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Associated Programs

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Types of Care

Early Care and Education Center Programs

Our infant, toddler, and preschool group care programs have:

• 3 to 5 classrooms
• Toddler classrooms have 9 children and preschool classrooms average 16 children
• Our teaching staff maintains an adult to child ratio of 1:4.5 in toddler classrooms and 1:8 in preschool classrooms
• Each teaching team plans a daily schedule, emphasizing individual attention, small and large group activities, and active play
• Each classroom reflects areas of interest such as block-building, dramatic play, sand and water, storytelling, science, and creative arts
• We maximize opportunities for gross motor, fine motor, and language development

The overall goal of all programming is to nurture each child's self esteem by creating situations where the child can successfully explore, experiment, and be challenged.

Family Child Care

Family child care takes place in the home of a caregiver (called a provider) who is recruited, contracted with, trained and subsequently supervised by an Associated family day care coordinator. Each family child care home has up to six children from 3 months to six years of age. No more than two children under the age of two are served in a family child care home. The daily schedule in each family child care home varies according to the needs and ages of the children as well as the schedules of their parents. The unique aspects of family child care are the small groups of children in each home and the flexible hours of service.

Funding

Our programs have a combination of basic, supportive, voucher, and United Way slots (a "slot" defines the availability of child day care services for one child for one day). The Department of Social Services (DSS) basic slots are for income eligible parents who work or are receiving training to become employable. Supportive slots are for children referred from DSS for protective or preventive reasons. Vouchers are for parents who participate in the Department of Public Welfare's Employment and Training Program (E.T.). Associated's United Way slots are for families who do not meet the eligibility criteria for any of the above types of slots. The ability to assist these families, through United Way funding, enables us to serve a broader spectrum of families. All except supportive care parents pay fees according to a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. Income eligibility for DSS basic slots requires that total household income be at or below 70% (approximately $18,000) of the state median income at the time of application. Parents remain eligible until their income exceeds 130% (approximately $30,000) of the state median income.