About Us : Strategy
Through SELF, Clark County residents will work together to build a community that nurtures the full potential of our youngest children. This effort identifies community needs and service gaps, implements proven strategies with measurable outcomes, raises public awareness and increases investment in early learning services. Together we can make a positive difference and provide support for early learning and families.
A 2006 community-wide planning effort resulted in the adoption of three Early Learning Strategies to inform SELF efforts in the coming years. These strategies are informed by community needs, lessons learned from proven and effective services and resource opportunities guided by local, state and national policy direction.
Ready Families
Overview:
Empowering families to support the health, wellness and development of their young children. Babies are born learning and parents are our children's first and best teachers. This effort empowers families so they are able to support the health, wellness and development of their young children. The initiative starts with prenatal services, providing each parent with a Hello Baby resource kit and connecting parents of newborns with appropriate services so their children can succeed in school and life. Those parents with the greatest need can count on access to home visits and individualized support.
Elements:
- Expand and enhance a coordinated continuum of home visiting service programs.
- Link parents – starting at prenatal and point of birth – to family support resources, early literacy programs and natural support networks.
- Engage a Born Learning public awareness campaign to show parents, providers and the public how to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.
- Strengthen and integrate early developmental screening and infant mental health efforts.
Outcome:
Parents will be fully supported as their children's first and best teachers, and will have access to culturally competent, linguistically appropriate support to help their children "learn to learn" in their first years of life.
Actions:
Ready Children
Overview:
Enhancing the quality of early learning care and development so all children thrive in positive environments. Through access to quality and affordable early learning care, our youngest children can thrive in positive environments. Support is needed so each child can thrive in positive environments.
Through access to quality and affordable early learning care our youngest can thrive in positive environments. Support is needed so each child acheives their optimal growth, development, health and early learning. This starts with the family and extends out to all caregivers – those who are licensed, as well as family, friends and neighbors – so they have the knowledge, training and support to help children and their model of family home child care Provider Networks connects caregivers with higher education and improved quality of care for our youngest children.
Elements:
- Expand and enhance the family home child care Provider Network model throughout Clark County.
- Strengthen professional development for Provider Network members and other early learning professionals via enhanced access to higher education opportunities.
- Develop support networks among other licensed (center based) and unlicensed (family friends and neighbors) caregivers.
- Enhance training, on-site support and mentoring for early learning professionals.
- Support development of the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) in Clark County. QRIS provides a voluntary rating system for parent to consider when selecting early learning care providers.
Outcome:
Families will have access to high quality, affordable childcare and early education programs staffed by providers and teachers who are adequately trained and compensated.
Actions:
Contact:
SELF Ready Children Advisory Committee - Email: info@selfwa.org
Ready Professionals
Overview:
Getting school ready so children experience successful transitions with the support of family, school and community. Having ready schools ensures that children experience a successful transition to Kindergarten with the support of family and community. Ready schools involves outreach to parents that communicates clear expectations of school readiness, hosting family friendly story times, working closely with parents and the early learning community through transition teams and assessing school readiness when children enter Kindergarten. Families and community partners team with school districts to achieve ready schools and successful transitions throughout early childhood.
Elements:
- Expand and enhance current Kindergarten transition efforts.
- Conduct trainings, implement best practices and align goals among early learning providers and elementary schools to ensure a seamless transition.
- Implement a common Kindergarten assessment tool that provides a baseline for tracking change and program effectiveness.
Outcome:
Families are connected to schools that adopt and practice policies aligned with the early learning system to ensure each child's positive transition into Kindergarten.
Action: