Program Description: 

Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton Fisher Children’s Center provides quality child care for military children and families by bolstering our staff training and improving our curricula. The specific program objectives were 1) to enable 100% of our staff to be compliant with the educational, professional development and training requirements of National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA); and 2) for at least 75% of the children at our center to reach pre-determined developmental markers acquiring the necessary social and emotional skills to be ready for kindergarten. We are happy to report that we achieved both goals! 

Results: 

A vast majority of our $50,000 grant ($40,000) went towards salaries for training, oversight and implementation of NECPA requirements throughout a six-month period (June 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021). The remainder of the grant was used for office/program supplies ($9,000), and staff development ($1,000). One of our biggest obstacles was that we needed a consistent Training Specialist to ensure that all staff were compliant with the continuing education and training requirements of the NECPA. Consequently, we created a position for a part-time childcare Training Specialist position at Fisher Children’s Center. The Training Specialist is responsible for training the entire center, which has 20 employees at full capacity. Because we strive to hire military spouses and therefore have a higher-than-average turnover rate, this position now supports the training of 34 employees per year. She oversaw the accreditation process, maintained a high quality of care for military families, and ensured that our staff adhered to all NECPA accreditation requirements. 

Future Plans: 

The Fisher Children’s Center will continue to provide childcare that strengthens military families, reduces inequities, and enables spouses to return to work and support the economic growth of North County San Diego. By offering accredited services at an affordable cost of $165 dollars per week (approximately half of the average cost of full-time infant childcare in San Diego County), Fisher Children’s Center supports single and dual active-duty parents, as well as full-time working spouses, all while providing the social, emotional, and academic support that children need to be ready for kindergarten and beyond. In the future, Fisher Children’s Center will begin offering the Early Learning Matters (ELM) curriculum (this curriculum aligns with NECPA requirements). This curriculum is being implemented in all DoD-sponsored childcare centers throughout the country in order to provide a consistent experience for military families regardless of where they are stationed.