Quality Improvement Programs

We're an experienced team of professionals,
here to help you.

Services to providers are coordinated through a team of staff with experience in various early
childhood settings including family child care, center-based care, preschool, and Head Start
programs.

ERC's Infant/ Toddler Specialists provide assistance to caregivers serving children birth to age
3, and offer technical assistance and training specific to infant/ toddler development and issues.

ERC's Early Care and Education Specialists provide assistance to caregivers serving children
birth to age 12, with additional educational outreach services for families.

ERC's Early Literacy Specialist provides training opportunities and resources to help providers
support children's early literacy skills.

One-time & longer-term help

We can help with specific issues – like room arrangement, schedules and routines, getting
started in the business, and general business practices. Call or email if you have a specific
question, or if you would like a coaching visit. Some of the topics include, but are not limited to:

• Safe Sleep – how to create a safe sleep environment and reduce the risk of SIDS

• Germs, Germs, Germs – a fun handwashing activity for the children and tips on reducing the spread of flu

• R.E.S.P.E.C.T. –ways to foster a respectful business relationship with the families you serve

• New provider – everything from room set-up to writing your policies

We also offer a variety of longer-term options that programs can take advantage of. Below is a
listing of these programs. Click to read their descriptions and who to contact for an application.

Infant/Toddler Recruitment Program – an ongoing program focusing on improving the
availability and quality of infant toddler care. Available only in Shawnee County.

KQRIS (Kansas Quality Rating Improvement System) - an ongoing program bringing
on-site coaching and support for continuous quality improvement. Available in both Shawnee
and Douglas counties

Strengthening Families – a year-long program of coaching to help providers support
families and reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect of infants and toddlers. Available in
Brown, Doniphan, Douglas , Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Nemaha, and Shawnee
counties.

Quality Connections - a 6-month program offering on-site support and resources to
programs serving children ages 0 -12. Available in Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, and Shawnee
counties.

Credentials and Accreditation

Research clearly shows that education and specialized training in early childhood
practice positively impacts the quality of an early learning program.

The National Child Development Associate (CDA) program credentials qualified
teachers who work with children birth to age five. Teachers who earn a CDA complete:

• Hands-on experience with a specific age group
  

• Formal child development training and education
  

• Observations by a qualified advisor
  

• A professional resource file
  

• Gathering of parent questionnaires
  

• An oral interview and written test

For more information about the CDA and how we can help, click here.

Accreditation is a stamp of quality that means a program meets nationally recognized
guidelines for high quality early care and education. Child care centers may be
accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Family child care providers may be accredited through the National Association for
Family Child Care (NAFCC). School-age programs may be accredited through the
National School Age Care Alliance (NSACA).

For more information about the accreditation process, click on these links.
NAEYC www.naeyc.org/accreditation
NAFCC www.nafcc.org/accreditation/about_accreditation.asp
NSACA naaweb.yourmembership.com/?page=NAAAccreditation