Clay County

Clay County Quick Guide (requires Adobe Reader)

Subsidized Child Care
Waiting List Reduction: Smart Start Subsidies are available for children on a waiting list for subsidized childcare through the NC Division of Child Development.
Expanded Eligibility: Funds for children ages 0-5 whose family income is above the NC Division of Child Development guidelines to qualify for subsidized childcare whose parents are still in need of subsidy in order to be able to continue working. Funds are also available for children who are at risk of abuse or neglect, children who have special needs that can be addressed through placement in childcare and children of students enrolled in a degree program beyond the state two-year time limit for subsidized care.

Quality Infant/Toddler Bonus
The Quality Infant/Toddler Bonus project was developed to provide bonuses to 4 and 5-star rated facilities in Region A to help support the cost of quality infant/toddler slots. This project was developed to financially stabilize the infant/toddler care that is available in Region A. The project pays a monthly bonus for each child under the age of 24 months in a four or five star licensed facility.

WAGE$
The WAGE$ project provides early care providers with salary supplements that are tied to their individual levels of education and their employment with the same childcare program for at least six months. The project is designed to reduce turnover in childcare facilities and homes while encouraging early care professionals to attain higher levels of education.

Region A Training Center
The Region A Training Coordinator provides training and technical assistance to providers in childcare centers, family childcare homes, and public pre-kindergarten programs serving children birth to five throughout Region A.

Resource and Referral
The Southwestern Child Development Commission Resource and Referral unit provides technical assistance and on-site training to childcare centers and homes.

Quality Bonus Project
Provides bonuses to childcare centers and homes that achieve and maintain higher star rated licenses

Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC)
On-site consultation services for providers in childcare centers, homes and preschools to ensure healthy environments for children ages birth to five

Child's Garden
Child's Garden serves children birth to five who have behavioral or emotional challenges. The behavior intervention therapists provide technical assistance to childcare providers and families in the child's natural settings. Therapists provide assessment, train providers in therapeutic intervention, and provide referrals and service coordination for individual children where needed in collaboration with other professionals and programs.

Community Early Learning Groups
To be ready to learn and do well in school, children must be healthy in their bodies, their emotions, and their relationships with other children and adults. Starting school can be hard for any child. Children who have not been in childcare sometimes are not ready for the structured learning environment they find at kindergarten. Early learning groups can help children have the opportunity to do activities designed to help them learn in all of the areas of development, play with children of the same age, and have health screenings.

Parents As Teachers (PAT)
Individualized, strength-based, in home education following the national PAT curriculum for families with children birth to five

Communications Disorder Specialist (CDS)
A multidisciplinary team of specialists working in collaboration with the Children’s Developmental Services Agency provides evaluation and intervention services to children (birth to five) with autism spectrum or severe communication/sensory disorders. The team provides support, consultation and training to families and childcare providers as well as to in-home interventionists.

Special Support for Children with Special Needs
A licensed Infant/Toddler Massage therapist provides individualized training to parents of children with special needs resulting from premature birth and other health concerns. Massage techniques are helpful in the amelioration of certain emotional and physical conditions associated with special needs. The therapist also provides instruction to childcare providers in the use of massage. In conjunction with caregivers and other developmental specialists, the therapist develops individualized treatment plans for each child and supports caregivers in acquiring the skills necessary to provide the treatment. She also provides workshops on the benefits and techniques of infant/toddler massage to families, childcare providers, and other professional caregivers.

home |contact us | sitemap | FAQ's |employment & RFP