HELPFUL LINKS FOR EDUCATORS
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)’s mission is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources. Since 1985, NAEYC has offered a national, voluntary accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood education programs, and to help families identify high-quality programs. Today, NAEYC Accreditation represents the mark of quality in early childhood education. www.naeyc.org
The Council for Professional Recognition promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children aged birth to 5 years old. The Council administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. The CDA Program is designed to assess and credential early childhood professionals. www.cdacouncil.org
The mission of the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is to promote quality childcare by strengthening the professionalism of family child care. NAFCC Accreditation is recognized as the highest indicator that a family child care program is a quality environment. www.nafcc.org
Professional Qualifications Registry Educators, including assistants, who work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or school age children in EEC-licensed settings are required to register and update their registration annually. EEC is also requiring programs that are not subject to EEC licensure to register their educators if they would like to participate in EEC's Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). https://www.eec.state.ma.us/PQRegistry/
The Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) offers guidance to professionals in early education and care and out of school time settings on a path towards quality, recognizing that higher expectations of programs must be matched with increased supports that include a better-articulated career ladder, financial incentives, and professional development and technical assistance, which are grounded in the science of child development. www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/provider-and-program-administration/quality-rating-and-improvement-system-qris.html
Aspire Institute’s Center for Assessment and Screening Excellence (CASE) is a center created to improve assessments and screening in early childhood education across the state in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. This center also oversees the administration of QRIS courses for early childhood educators. www.wheelock.edu/CASE
Bridgewater State University (BSU) The mission of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education is to prepare teacher candidates for their initial licensure in the field of elementary education and early childhood education. www.bridgew.edu/ElemEd/
Massasoit Community College (MCC) The Child Care Education Program at Massasoit Community College endeavors to fulfill the college mission of supporting students in attaining their educational and personal goals, accomplished by providing a comprehensive Child Care Education program. www.massasoit.mass.edu/acad_depts/publicserv_socialsci/childcare_ed/index.cfm
Bristol Community College (BCC) is a comprehensive community college offering more than 120 career and transfer programs of study (including early childhood education) that lead to an associate degree in science, arts, applied sciences and certificates of accomplishment or achievement. www.bristolcc.edu/about/index.cfm
Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is the state education agency responsible for child care licensing, services to child care programs and professional development for educators serving children from birth to age 13. www.mass.gov/eec
Educator and Provider Support (EPS) Grant. Through this grant EEC is supporting the pathways that lead educators to degree attainment and increased competency. The EPS grant focuses on 3 core areas of the professional development system: educator and provider planning, coaching and mentoring and competency development. www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/workforce-and-professional-development/educator-and-provider-support-eps-grant.html
Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Programs (CFCE) are locally based programs serving families with children birth through school age. They are a consolidation of the former Community Partnerships for Children Programs (CPC), Massachusetts Family Network Programs (MFN) Parent Child Home Programs (PCHP) and Joint Family Support Programs (JFSP). http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/find-early-education-and-care-programs/coordinated-family-and-community-engagement.html
The mission of the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is to assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their incomes, and improve their quality of life. www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dta/
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, (ESE) sometimes referred to as the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) is the state education agency responsible for public education at the elementary and secondary levels. www.doe.mass.edu/
Department of Public Health/ Early Intervention (EI) Early Intervention in Massachusetts is a statewide, integrated, developmental service available to families of children between birth and three years of age. Children may be eligible for EI if they have developmental difficulties due to identified disabilities, or if typical development is at risk due to certain birth or environmental circumstances. www.mass.gov/dph/
Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the Massachusetts state agency charged with the responsibility of protecting children from abuse and neglect. To report abuse or neglect, call the Child-At-Risk Hotline anytime of the day or night at 1-800-792-5200. www.mass.gov/dcf
Mental Health Consultation Program - Community Care Services is the Region 5 recipient of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) grant. This grant will enable master’s level consultants to provide mental health consultation to EEC affiliated child care centers across southeastern Massachusetts. www.communitycareservices.org
The Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education play a critical role in ensuring that all children are ready to learn by supporting nutritious meal service in schools, day care centers, family day care homes, residential child care institutions and summer feeding programs. www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/
The Self Help, Inc. Head Start Program provides a comprehensive developmental service for low-income, preschool children 3 to 5 years of age, primarily. Head Start also provides social services for their families. Specific services for children focus on education, socio-emotional development, physical and mental health, and nutrition. www.selfhelpinc.org/HeadStart.html
Triumph, Inc. has operated the Head Start program for Taunton and Raynham, MA since the program’s inception in 1965. Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for 3-5 year old children who are considered “at risk” due to poverty or other family circumstances. Head Start is designed as a school readiness program and strives to reinforce the role of the parent as the child’s primary teacher. www.triumphinc.org