Vicky and her two daughters enjoy a unique program through CPCD that is fulfilling a variety of needs for her family. Her daughters are enrolled in Head Start with the child care option at CPCD. She and her children, Atianna and Arianna, enjoy all of CPCD’s benefits, such as support from a Family Advocate and medical and dental screenings, and the reliability of full-day care and education.
“As a single mother, I wouldn’t be able to work a full-time job if I didn’t have dependable child care,” Vicky said. “I really like the home setting, because it seems more personal and comfortable for both the children and me. The one-on-one interaction with each child means a lot.”
Atianna, age five, and Arianna, age three, both attend CPCD’s Family Child Care Home at Julie Brecto’s house, which is conveniently located in their neighborhood. “It’s really nice that both children are able to stay together all day,” Vicky commented. “They love going to Julie’s house, and I don’t worry about them at all. I know they are in good hands.”
“When I first met Vicky last May, she was really struggling,” Julie said. “She wanted to enroll Atianna in a more traditional Head Start classroom but didn’t know how she would manage shuttling her between preschool and child care. She was so excited to find out that Head Start was offered in a Family Child Care Home!”
Atianna and Arianna enjoy the educational activities that are common to all Head Start classrooms. Julie’s house is full of educational materials that are helping to prepare children for success in school and life. “They do so many different activities each day. They both rush to tell me everything about their day.”
“The girls look forward to storytelling time and they really enjoy books. They were so excited when they went on a field trip to the library,” Vicky continued.
According to Julie, Arianna has made tremendous progress during the past year. “Arianna was pretty quiet and reserved. Now she’s outgoing, and her language skills are wonderful. She’s really blossomed!”
Atianna, who is five-years-old, will transition into kindergarten this August. Arianna, who recently turned three-years-old, transitioned from Early Head Start to Head Start this spring and will continue attending Head Start at Julie’s house this fall.
“I know Arianna will miss having her older sister with her everyday, but I know Atianna is ready for kindergarten,” Vicky says. “Atianna knows the alphabet, numbers, and how to write her name. Arianna is learning the same things. She know the basics already, and she is good at identifying numbers and letters.”
As in all CPCD classrooms, parents participate in a monthly Parent Center Meeting. The parents who attend Julie’s child care home get together to talk about various topics and concerns.
“I really appreciate the monthly meetings. It’s nice for everyone to come together and everyone is there to help each other. It’s a very supportive environment, and it’s helpful to hear about community resources available,” said Vicky.
“I absolutely love CPCD and the learning environment at Julie’s house,” Vicky concluded. “The education and family support meets the needs of my entire family.”