Child Care Talk Newsletter

Child Care Talk

Welcome to our quarterly newsletter for Early Learning Programs, Child Care Talk! Through this publication, we hope to provide you with updates regarding Child Care Services as well as news and information to benefit your program.

July 2022

Celebrating Apprenticeship Program Graduates

Congratulations are in order! Participants of the Camp Fire First Texas Early Education Apprenticeship Program (EEAP) for the year 2021-2022 are preparing to see their hard work and dedication come to fruition.

If you're not familiar with this incredible program, the EEAP is a two-year educational and career pathway building program offered by Camp Fire First Texas, a nonprofit youth development organization based in Fort Worth serving eight North Texas counties. As the first U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program for early educators in the state of Texas (talk about bragging rights!), the EEAP includes paid on-the-job learning, educational courses, professional development, negotiated wage increases while in the program, and one-on-one coaching from a Camp Fire First Texas mentor.

Led by Dr. Dana Brocks, EEAP was recognized by the Tarrant County Workforce Development and Workforce Government Board with the Apprenticeship Partner Award in February 2022. Julian Alvarez III, Commissioner Representing Labor of the Texas Workforce Commission, has also recognized the impact and value of EEAP, noting that quality early education builds the groundwork for future engineers, doctors, and tradesmen. You can watch Commissioner Alvarez’s video here.

In partnership with Camp Fire First Texas, Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas offered EEAP for the year 2021-2022 at six early learning host sites:

Connect: KIDS Learning Center, Waxahachie, Director: Shaunta Montgomery
Kids Kamp Family Child Care, Terrell, Director: Stephanie Richards
Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy of Legacy West, Frisco, Director: Karen Kepley
Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academy of Little Elm, Director: Katrina Ingram
Little Tigers Learning Center, Glen Rose, Director: Meaghan Oates and Sarah Lavett
The Montessori Learning House Bilingual School, Little Elm, Director: Elizabeth Alzate

If you would like to learn more about the EEAP program, please contact Dana Brocks, Ed.D. Director Early Education Apprenticeship at Camp Fire First Texas, at (817) 831-2111 ext. 144 or via email at Dana@CampFireFW.org

Texas Rising Star Spotlight

Congratulations to the following Early Learning Programs for receiving a new star level in the Texas Rising Star (TRS) program. These Early Learning Programs have undergone either an initial assessment for entrance into the program or a recertification assessment for continuation in the program in the last quarter.

New TRS Certifications	2-Star Recertifications March-June 2022	3-Star Recertifications March-June 2022	4-Star Recertifications March-June 2022
Goddard McKinney- 4 Star Kids R Kids #18 – 4 Star Little Pinecones- 4 Star Oakbrook McKinney-3 Star Oakbrook Murphy- 3 Star Oakbrook Allen- 3 Star Anna Kids- 2 Star	Future Generations CDC Handprints Child Care #16 Kids Kampus Renfro Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu	Brock County Day School Creation – Acton All About Kids Weatherford Tolar Small Steps Childtime Round Grove Blossom Valley Denton City County Day School Little Tykes-Cleburne Twin Oaks Private School Childcare Network #305 Fred Moore Day Nursery School Little Texas Stars Mudpies and Lullabies- Melissa Tara’s Child Care	The Montessori Learning House Bilingual School Flower Mound Early Care Kids R Kids N. Flower Mound Virginia Gallian Kids R Kids #58 Children’s Courtyard Willow Grove Little Tigers Kids R Kids #14 Horizon Lighthouse Children’s Academy FUMC Weekday Preston Meadow KinderCare Holy Communion Christian Academy Lion Cub Learning Academy Totally Kids Little Hawks Creation Granbury The Kids Zone Learning Center Kaleidoscope Child Development

Welcome to the Family!

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest Early Learning Programs. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with each of you.