programs

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PACES

The Professional Advancement for Childhood Educators Stipend (PACES) Program is designed to offer support to qualifying early care and education providers who are interested in pursuing careers in the early care and education profession. For the past eight years the Commission has been supporting opportunities for professional growth by making funds available to early care and education providers working with children 0-5 years of age and that complete a minimum of 9 unit courses from an institution of higher education via the PACES Program application process.

The PACES Program was instituted by the Commission as a result of findings identified from the 2005 Early Care and Education Workforce Study, of which the primary objective of the program is to increase the number of early care and education professionals obtaining a college level degree and/or advancing on the Child Development Permit Matrix.

The following links are resources related to the PACES Program, including PACES Program Guidelines, the Child Development Permit Matrix, and credentialing resources.

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IMPACT

The primary purpose the the Child Signature program is to provide opportunities to participating preschool centers that help support increasing the quality of these programs and learning for children 0-5 year of age. These preschool centers have all been identified as serving children in areas where the educational divides is greatest - within elementary school catchment areas with Academic Performance Index (API) scores within the 1-3 decile.

The Program's Early Learning Specialist works directly with identified preschool centers for a combined 29 preschool classrooms, and supports these centers through a School Readiness Assessment Survey (RAS). The Child Signature Program will further facilitate trainings to preschool teachers using the early Education Effectiveness Exchange (E4), a resource developed by First 5 California designed to facilitate quality improvement in early learning centers and classrooms.

Through the E4, the intention is assist preschool teachers, with the support of the Early Learning Specialist, in their desire to advance professional growth, knowledge and increase skills, as well as receive support for their educational goals.

For more information on First 5 California's Child Signature Program and E4 click here.

In order to further support educational attainment, particularly for Child Signature Program preschool classrooms, the Commission designates a priority period for Child Signature Program preschool teachers and staff to receive the Professional Advancement for Childhood Educators Stipend Program.

To view guidelines for this program click here.

The Child Signature Program is working with the following agencies:

Imperial County Office of Education

Neighborhood House of Calexico

Riverside County Office of Education, Migrant Head Start

United Families Incorporated.

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CAR SEATS

The Car Seat Program was started in 2012 with a small grant from the State of California Department of Public Health to purchase and distribute booster seats to families in Imperial County. During the first year of operation the Commission committed to working with migrant farmworker families and other low income families. A partnership was established the local school site and three Migrant Head Start Program preschool centers because that segment of the population was identified as having the highest need of booster/car seats due to their socio-economic status and high level of mobility.

Booster/Car seats were distributed at 3 Migrant Head Start sites located in the cities of Calexico, Brawley and El Centro through fitting stations. In addition, the Commission, through School Readiness Program Family Health and Community Resources Fairs, worked to set up fitting stations at two public schools. At these events the Commission partnered with the California Highway Patrol and the Imperial County Public Health Department to ensure that booster/car seats where installed correctly and performed by individuals that were Nationally Certified Car Seat Installers. In addition to the installation of these child restraint systems, families were further instructed on the proper maintenance, placement in the vehicle, and how to ensure that the seats are strapped in correctly.

A significant number of car seats that were defective or expired have been confiscated by the California Highway Patrol since the inception of the program as these child restraint systems pose a potential health hazard for children. During Fiscal Year 2012-2013 the Commission, along with its partners, worked to distribute over 160 car/booster seats to families that have young children. For Fiscal Year 2013-2014 the Commission intends to distribute over 60 new car seats through Family Health and Community Resources Fairs.

The Car Seat Program is only available during the 9 Family Health and Community Resource Fairs sponsored by the School Readiness Program. If you live within the catchment area for any of the 9 School Readiness Schools (which are listed here) please attend to have your Booster/Car seat inspected and if necessary replaced while supplies last.

Please contact the Special Programs Manager - Gustavo Galindo at: Phone Number: (760) 482-2988 or Email at grg@co.imperial.ca.us