Northwest Missouri CHILD CARE COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) has been contracted with by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Office of Childhood (OOC) to administer the Child Care Collaborative Networks in Northwest Missouri. MARC is partnering with The Family Conservancy (TFC), the Local Investment Commission (LINC), St. Joseph Youth Alliance and The University of Missouri-Columbia’s Department of Human Development and Family Science to implement the key services of the Child Care Collaborative Network across the northwest region including the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Buchanan, Cass, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Jackson, Nodaway, Platte, Vernon and Worth. 

Goals for the Northwest Child Care Collaborative Networks:

• Increase the knowledge and skills for child care teachers and providers when working with young children. 
• Implement strategies to promote high-quality, responsive and relationship-based care.

Outcomes for the Northwest Child Care Collaborative Networks:

• Supporting positive learning environments in child care programs.
• Helping teachers and providers develop supportive interactions with children.
• Collaborative interactions and relationships with families.
• Inclusive cultural and linguistic responsiveness strategies.

Three Networks

There are three networks tailored for the unique needs of early learning providers and teachers. 

Infant Toddler Network (ITN)

• Assisting licensed and license-exempt child care centers serving infants and toddlers.

Preschool Network (PN)

• Supporting licensed and license-exempt child care centers working with preschool children.

Services

Each network provides the following support services tailored to the needs of its participants:

• On-site coaching using feedback from Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observations. Practice-based coaching and monthly reflection tools are used for individualized goal setting.
• Community of practice cohorts providing opportunities for child care providers to network in each region.
• Best Practice Clock hour trainings – These free, in-person trainings provide Missouri state-approved clock hours in a variety of topics that are tailored to preschool, infant, and toddler teachers and home-based child care providers.

The Child Care Collaborative Networks are a Missouri Statewide Quality Initiative and are funded through the following Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood state contracts: CS230235004, CS230236004, CS230237003.