Child Care; Child Care Resource & Referral; Financing; Professional Development; Professional Development; Quality Improvement
Status:
Active
Year Started:
Administered By:
Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies
Description:
Building from the success of a pilot mentoring program, CCR&R agencies in Alaska launched the First Steps Mentoring Program. This project matches up mentors and child care providers, who then work on quality enhancements through the use of the Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS). Teams of mentors and providers are matched following an application process and introductory seminar.
Mentees meet with mentors once a month and attend six workshops. Additionally, mentors attend mentor meetings and teach or co-teach a workshop.
Mentors receive a $500 stipend for their participation in addition to training and materials. Participating providers receive training and materials as well, and up to $1,000 (based on the number of children served) for classroom materials to enhance the program's quality and help meet their goals for improvement.
