Child Care Provider Education

Medium term objectives were met. One to three months after attending the annual Child Care Givers Workshop, providers have borrowed from the Lea County Extension Service the Glo-Germ Hand Washing Activity and the Animal Trackers Physical Activity Curriculum (which was presented at the workshop).

Providers reported to the Lea County Extension Service staff or the local licensing agency how techniques and/or procedures, which were learned at workshops, were implemented in their home-based or center-based business.

The licensing agency for Southeastern New Mexico reported an increase in job retention for center based child care providers.

Short term objectives were met. The Home Economist in Otero County reported that 93% of the 40 participants who attended the workshop on recognizing and managing stress scored higher on the post test when compared to the pretest (24% knowledge gain). Forty participants at the Otero County Regional Early Care and Education Conference acquired 2-5 (depending on the county) continuing education hours to keep their employment as child care providers.

The Home Economist in Lea County reported that staff from 14 of the 69 child care centers attended the annual Child Care Givers Workshop. Participants were from Roosevelt, Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties, as well as Gaines County, Texas. Evaluation forms from each of the workshops showed a knowledge gain by the majority of participants. Ninety-nine percent of those providers who completed the Penn State Better Kid Care training needed the necessary credit hours to keep their child care provider’s license. Twenty percent of those providers were new employees in the daycare and needed supplemental training prior to beginning their job.

Provided a video and PowerPoint presentation and conducted several hands-on activities for 40 participants on recognizing and managing stress. The presentation included causes of stress, signs of stress, ways to deal with or relieve stress, and why it is important to relieve stress. A comparison of pretest and posttest scores showed that 93% of the child care providers improved their knowledge scores. A comparison of pretest and posttest scores showed that 93% of participants improved their understanding of job stress by a 24% gain in understanding. Some of the participant comments included: “all of it was very good information”, “very well presented and most helpful”, and “she (Home Economist) was very good with all the information, very well done”.

Over the last three (3) years 25% of the participants have returned to the Lea County Extension Service for annual training credits towards their license.

Due to the Penn State Self Paced Trainings, 10% of the Lea County providers have gained additional training throughout the year for their employees.

One to three months after attending the annual Child Care Givers Workshop, the providers have come to the Lea county Extension Service to:
**borrow equipment or curriculum to perform a technique or program that was learned during the workshop. some Examples are the glo Germ Hand Washing Activity or the Animal Trackers Physical Activity Curriculum.
**report to the Lea County Extension Service staff or the local licensing agency the implementations of techniques and/or procedures they have implemented in their home-based or center-based business.

Invisiting with the licensing agency for Southeastern New Mexico, an increase in job retention has been seen with in the center based child care providers.