The Early Learning Coalition Of Flagler And Volusia Counties Inc

TO ENHANCE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALITY EARLY LEARNING WHILE STRENGTHENING FAMILY STABILITY FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMPROGRAM OBJECTIVE: TO PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED WHEN THEY ENTER SCHOOL; TO ASSIST EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS IN OFFERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROGRAMS POSSIBLE; TO HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHERS AND INVOLVE THEM IN THEIR CHILD'S EARLY EDUCATION.SCHOOL READINESS EARLY LEARNING/CARE IS DELIVERED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF 163 CONTRACTED LEGAL SCHOOL READINESS PROVIDERS IN FLAGLER AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES. TO ENSURE PARENTAL CHOICE, PARENTS MAY CHOOSE CARE FROM CONTRACTED SCHOOL READINESS EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS INCLUDING: LICENSED CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, REGISTERED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS, LICENSE-EXEMPT PROGRAMS, AND INFORMAL CHILD CARE THROUGHOUT FLAGLER AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES.SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE AREAS: SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, SERVICES FOR FAMILIES, AND SERVICES FOR EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS.6,948 CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO NINE YEARS OLD WERE FUNDED FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES. THESE CHILDREN ARE FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGES FAMILIES OR AT RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK) PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: TO PREPARE CHILDREN TO BE READY TO LEARN UPON ENTERING KINDERGARTEN.PROGRAM INFORMATION: VPK IS AVAILABLE TO ALL FLORIDA 4-YEAR-OLDS SINCE THE PASSAGE OF VPK LEGISLATION IN 2005. THE ELCFV IS THE SOLE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PROGRAM IN FLAGLER AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES. SERVICES INCLUDE VPK PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, PROVIDER TRAINING, CHILD REGISTRATION, AND PROGRAM ASSESSMENT. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.PROGRAM STATISTICS: THE VPK PROGRAM WAS OFFERED THROUGH A NETWORK OF 194 CONTRACTED LEGAL VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROVIDERS IN FLAGLER AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES. 3,840 FOUR-YEAR OLDS WERE FUNDED FOR FREE PRE-KINDERGARTEN.

VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK) OUTREACH- PROGRAM OBJECTIVE: TO INFORM PARENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE VPK PROGRAM TO ALL FLORIDA 4-YEAR-OLDS; TO ASSIST VPK PROVIDERS IN MARKETING THEIR VPK PROGRAMS TO PARENTS OF 4-YEAR-OLDS.PROGRAM INFORMATION: COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS REQUIRED TO INFORM PARENTS THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO ALL FLORIDA 4-YEAR-OLDS. THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR VPK OUTREACH INCLUDED: SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS, RADIO COMMERCIALS, POSTERS, BROCHURES, FACEBOOK PROMOTIONS AND PROMOTION ON ELCFV WEBSITE.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/MEASUREMENTS/STATISTICSCHILD SCREENING & ASSESSMENT PROGRAM: TO HELP IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHO MAY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS AND HELPS PARENTS ADDRESS THESE NEEDS EARLY, GIVING CHILDREN THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE.IN FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021, THE USER-FRIENDLY APPROACH AND ELCFV STAFF FACILITATING THE SCREENING PROCESS CONTRIBUTED TO SCREENING 4,668 CHILDREN AND A LOW CONSENT DENIAL RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1.78%. NEW DATA TRACKING ALLOWED ELCFV TO IDENTIFY THE MAJORITY (91%) OF THE "PARENTAL DENIED CONSENT TO SCREEN" WAS DUE TO CHILDREN HAVING ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING UNIQUE NEEDS, WERE IN THE PROCESS OF, OR ALREADY RECEIVING SERVICES. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:PROVIDER TRAINING: 3,992 TOTAL HOURS TRAINED.CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, OFFERS UP-TO-DATE PROVIDER INFORMATION BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS WELL AS REFERRALS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.