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What are the Service Components?
Centers must provide or collaborate with existing agencies to offer the following services:
Quality Full-Day Child Care and School Readiness Programs
Quality full-day child care and school readiness are services offered year-round for children ages three to five who are not enrolled in school. This service and the school-age child-care component operate on a sliding fee scale. Centers must be licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and are expected to be accredited or in the process of being accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children or other accrediting agencies recognized by the State Department of Education.
Preschool programs must be in compliance with all state statutes and regulations governing child care and, in the case of the school readiness program, in compliance with the standards set for programs pursuant to Section 10-16p, as amended. School-Age Child Care
This component is offered for children enrolled in school up to the age of 12 for before and after regular school hours and on a full-day basis during school holidays and school vacation This service is offered from 7:00 a.m. until school starts and from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m., and is in operation full-time (7:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.) during the summer and when school is not in session. Resource and Referral Services
Family Resource Centers, by their location and access to families, have established themselves as a primary resource and referral service for issues concerning the well-being of families. Support services are provided to parents of newborn infants to ascertain their needs and provide them with referrals to other services and organizations and, if necessary, education in parenting skills. Families in Training
This component provides, within available appropriations, community support services to expectant parents and parents of children under the age of 3. Such services shall include, but not be limited to, providing information and advice to parents on their child’s language, cognitive, social and motor development, visiting a participant’s home on a regular basis, organizing group meetings at the center for neighborhood parents of young children and providing a reference center for parents who need special assistance or services. The program shall provide for the recruitment of parents to participate in such programs. Adult Education
This component offers a range of adult education opportunities, including parent training and adult education7 support and educational services to parents with children who are participants of the child-care services of the program and who are interested in obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent. Parents and their preschool-age children may attend classes together in parenting and child-rearing skills so as to promote the mutual pursuit of education while enhancing parent-child interaction, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Basic Skills may also be offered through this component. Support and Training for Family Day-Care Providers
A continuum of child-care opportunities are provided for families. The staff of the canter offer training and technical assistance and’ other support to providers in the community and serve as an information and referral system for other childcare needs or coordinate such systems as may already exist in the community. Teen Pregnancy Prevention (Positive Youth Development)
The Family Resource Center provides a teen pregnancy prevention program to adolescents emphasizing responsible decision-making and communication skills. Aimed at children in Grades 4 through 6, this component offers a range of recreational and educational opportunities targeted at preventing teen pregnancy, substance abuse and school dropouts.
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