Firstspark Inc

PROVIDE LEADERSHIP THAT CHAMPIONS A COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY CARE, EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN.

QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS MULTIPLE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES SUPPORT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF QUALITY AT CHILD CARE CENTERS, FAMILY DAY HOMES, PRESCHOOLS AND PUBLIC EARLY LEARNING SITES SUCH AS SCHOOL-BASED PRE-KS, HEAD START, AND SITES THAT UTILIZE SUBSIDY AND MILITARY SUBSIDY PROGRAMS. THIS IS DONE BY PROVIDING ASSESSMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS VIA TRAININGS COVERING ALL CHILD DEVELOPMENT DOMAINS (COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL). PROGRAMS PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW STATEWIDE UNIFIED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (VQB5) WITH TWICE ANNUAL CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS USING A VERIFIED TOOL AND CERTIFIED OBSERVER. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A FEEDBACK SESSION AND EVENTUALLY THEIR SCORES WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR CONSUMERS TO KNOW THE LEVEL OF QUALITY. THE FOCUS IS ON TEACHING PRACTICES, USE OF ENVIRONMENTS, AND ADULT INTERACTIONS WITH CHILDREN, ALL OF WHICH LEAD TO POSITIVE LEARNING OUTCOMES SO CHILDREN ARE READY TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN. THROUGH THIS SYSTEMS-BUILDING ACTIVITY, 16 GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WILL RAISE THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THROUGH 1,271 LOCAL OBSERVATIONS AT 174 SITES (102 CENTERS, 27 FAMILY DAY HOMES, AND 45 PUBLIC SCHOOLS) WITH 1,481 TEACHERS, ASSISTANT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN 642 CLASSROOMS. THIS TRANSLATES TO WELL OVER 9,500 CHILDREN IMPACTED BY THESE CLASSROOM AND TEACHER SUPPORTS.

CONVENING FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT COORDINATING EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES ACROSS 16 CITIES AND COUNTIES ON THE GREATER VA PENINSULA AND NORTHERN NECK TO BUILD THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM THROUGH COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING, DATA-INSPIRED DECISION MAKING, AND POLICY CHANGE USING A COLLECT IMPACT APPROACH. CONVENING OVER 170 PARTNERS FROM BUSINESS, FAITH, GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, PARENTS, AND PROGRAM LEADERS DRAFTING A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, COMMON AGENDA THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE EFFICIENT COORDINATION OF SERVICES AND HELP US FURTHER PRIORITIZE LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON CHILD WELL-BEING. THIS WORK IS GROUNDED IN EQUITY, SO THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, FAMILY INCOME, LANGUAGE, ABILITY, GEOGRAPHY, OR ZIP CODE.

CHILD CARE ACCESS THE MIXED DELIVERY PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE DEMAND FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR FAMILIES OF PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING BETWEEN 300 AND 500% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. 174 CHILDREN IN 11 SITES ACROSS 5 COUNTIES RECEIVED FUNDS FOR TUITION TO ATTEND FULL-DAY, FULL-YEAR CHILD CARE WHILE THEIR PARENTS WORKED. THE SITES MUST DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH VQB5 AND MEET ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS FOR CLASSROOM ASSESSMENTS LIKE THE VA KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM.

PRENATAL RESOURCE PROGRAM CONNECTS EXPECTANT MOTHERS WITH SPECIALISTS TO HELP IDENTIFY COMMUNITY RESOURCES (PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL) FOR THEIR FAMILY'S SPECIFIC NEEDS AND INTERESTS. THE PROGRAM LEADS TO HEALTHIER PREGNANCIES AND HEALTHIER CHILDREN WITH BETTER BIRTH OUTCOMES AND MORE PREPARED PARENTS. 1,026 WOMEN WERE SCREENED THROUGH REFERRALS FROM DOCTORS, HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS SERVICES IN HAMPTON AND NEWPORT NEWS. 851 MOTHERS WERE REFERRED TO HOME VISITING PROGRAMS. THERE WERE 12,192 OTHER REFERRALS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, OTHER PARENT EDUCATION, CAR SEAT SAFETY PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE, BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT, FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS, AND OTHER ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORTS.