Support for reopening—and remaining open

Starting this month, the the StrongStart Professional Development Centers (PDC) are offering support to programs that are reopening (or are already open) in three ways:

Informal coffee chats: Drop in for a Zoom chat with a PDC coach to talk about the challenges you’re facing in your daily work. Strategize new approaches to implementing the EEC Minimum Health & Safety Requirements for Reopening, meet and receive support from other family childcare providers in your region, and connect with other resources and supports for your work. You can find coffee chat schedules here.

One-on-one consultation: Family child care owners and out-of-school time and center directors and administrators can work with a skilled coach who will focus on supporting you with implementing the EEC Minimum Health & Safety Requirements for Reopening, addressing the needs of staff, families, and children, and managing your business practices in the context of COVID-19. Contact your regional PDC to learn more about one-on-one consultation.

Professional Learning Communities (PLC): A PLC is a facilitated group of educators and administrators that meet regularly to share expertise, improve teaching skills, enhance program quality, and improve learning experiences for children. The professional development and learning that takes place within a PLC taps expertise from the field. Learning happens in real time as PLC members share the results of their experiments that solve the problems of practice. PLCs will focus on seven topic areas: understanding the new EEC Health & Safety Guidelines; financial considerations for operating under the new guidelines; putting the new EEC Health & Safety Guidelines into practice; how to stay calm amid the crisis; strategies to promote physical distancing; and managing program closures and staff absences due to COVID-19. Find and sign up for a PLC here.