Agenda - 11-17-1998 - 8f - Laserfiche WebLink

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N DRAFT Improving School -Age Quality Care Grant Submitted By: Orange County 4 -11 Program Needs Statement School -age care has become a major issue across the nation, as well as in Orange County in the past five to ten years. Currently, there are approximately 1,500 youth ages 5 -12 enrolled in Orange County Public Schools Before and After School programs. Approximately seventy - three registered home day care providers are offering a total of 584 slots for school -agers in Orange County. Many of the programs offering care to school - agers are already considered quality sites. However, through this grant we hope to provide the opportunity to add some creativity in programming and to surpass the quality standards previously set, by having two sites participate in national accreditation and by providing educational offerings and professional development to home day care providers. This project is a two -year commitment with two phases. The first year commitment will consist of providing assistance to two after- school sites to improve the quality of programming. The second phase (second year) will consist of the application for accreditation process. Objectives With the assistance of the Child Development Funds, the Orange County 4 -H program, contracting through Joint -Orange Chatham Community Action agency (JOCCA), plans to meet the following objectives: A) To encourage and assist 2 school -age care programs to participate in national accreditation. (McDougle Elementary and Seawell Elementary). B) To build support and provide assistance for Family Child Care Providers who care for school -age children in their homes. C) Under the leadership of the Cooperative Extension Service the program will reach a minimum of 180 youth between the ages of 5 -12 in established programs that will be participating in national accreditation to improve the quality of their care.