SUPPORTING FAMILIES TOGETHER ASSOCIATION INC

QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATIONLICENSING PREPARATION--IN DELIVERING THESE SERVICES, SFTA ALSO PROVIDES CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO OUR REGIONAL CCR&R PARTNERS. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN A FIELD OF PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE QUALIFIED AND PREPARED TO PROVIDE LICENSED CHILDCARE. THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT QUALIFIED AND COMMITTED POTENTIAL CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS IN PREPARING FOR THE LICENSING PROCESS BY ENSURING SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS ARE ARRANGED AND APPROPRIATE POLICIES ARE IN PLACE. CHILDCARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (BASE CONTRACT)--INCLUDING BOTH COMPONENTS OF ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS. WITH DEFINITIONS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DATA COLLECTION PROCESSES PRIORITIZED. EACH CCR&R GENERATED THEIR OWN CUSTOMIZED WORK PLAN BASED UPON NINE OPTIONS FOR SERVICES: TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ONLINE COURSE CONVERSION, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF REGULATED PROVIDERS, ENGAGEMENT OF AUTOMATED 2 STAR AND PROVIDERS NOT PARTICIPATING IN YOUNGSTAR, CUSTOMIZED SUPPORTS FOR 4 AND 5 STAR PROVIDERS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND STIPENDS FOR TRAINING, AND COHORT MODELS. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS REGARDING ACCESS TO AND QUALITY OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SETTINGS ACROSS WISCONSIN. THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO INSPIRE, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IN WISCONSIN IN WAYS THAT COMPLEMENT AND OPTIMIZE OTHER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES, SUCH AS YOUNGSTAR. PARTNER UP! -- SFTA ADMINISTERS THE PARTNER UP! GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES WHO PURCHASE DAY CARE SERVICES AT EXISTING REGULATED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. YOUNGSTAR--IN COLLABORATION, SFTA AND CCR&RS DELIVER A PACKAGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RATING, AND MICRO-GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS OF CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF WISCONSIN'S CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES. CURRENT AREAS OF FOCUS ARE TO ENCOURAGE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE TAKEN AUTOMATED RATINGS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS AND TO MOVE PROGRAMS UP IN STAR LEVELS.

STRONG FAMILIESPARENT EDUCATION INITIATIVE - THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION BOARD, SFTA BUILDS AWARENESS AND INNOVATIVELY SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND THE ACCESSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN WISCONSIN, WHILE THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SUPPORTS TO ENTITIES CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION.