Comprehensive, High Quality, Early Care and Education

Description:

Integrated components of our early care and education program promote school readiness.
Our developmentally appropriate, research- and evidence-based approach to early education supports learning and development in all domains: language, social-emotional, cognitive, physical, literacy, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, and the arts. In August 2017, we implemented a new, strategically blended curriculum to include research-based (The Creative Curriculum®) and evidence-based (The Storybook Journey) curricula. The Creative Curriculum® and The Storybook Journey, feature exploration and discovery as a way of learning, with an emphasis on literacy and high quality, diverse children’s books. Daily Resources allow for flexibility and creativity, while supporting teachers as they plan and manage every moment of their day. Through studies, which are hands-on, project-based investigations, our curriculum helps teachers build children’s confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills, and promote positive outcomes.
Because families play a critical role in preparing their children for success in school, we actively engage with parents for the benefit of the child and the family. We offer numerous opportunities for parents to participate in their child’s early learning: new family orientation, home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and family and classroom celebrations. We invite parents to attend quarterly meetings to provide feedback. Through our Books at Home program, each child receives a new book monthly to help families build a home library and to emphasize to parents the importance of reading to their child. Orientations occur for first-time kindergarten parents to facilitate the transition to school and deliver assessment data for each child to their kindergarten teacher.
Early Connections Learning Centers has long recognized that proper nutrition and good health, including healthy social/emotional development, are essential for children’s growth and development, success in school and positive long-term outcomes. Early Connections serves three nutritious meals daily and we contract with an RN who provides monthly classroom consultations and medication administration training. Our staff Certified Nursing Assistant oversees children’s medical records and trains staff in CPR, first aid and Universal Precautions.
Early Connections partners with Alliance for Kids, El Paso County’s early childhood council, which is responsible for the Pyramid Plus Community Implementation Program and designated Early Connections as one of two approved implementation sites in 2017. The Pyramid Plus Approach includes evidence-based teaching practices and intervention approaches that promote children’s social development and are effective in addressing challenging behavior. Its comprehensive, three-pronged approach provides a framework for organizing activities along the mental health continuum of promotion, prevention and intervention. In response to growing need, we have two full-time Behavioral Health Specialists on staff who build relationships with teachers, children and parents; provide individualized support to promote social, emotional and behavioral development of children; and coach staff and parents to implement strategies that enhance learning experiences. As appropriate, they refer families to community mental health providers and act as a liaison.

Primary Role of Program in Early Childhood Systems:

Direct Service

Service Area(s):

El Paso

Population(s) Served:

Newborn, Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kindergartners, 1st Graders, 2nd Graders, 3rd Graders, Families

Outcome-Based Activities The Program/Initiative Provides:

Family knowledge and capacity support children’s healthy development and learning
View more programs in Family Knowledge of Healthy Development

Families advocate for high quality comprehensive services and supports that lead to future success
View more programs in Families as Advocates

Children with special health, behavioral or developmental needs receive individualized services and supports
View more programs in Individualized Behavioral/Developmental Services

Learning experiences and environments are high quality, developmentally appropriate and affordable
View more programs in Quality/Affordable Learning Environments

All children are ready for school and achieving by 3rd grade regardless of ability, race, place, income, language and culture
View more programs in School Readiness Supports

Program evaluates effectiveness of activities and services:

Yes