PROVIDERS

How to Join - Please call the Partnership Coordinator at 664-4615 for more information on how to join.

Online Forum - Visit our online forum where you can find answers to your questions and discuss common issues with other memebrs of your local early childhood community.

Accreditation - As part of our mission to improve the quality of early childhood programs, the Partnership offers support to member child care providers in their pursuit of a Child Development Associate credential (CDA) or as they seek program accreditation by either the National Association for the Education of Young Children (for centers) or the National Association for Family Child Care (for home-based programs).

Playgroups - The Partnership offers playgroups at our Adams Playspace twice a week. Family Child Care providers can sign up to attend a playgroup once every two weeks. Children love experiencing a new place once in a while and our playroom is filled with lots fun things like a sand-and-water table, Brio blocks, costume closet, painting easel and reading corner. Parents are also welcome to join us, when there's room!

Lending Library - The Partnership office houses a bookshelf chuck full of books for preschoolers as well as books to help you plan your curriculum and more. We also have computer learning games like Jump Start and Reader Rabbit for the kids and professional development videos for you. Our latest additions are several wonderful CD's full of music by popular children's musicians like Ella Jenkins and Hap Palmer. We also have some toys and learning games that can be borrowed. Stop by today!

Third Person in the Classroom - In an effort to enhance the quality of preschool-age classrooms, the Partnership offers reimbursement to center-based programs that employ a "third person." This additional classroom aide helps to reduce the staff-child ratio and can assist with the one-on-one needs of children so that the other teachers can continue with the rest of the program.

Classroom Enrichment Specialists - Currently the Partnership has a part-time Speech/Language Enrichment Specialist visting center-based sites in North Adams to model activities to enhance speech and literacy skills in the classroom and provide consultation to teachers. We also have a Curriculum Enrichment Specialists working in classrooms with teachers to enhance cross-domain learning and assist with implementatoin of the state Standards & Guidelines. Sometimes they will visit our playgroups to offer hands-on assistance to family child care providers. Any Partnership member can request materials or consultation from one of our classroom enrichment specialists. Just give us a call!

Workshops and Training - The Partnership offers monthly workshops for early care providers. Often we collaborate with our area resource and referral agency, Resources for Child Care, to offer more intensive trainings or classes at local colleges. Check the forum or calendar for details on what is happening this month!

Conferences - There are several early childhood conferences that happen on either the local, state or national level each year. Click on the link to find out what's coming up!

Scholarships - As a Partnership member you can apply for scholarships to continue your education and professional development in the early childhood field. We provide scholarships or reimbursement for select college courses, workshops and conferences. Find out what's available and take advantage of it!

Networking and Collaboration - Advisory Council and Family Child Care meetings are a great place to meet others working in this exciting and challenging field. Share ideas and advice through our forum, schedule joint field trips, or make other arrangements to collaborate. See our calendar for the dates of our next meetings. Visit the webpages of fellow Partnership members to learn more about them!

Build a Website - Early Care Providers who are Partnership members can build a 5 page website to give their business an online presence. No knowledge of HTML is needed. Just click on the link to get started!