Oklahoma ranks 4th in grandparents raising grandchildren, due in large part to the high rate of female incarceration. Oklahoma incarcerates more women per capita than any other state in the Nation. Program Services and Partnerships Tulsa Educare has a strong seven-year history of full enrollment and positive child outcomes. Additionally, Tulsa Educare implements evidence-based practices essential to a high-quality program, including: low-ratios of staff to children; highly trained teachers; ongoing evaluation that informs practice; high quality family support and engagement; nutritious, homemade food; literacy and language rich environments; and continuity-of-care. Continuity-of-care necessitates staff training, in order to minimize turnover, and to allow for strong bonds with the children served. Educare has a strong staff infrastructure which can be seen by the organizational chart at the administrative and school level. School Organization (16 Classrooms) Experienced and Credentialed Staff Tulsa Educare prioritizes strong, stable relationships with well-trained, highly educated teachers. The program seeks to minimize disruptions in these relationships from birth to five years old. To do so, we have multi-age classrooms which provide for continuity of care to help children develop secure relationships. As always, Tulsa Educare ensures parents feel welcome in their child’s clasroom and underscores the idea that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Each mixed age infant/toddler classroom of eight children has a teacher with a bachelor’s degree working with a teacher with an associate’s degree or a teacher assistant with a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate. Each teacher in a classroom is assigned to a primary group of four children. In addition, the classrooms that have children more than six hours a day have an additional teacher aide assigned to their classrooms. The staffing model includes a Master Teacher to coach, mentor, and supervise the classroom staff according to Educare’s core features, Head Start performance standards, best practice and reflective caregiving and supervision. Each of four classrooms also has a Family Advocate with a bachelor’s degree “neighborhood” to work with parents. Family Advocates ensure that parents understand and support their child’s development, the importance of positive socio-emotional relationships and the importance of their involvement in their child’s education. Family Advocates also
Oklahoma ranks 4th in grandparents raising grandchildren, due in large part to the high rate of female incarceration. Oklahoma incarcerates more women per capita than any other state in the Nation. Program Services and Partnerships Tulsa Educare has a strong seven-year history of full enrollment and positive child outcomes. Additionally, Tulsa Educare implements evidence-based practices essential to a high-quality program, including: low-ratios of staff to children; highly trained teachers; ongoing evaluation that informs practice; high quality family support and engagement; nutritious, homemade food; literacy and language rich environments; and continuity-of-care. Continuity-of-care necessitates staff training, in order to minimize turnover, and to allow for strong bonds with the children served. Educare has a strong staff infrastructure which can be seen by the organizational chart at the administrative and school level. School Organization (16 Classrooms) Experienced and Credentialed Staff Tulsa Educare prioritizes strong, stable relationships with well-trained, highly educated teachers. The program seeks to minimize disruptions in these relationships from birth to five years old. To do so, we have multi-age classrooms which provide for continuity of care to help children develop secure relationships. As always, Tulsa Educare ensures parents feel welcome in their child’s clasroom and underscores the idea that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Each mixed age infant/toddler classroom of eight children has a teacher with a bachelor’s degree working with a teacher with an associate’s degree or a teacher assistant with a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate. Each teacher in a classroom is assigned to a primary group of four children. In addition, the classrooms that have children more than six hours a day have an additional teacher aide assigned to their classrooms. The staffing model includes a Master Teacher to coach, mentor, and supervise the classroom staff according to Educare’s core features, Head Start performance standards, best practice and reflective caregiving and supervision. Each “neighborhood” of four classrooms also has a Family Advocate with a bachelor’s degree to work with parents. Family Advocates ensure that parents understand and support their child’s development, the importance of positive socio-emotional relationships and the importance of their involvement in their child’s education. Family Advocates also
Annual-Report-October-2013.docx