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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Evelyn Brooks, RN, PhD, Crystal Harris, RN, MSN, Stephanie Corder, RN, DN, Monica Nandan, PhD, Lisa Robbins, MSEd, and Patricia Marsh, PhD. MWSU, Department of Nursing, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271-5692, brooksev@missouriwestern.edu

Economic needs of families impact the healthy growth and development of children. In 1965, 17% of mothers of 1-year olds were employed outside of the home while in 1991, 53% were employed outside the home. In Buchanan County, 60% of mothers with children < 5 years old work (full or part-time), with over 3,200 children in childcare. Iveson reports in Missouri only 8% of classrooms and 9% of homes were considered good while 40% of classrooms offered “less than minimal” care and 35% of homes were “harmful” to the child's growth and development. Using the logic model, short- and long-term outcomes were identified with strategies developed to enhance children's learning readiness, promote the foundation of knowledge and resources available for childcare providers including parents, and to increase the learning readiness knowledge base and promote application of collaborative opportunities. Evaluation methods include baseline childhood screening results obtained through secondary data analysis; pre, post, and three month follow-up surveys, as well as focus groups of parents, careproviders, and agency collaborators. The results will be shared for the five major outcomes that focused on: 1). Increased capacity for childcare providers to facilitate child development, 2). Enhance awareness and access to resources for parents, 3). Improve quality of early learning programs for childcare providers, 4). Improve coordination of early learning programs and health care; and 5). Increase access to children with special needs with coordination of services. This project was funded by an ELOA Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to

• List five objectives for measuring early learning opportunities for parents and childcare providers.
• List community partnerships needed in assessing and evaluating ways to increase awareness and access to developmentally appropriate materials and coordination of resources.
• Identify five programs that can be used to enhance childcare providers knowledge about children's cognitive, language comprehension, expressive language, social-emotional, and motor skills to enhance childhood literacy.

Keywords: Literacy, Child Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No