Educare

Educare is a state funded initiative that provides resources, technical assistance and training opportunities, at free or reduced costs, to child care providers with an emphasis on family home providers.

The Educare Vision
Quality early care and education, parenting and health care are essential to children's growth and development.

The Educare Mission
To promote school readiness by establishing linkages in policy, program and practice that will ensure all children receive a solid foundation for success in school and life.

Guiding Principles for Educare Programs:

Strengthening the ability of child care providers to offer developmentally appropriate early care and education activities and programs
Developing and expanding school-linked, integrated services to serve young children; focusing on the special needs of children from low-income families;
Encouraging parental involvement and participation with their child's developmental process;
Drawing on community leadership for design, implementation and continued involvement to improve early child care and education systems; and
Creating programs that are designed to meet the unique needs of communities.

Educare Services Include:

Professional development opportunities for child care providers;
Individualized home visits for family child care providers;
Customized center-based training;
Supporting coordination of existing community resources to optimize funding
Linking child care providers and families to schools and community resources; and
Increasing consumer awareness of the important role quality child care has in the development of children.

For Additional Information, please contact:

Statewide Coordinator:
Holly Otto
Holly.M.Otto@dss.mo.gov
Program Development Specialist
Phone (573) 522-2316
FAX (573) 526-9586
Support Staff:
Connie Heckerman (573) 526-9587

Physical Office Location:
Howerton Building
615 Howerton Court
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Mailing Address:
Department of Social Services
Children’s Division
P.O. Box 88
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0088

Contact your local Educare office for a complete listing of services in your area.
(Currently Educare has 17 sites around the state serving 74 counties.)

list

(Choose a county from the list, then press GO)

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CD

10/18/07