RES 01065 - Laserfiche WebLink

OBJECTIVES Provide after-school activities and short-term programs such as aris and crafts, spedal dasses and recreation activities to serve the needs of families needing drop-in and short-term child Create child care and caregiver respite programs for families and children with special neexis, i.e. severe developmental and physical disabilities. Develop a mechanism for encouraging and fadlitating collaborative approaches to the community's need for quality and accessible child care. IMPLEMENTATION SUGGESTIONS Possible providers/palmers might indude the City of Pleasanton, PUSD, YMCA, faith commu- nity, child care providers and other related agencies. Possible providers might indude Kaleidoscope and other related agendes. This objective may be furthered by a possible annual meeting of community, agency, educa- tional and business representatives. INDICATORS OF PROGRESS 1. Reduction in the number of children on waiting lists for services, as reported by Child Care Links in its annual report and by Kids Club in its yearly report to PUSD's Board of Trustees. 2. Increase in the available quality child care options, as identified by Child Care Links, the City, and PUSD. 3. Increase in child care opportunities through collaborative community joint-use projects that encourage effective use of community resources and facilities. 4. Increase in business/employer-provided child care as reported by Hacienda Owners Association and the Chamber of Commerce. 5. Increase in the number of available se~dces and programs for children of special circumstances, including special needs, sickness, child abuse, homelessness and parent incarceration as reported by the Child Protection Agency, Shepherd's Gate, Kaleidoscope, Tri-Valley Haven for Women and the Pleasanton Police Department. QUALIFII~RS OF QUALITY 1. The Nati~na~ ~nstitute ~f ~ut~f-Sch~ Time (N~ST) states that~ ~the qua~ity ~f pr~grams isdirect~y ~ink¢d to well-trained, consistent and well-compensated staff.' 2. The National Assocation for the Education of Young Children (N^EYC) includes adult-child ratio, small group size, caregiver training, developmentally appropriate activities, and parent involvement as criteria for quality programs. Ratios and group size are based on the age of the children in care. 3. The High Scope Education Research Foundation also includes the NAEYC criteria, but adds staff support from administration. 4. Another generally agreed.upon measure is caregiver networking and membership in a professional organization. 10