Beginning with Babies Pilot Program
Beginning with Babies is the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services’ pilot program to identify the essential components necessary to implement high-quality infant/toddler care in Louisiana. The pilot program aims to improve the quality of care provided to children from birth to 36 months by offering tailored technical assistance, monitoring and professional development training to infant/toddler teachers with up to 120 hours of instruction. In addition, a collection of demographic data and parent satisfaction surveys will be collected to glean information on these necessary components. A statewide summit will be held in the spring to identify, celebrate and recommend next steps as Louisiana’s child care stakeholders move forward to enhance high-quality efforts. With rigorous evaluation and emphasis on individualized staff development, the Beginning with Babies pilot program findings will improve quality infant and toddler care in the state.
Benefits:
Participants can earn wage supplements of up to $1,450 total during the pilot program. Program grants for equipment and resources will be awarded to child care centers that meet pilot goals. Center directors, infant/toddler educators and parents can receive high-quality professional training. Infant/toddler educators can receive observation feedback to help improve their skills. Infant/toddler educators can receive modeling, re-teaching and observations if they are struggling.
Participants can earn wage supplements of up to $1,450 total during the pilot program.
Program grants for equipment and resources will be awarded to child care centers that meet pilot goals.
Center directors, infant/toddler educators and parents can receive high-quality professional training.
Infant/toddler educators can receive observation feedback to help improve their skills.
Infant/toddler educators can receive modeling, re-teaching and observations if they are struggling.
Child Care Center Directors Requirements:
Willing to increase knowledge of the unique needs of infants and toddlers by participating in specific training related to managing infant/toddler child care programs. Center must have 2, 3, 4 or 5 Stars in the Quality Star Rating program.
Willing to increase knowledge of the unique needs of infants and toddlers by participating in specific training related to managing infant/toddler child care programs.
Center must have 2, 3, 4 or 5 Stars in the Quality Star Rating program.
Infant/Toddler Educator Requirements:
Be at least 18 years of age or older.
Hold a high school diploma or GED.
Receive wage supplements of $250, $450 and $750.
Agree to participate in formal child care training.
Sign a letter of commitment to participate in the pilot program and attend required sessions.
Agree to remain in infant/toddler care setting through August 31, 2010 in current work setting.
Help disseminate a parent satisfaction survey.
If you have questions regarding the Beginning with Babies Pilot, please email Libbie Sonnier-Netto at libbie.sonnier-netto@louisiana.edu.
If you are interested in participating in the pilot, please complete the form below.
Beginning with Babies Pilot Interest Document (PDF)
Registration for Beginning with Babies Training Session III: Download the Enrollment Form here (PDF).
See Also:
The pilot program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.