, and to continue to provide the highest quality early childhood education and support services to familiesand children in need.Akia DavisEHS-CCP Director
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportProvider PartnershipsPage 5 of 20Community PartnershipsThe ELCPBC EHS-CCP program partnered with a total ofThe ELCPBC EHS-CCP program has worked across and30 childcare providers during the 2020/2021 programoutside the agency to engage the families and theyear. Of these 30 partners, 16 are contracted undercommunity in the program. We work closely with thegrant 04HP000217, and 14 are contracted under theELCPBC Child Care Resource and Referral and Familyexpansion grant 04HP000149. Five of the totalServices departments, as well as community partnerscontracted providers are centers, and 25 are familyto reach families who may benefit from the EHS-CCPchild care homes, all of which are located in West Palmprogram. We have built strong partnerships withBeach, Riviera Beach, Lake Worth, and Delray Beach inBRIDGES, the School District of Palm Beach County,the eastern side of the county, and Belle Glade andLutheran Services Florida, our local Palm BeachPahokee in the western side of the county.County Health Department, and qualified healthGrant 04HP000217Partner ProvidersGrant 04HP000149Partner Providerscenters along with other public and private groupsthat support the work of EHS-CCP through cross-Amanda Family DayCare Centerreferrals, participation in Policy Council or providing Dameka ColemanFCCHcommunity partnerships include: Eager to Learn ChildCare FCCHEdna Pertilla FHCCMary Morris FCCH Mercy’s LittleAchievers FCCH Mustard SeedLearning Tree FCCHLaureana MelendezFCCH Neicykelis TenderLovin’ FCCHLawanda ThomasLFCCHPlanet Genesis LFCCH Nu Kidz GenerationFCCH Play 2 Learn Robinson Tiny TotsFCCH Terrica GreenfieldLFCCH The Kings KidsLearning Center Thompson’s FamilyChild Care FCCH Tiny Hearts AcademyLFCCH Wee Care ChildDevelopment Center Essie Snipe FCCH Life Span of PalmBeach CountyCenter Eula Gray LFCCHLatonia JacksonFCCHLo’s Little LearnersMartha Smith LFCCH Fobbs Daycare FCCHJanice Morgan FCCHKingswood AcademyDelray BeachRegina Brown FCCHStepping StonesLearning Centerservices to the grant. Some of the 2020/2021 BRIDGES – Community PartnersCareer Source Palm Beach CountyChildren Services Council of PBCCommunity Partners/Triple P ProgramDepartment of Safe Schools PBCEarly Steps Easter SealsGlades Family Education ProgramHaiti Cholera Research Funding FoundationHealthy Mothers Healthy BabiesHomeless Coalition of Palm Beach CountyLegal Aid Society of Palm Beach CountyLutheran Services FloridaMarriage and Family ServicesPalm Beach County Health DepartmentPalm Beach County Victims Advocate PrgrmPalm Beach County Youth ServicesPalm Tran ConnectionRefugee Task ForceSadowski Housing CoalitionSoutheast Florida Behavioral Health NetworkSPARC GuidanceTeen Parent ProgramThe Glades Initiative, Inc.The School District of Palm Beach CountyUrban League of Palm Beach County
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 6 of 20COVID-19 Growing Stronger PartnershipsFrom the onset of the pandemic our EHS-CCP program staffswiftly took measures to continue to support children andfamilies during the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the world.Our priorities centered on meeting the needs of families athome while continuing to educate and engage their childrenduring a critical period of brain development. We also prioritized the wellbeing ofour staff and took measures to keep them connected and supported.To keep families engaged, and to help those experiencing food insecurity duringtemporary closures, family childcare homes and center providers providedfamilies not only with take-home activities, but also with take-home meals.In addition, our EHS-CCP program strengthened its partnerships within thecommunity to provide virtual supports to families. Our program collaborated withmental health consultants, nutritionists, dieticians, and early childhooddevelopment specialists to make their services available in virtual format toparents in need of supports.Additionally, funds awarded to our program under the CARES Act were utilized topurchase health and safety supplies, as well as educational materials for partnerproviders as well as program families.Supporting Virtual EducationSupporting Our FamiliesOur EHS-CCP Program provided pandemic care andrecovery packages containing masks, and a first aid & Connected classrooms and families throughReadyRosie, which is an active family engagementemergency preparedness kit. We also provided:system that helps families create meaningful home- Education and parent-child engagement kits Monthly parent meetings hosted by Family Offered families ReadyRosie demonstrations.Advocates Provided educational supplies and activities to learning environmentsWeekly resources emails with COVID-19 and otherfamilies.relevant education information Offered support through parent meetings Regular check-ins from Family Advocates Offered literacy events via the ELCPBC’s Zoom and Behavioral, disability, and mental health supportservices Virtual home visitsFacebook Live events
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 7 of 20Supporting Our Provider PartnersOur EHS-CCP Program distributed pandemic care andrecovery packages containing masks, and a first aid &emergency preparedness kit to each EHS-CCP partnerprovider. Further support included: A mini grant to each partner to purchaseemergency and COVID-19 health and safetysupplies, as well as tablets Safely distributed educational materials Technology supplies Mental health support services COVID-19 and Health & Safety related virtualtrainings Safety PrecautionsBy August, and with guidance from local healthRegular check-ins and updates on health andauthorities, we slowly phased site reopening. Planningsafety protocols from the leadership teamwas carried out in consultation with local and federalVirtual TA supportorganizations, as well as our HESAC, staff, and PolicyCouncil to ensure safe environments and return for ourchildren and families. We advised partners to follow thebelow safety precautions:Supporting Our Staff We maintained full staffing levels during thepandemic classroom layout toadapt to socialscreenings Face coverings forHeld staff wellbeing meetingsstaff and children Offered virtual mindfulness sessionsaged 2 Offered mental health consultations through our Increased cleaningand sanitizingproceduresTemporarymodification ofDaily COVID-19 contracted mental health consultant checksConnected bi-weekly through virtual all-staffmeetingsDaily temperaturedistancing guidelines Parent drop-off andpick-up outside ofsite To immediatelycontact us,Epidemiology andHealth Departmentin case of exposure
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 8 of 20Enrollmentant 04HP000217Grant 04HP000149Grant 04HP000149Grant 04HP000217150Total funded enrollment120Total funded enrollment260Total cumulative enrollment218Total cumulative enrollment219Total families served188Total families served23Children with a disability27Children with a disability10Homeless children served16Homeless children served3Children in foster care served22two-parentfamilies530-1 Yr. Old6Children in foster care iessingle-parentfamilies7776541 Yr. Old2 Yr. Old3 Yr. Old416675360-1 Yr. Old1 Yr. Old2 Yr. Old3 Yr. Old
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 9 of 20Characteristics of Children and Families ServedRace / EthnicityPrimary Caribbean Languages7%10%Dual Language Learners10%15%Federal AssistanceType of Eligibility by Income04HP00021704HP000149100% Poverty73%77%Public Assistance16%11%Homeless4%7%Foster Care.7%2%Over Income5%2%One or more parent/guardian isin schoolOne or more parent/guardian isin job training36%32%2%2%11%10%49%One of more 000149SNAP53%48%WIC65%62%SSI13%8%TANF6%4%Level of EducationEmployment, Job Training, and SchoolNeither/No parent/guardian isemployed, in job training, or %17%Associates/some college13%16%High school or GED47%34%Less than high school16%15%
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 10 of 20Family ServicesServices Most Received by Number of FamiliesAssistance in enrolling into an education or jobtraining programEmergency/crisis intervention27433649Involvement in discussing their child's screeningand assessment results and their child's progressEducation on nutritionEducation on preventive medical and oral health6739Parent CommitteesEach community has a parentcommittee that fulfills therequirements in the HSPPS. Eachparent committee is comprisedexclusively of the family members of children currentlyenrolled.85449374Supporting transitions between programs04HP0001497611304HP000217Father EngagementOur EHS-CCP Program believes that father engagementis paramount to family engagement. Family Advocateshost quarterly Zoom themed father/male figureengagement events and encourage all father figures inthe program to attend. Themes covered include ‘theimportance of reading with dad’, ‘dads areTypically, parent committee meetings are held everysuperheroes’, and ‘the importance of fatherother month. However, since the beginning of theengagement’. During the 2020/2021 school year, ourpandemic, parent meetings have been held bi-program hosted four father engegemenet events. Wemonthly/monthly to allow families to communicate withincentivise dads to attends by giving away prizes.the program more often as regards to their needs, tocontinue keeping them engaged, and to update themon provider closures. Family Advocates hosted thirty fourparent committee meetings during the 2020/2021program year.34Parent committee meetingsGrants04HP000217 &0HP000149 combined
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 11 of 20Health, Dental Health, and Nutrition ServicesHealth and Dental ServicesAll health services are guided by the Health and Education Services Advisory Committee (HESAC), made upof dental providers, maternal health nurse home visitors, our nutritionist consultant, Palm Beach County HealthDepartment staff, and EHS-CCP parent representatives. The HESAC meets six times a year to ensure all healthneeds of EHS-CCP children are met. Additionally, our program uses ChildPlus to track well-childvisits/immunizations on the EPSDT schedule.Due to the limitations imposed by the pandemic, and per guidance from local health authorities, toothbrushing was halted at the facilities. However, our program continued to be proactive by educating familieson proper tooth brushing techniques by means of webinars/flyers. Additionally, partner providers wereprovided oral health demonstration kits for the classrooms, and families were provided with a list of pediatricdentists in Palm Beach County, tooth brushing kits, and they also received regular dental reminders. Our program also hadtwo dental events planned which had to be rescheduled due to pandemic guidance.Grant 04HP000217Grant 04HP000149100%With health insurance100%With ongoing source of healthcare99%With ongoing source of healthcareWith continuous dental care21%With continuous dental care23%100%With health insuranceNutrition ServicesFor children identified as having nutrition needs through screenings or child observation, Nutritious Lifestylesdieticians are alerted, and appropriate nutrition plans developed within 15 days. The individualized health plansare developed in partnership with the family for use in the home and the EHS-CCP site. Additionally, the nutritionconsultant holds monthly meetings with our partner providers to support and assist them any nutrition concernsthey may have. Twelve nutrition meetings were held during the 2020/2021 program year.Grant 04HP00021724Individualized health planscreatedGrant 04HP00014924Individualized health planscreated
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 12 of 20Disabilities and Mental HealthOur program served a cumulative of twenty three children with and IFSP/IEP under grant 04HP000217, and 27 children undergrant 04HP000149 during the 2020/2021 program year. Twenty nine were referred for an evaluation to determine eligibilityunder IDEA during the program year.Grant 04HP00021723Children with disabilities servedGrant 04HP00014927Children with disabilities servedAdditionally, partner providers typically receive on-site early intervention supports and high-quality mental health servicesvia our contracted mental health services partner for children and families in locations convenient for the family at schools,offices, community agencies or via home visits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these intervention support services wereprovided in virtual format throughout the 2020/2021 school year. The focus of these supports is on developmentallyappropriate approaches, including play therapy and dyadic models where the child and caregiver are in session together.Services are implemented by licensed early childhood therapists and mental health specialists with extensive training andeducation in interventions that are proven to work with a range of emotional and behavioral issues, including grief andtrauma. A total of 23 hours of virtual mental health consultation were provided by the program’s contracted therapist, and69 classroom teachers, home visitors, and family childcare providers received assistance from our mental health consultantfor the 2020/2021 program year.23Hours of mental healthconsultation providedGrants04HP000217 &0HP000149 combined69Teachers and providers receivedassistance from mental healthconsultantGrants04HP000217 &0HP000149 combinedIn addition, our program held regular virtual staff wellbeing meetings throughout the year. We know thatby focusing on staff wellbeing, staff are better able and better equipped to provide the help that familiesneed.
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 13 of 20Internal Monitoring and Quality AssuranceThe EHS-CCP’s Quality Assurance team isresponsible for the administration,implementation, and continuous qualityassurance of the health, nutrition, early61Health and safety inspectionsGrantschildhood education, family engagement,04HP000217 &0HP000149 combinedERSEA, mental health and disability services for all EHS-CCP programs. They also conduct ongoing quarterly, and annualhealth and safety visits to programs to assess compliance to the HSPPS, as well as the school readiness standards. Sixty onehealth and safety inspections were conducted in the 2020/2021 program year.Professional DevelopmentThe professional development of center and family childcarehome directors, owners and teaching staff is critical forprogram success. The ELCPBC EHS-CCP program offers aminimum of six full annual training days to meet the needs of49Hours of professionaldevelopment providedGrants04HP000217 &0HP000149 combinedEHS-CCP teaching staff as well as center and family childcarehome directors.In the 2020/2021 program year, training was provided virtually to comply with social distancing. All 30 EHSCCP partner providers between both grants combined received a total of 49 hours of professionaldevelopment including trainings in: Conscious Discipline, Infectious Disease Control, COVID-19, How toNavigate Social-Emotionally During a Pandemic, Medication Administration, Brightwheel App, HSPPS,Infant/Toddler Language and Communication, and Child Abuse and Neglect.Education and Technical AssistanceOngoing virtual training and technicalsupports were provided to all EHS-CCPpartners to increase capacity and improvelevel of quality. These supports address areassuch as infant/toddler development, family engagement,430Hours of technical assistanceprovidedGrants04HP000217 &0HP000149 combinedhealth and safety standards, curriculum implementation, interactions, assessment/documentation, and others. Fourhundred and thirty hours of virtual technical assistance were provided in the 2020/2021 program year to all 30 partners.The growth assessment tool used by our program is the Teaching Strategies GOLD Growth Report. This tool assesses allareas of development: social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, and mathematics. The Growth report,generated from checkpoint data associated with the objectives for development and learning for birth through thirdgrade, enables the reader to compare the growth of children's knowledge, skills, and abilities in each area to the expectedgrowth range of a sample group of their peers. The Growth report can only be generated using data from the Fall to Winteror the Fall to Spring checkpoint periods within the same program year. Data to take into consideration when reading theGrowth Summaries below:
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportPage 14 of 20Areas of Development: All AreasCompare to: Widely Held ExpectationsCheckpoint Periods: Fall 2020/2021, Spring 2020/2021 PeriodsCheckpoint Types: Unfinalized and Finalized Checkpoint LevelsChildren to Compare: Only Children with Ratings in All CheckpointPercentage of Children Meeting or Above Growth RangeGrants90%80%04HP000217 &0HP000149 combined90% 90%80%84%79% 81% icalLanguageCognitiveLiteracyMathematics0 to 1 yrs1 to 2 yrs2 to 3 yrsSchool Readiness for Infants and ToddlersEHS-CCP staff members and partner providers strive to provide high quality education and support tochildren outcomes and school readiness to facilitate transition into all new environments. We arecommitted to providing comprehensive services that enable children to reach their full potential andsuccessfully transition to other programs once they reach the age of three. In response to the ImprovingHead Start School Readiness Act of 2007, and with input from the Policy Council and Board, we haveestablished a School Readiness Plan (SRP) that formally establishes goals, objectives, and evaluation methods to ensure thateach child receives the support and instruction they need to successfully transition. The SRP includes objectives that arechild, parent, staff, and program focused. The plan is based on the central domains of the Head Start Early LearningOutcomes Framework, Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards, and feedback from the Health and EducationServices Advisory Committee members to determine age appropriate skills. The program uses the Creative Curriculum forInfants, Toddlers, and Twos, Frog Street, and Conscious Discipline to guide program practice and school readinessstrategies.
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc. – Early Head Start Child Care PartnershipGrants 04HP000217 & 04HP000149 Annual ReportInfant ToddlerDomainsPage 15 of 20School Readiness GoalsInfants and Toddlers will engage in exploring the world and classroom environment aroundthem by showing curiosity and problem solving according to their developmental age.Approaches toLearning1.Infants and toddlers will demonstrate attention and engagement.2.Infants and toddlers will demonstrate initiative curiosity and problem solving.3.Infants and toddlers will demonstrate motivation and persistence.Infant and toddlers will develop social and emotional (Independence or self-regulation) skillsaccording to their Developmental age.Social andEmotionalDevelopment1.Infants and toddlers will develop healthy attachment relationships with caregivers.2.Infants and toddlers will develop healthy relationships with peers.3.Infants and toddlers will develop self-help and self-regulation skillsInfant and toddlers will demonstrate understanding of one or more languages according totheir developmentalage1. Infants and toddlers will develop listening skills and understand language2.Language andCommunicatio
recovery packages containing masks, and a first aid & emergency preparedness kit. We also provided: Education and parent-child engagement kits Monthly parent meetings hosted by Family Advocates Weekly resources emails with COVID-19 and other relevant education information Regular check-ins from Family Advocates
