Agenda - 06-06-1994-X-B - Laserfiche WebLink

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S OCPYC Next Step Plan Start we will strengthen and deepen these roots. A major thrust in the future will be to use technology to make services more coordinated and available to families, and to heighten the community's awareness and understanding about the importance of early childhood and prevention. The Partnership's vision has evolved from a very global vision developed at the first Vision Conference: All young children and their families will have access to the resources and services they need to ensure to grow to their full potential: Today our vision is more focused, more cognizant of the fact that Smart Start cannot be all things to all young children and their families. Today, our vision is this: Every child between the ages of 0 and S will have access to quality, comprehensive early childhood services and educational experiences. Access means available to families regardless of income, and available in neighborhoods close to where families live and work. Access means voluntary and invitational, so that services are welcomed, relevant, and understandable. Access rests on consumer information and outreach. While the family is not directly mentioned, it is of course embedded in comprehensive. Parent involvement is the cornerstone of an early childhood system where families are seen as partners in working with children. Comprehensive also means that an array of social, emotional, health, and education services are linked together and collaborative to benefit and enhance the child's development. Families must have choices about services that will support their efforts to raise and nurture their children, and these services must be community-based, accessible and affordable. Quality infers many dimensions. First, staff are well educated, trained, and compensated so that there is minimum turnover among caregivers for children. Quality means that facilities meet the highest standards and are well maintained. It means that there are low staff/child ratios and group size so that a child's individual learning and learning style can be fostered. Quality guarantees that services are developmentally appropriate for children. Quality also means that there is a match between needs and resources because otherwise the focus becomes the quantity of services. Early childhood services and educational experiences must occur in all settings--the child's home, neighborhood, and child care setting. It must enhance the child's development, and be culturally appropriate, and linked to parents and their goals for their child and family. Our vision is based on certain principles that have served as the cornerstones for the Partnership's planning and funding during this first year. Initiatives must strive to: ensure collaboration in design and execution be family focused and child-centered address all elements of the Vision build upon the combined strengths and contributions of existing services, agencies and