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For Immediate Release
January 2008
For more information contact:
Marcia Simmons, Executive Director
513/651-2229 X25 msimmons@visionscs.org
VISIONS Community Services receives
NAEYC Accreditation and Step up to Quality Award
Cincinnati, Ohio - Visions Community Services (VISIONS) serving low income communities in the Cincinnati area is one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation under the new system from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals. VISIONS has been accredited since 1998.
"We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said Marcia Simmons, Executive Director of VISIONS. "NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."
Simmons says, "Our children, our mothers, our staff and board members have played a huge role in our recent success. Not only did we team up to earn the NAEYC Accreditation we also received a Two-Star Step Up To Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. "We congratulate VISIONS for its high-quality early care and education program that goes above and beyond Ohio's licensing standards. By reaching for the stars, VISIONS is helping our youngest children develop in a warm, nurturing environment that fosters growth and a love for learning," said Terrie Hare, Chief, Ohio Bureau of Child Care and Development.
Step Up To Quality is a voluntary rating system for early care and education programs. Participants can earn a one, two or three-star rating by meeting an extensive list of quality benchmarks. Experts say these benchmarks improve the growth and development potential of children.
VISIONS is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing services that strengthen families and promote self-sufficiency. The services are designed to assist teen and young parents to complete their education, obtain job training and secure employment. Early child care and education is provided for their children--76 infants and toddlers, ages 6 weeks to 5 years are currently enrolled at the center. This combination of services makes VISIONS unique. "The focus of our programs are on education for both the mother and the child", said Denise Steward, Associate Director.
All participants are very low income; the majority receives some public assistance, subsidies or are employed in entry level low paying jobs. Mothers are supported in their efforts to take control of their lives economically, emotionally, socially and financially. The program has demonstrated consistent success.
To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, VISIONS went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by a NAEYC Assessor to ensure that the program met each of the ten NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation and the agency must provide regular reports, which lasts for five years.
"The accreditation process was very rigorous" says, Mary Ellen Cody, President of the Board of Trustees. "It took months and months of preparation in many areas, for instance our playground was old and didn't meet necessary standards. Funds had to be raised--grants from The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation, The Andrew Jergens Foundation, The Spaulding Foundation and Lila Gallimore Trust were obtained to design and build a new playground that replaced the fifteen year old outdated equipment and turf."
In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 11,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC - approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs. "The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs," said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. VISIONS' NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start."
The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As of September 2006, the Association's revised program standards and criteria have introduced a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.
The NAEYC Accreditation system was created in 1985 to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, child care centers and other early education programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, a program must meet each of the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.
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