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F�rlq",Learai t Coalition of Indian R+Yer; Marktrt Fc Okacholiec Counties, Incl Wnrkug�oor Mate} ' C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION (Entire Section C I — 6, not to exceed two pages. Bob will e�pan��ssyou. iype) 1 . List Priority Needs area addressed. Increase child care capacities and subsidies for underserved populations, particularly the infant and toddler population; improve the quality of child care programs and increase accessibility for children from lower income families. 2 . Briefly describe program activities including location of services. The Early Learning Coalition' s Indian River office is easily accessible to families with young children located in the One- Stop Career Center campus at 1416 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. Program activities are provided for families, children, and child care providers in collaboration with existing community services whenever possible. These include: Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) — Information, support, resources, and referrals are available to all families regardless of income to assist parents in making informed decisions about child care for their child. A list of customized referrals of legally operating programs based on parent' s need and preferences for care is generated from the computer database. Parents are served in person, by phone, or via the internet. • Provider Recruitment- Outreach is ongoing to identify potential child care providers, particularly to meet parent demand for care in certain geographic areas, for specific age groups, or for types of care. Partnerships exist with community agencies to refer interested persons who are interested in pursuing child care as a career. • Eligibility and Enrollment- Children who are determined eligible for child care subsidy based on proper documentation of income (six weeks of pay stubs), residence, age, immunization status, and physical examination are enrolled in the parent' s choice of child care programs. Re-determination occurs every six months to one year depending upon the date of initial enrollment. • Parent Involvement and Skill-Building- Child care programs are trained in meaningful ways to involve parents in their child' s education. They are assisted in offering opportunities for family literacy and in helping parents in their parenting role. • Quality Initiatives Including Program Assessments, Provider Training and Technical . Assistance, and Infant and Toddler Services- A program improvement plan is developed with each provider which builds upon their skills, abilities, and talents to address the results of their environmental assessment and areas in need of improvement. Resources and supports are offered to help providers reach their goals for professional and program development including mini-grants, educational funding, and specialized assistance in working with infants and toddlers . Child Health and Developmental Screening- Within 45 days of enrollment children are screened for developmental concerns requiring referral and further evaluation. Parents have the right to deny screening for their child with written objection. Individual health screenings for vision, hearing, dental status, and body mass index with a particular focus on nutrition and weight management are also conducted at the child care programs by the Coalition' s Registered Nurse. The Nurse assists providers in following-through with parents on referrals, treatment, services, and further evaluation 5