|
PARENTS AND FAMILIES
Parent involvement is encouraged at all times and BDN provides a wealth of opportunities
for parents and families to become involved. Quality child care requires a strong
partnership between families and caregivers. Families are the most important
people in a child’s life and are the main source of security and identity
for the young child. When a child spends many hours in child care, the caregiver/teacher
also becomes very important to the child. A partnership between these important
adults provides the best environment for children.
BDN begins outreach to parents during the enrollment process and paves the way
for an open, honest communication system between BDN staff and the parent/family.
Parents are welcomed to visit BDN at any time. We strongly encourage parents
to have direct contact with their child’s caregivers and to exchange important
information on a daily basis.
Parent conferences are held formally three times each year, and informally as needed. Parents have the opportunity to join the Parent Group which meets monthly, or to participate in individual
activities or events.
Family activities during the year include Pancake Breakfast, Fall Fair, Spaghetti
Supper, Pizza and a Movie, and Summer Cookout. Arts & Crafts activities,
Book Sales, and Bake Sales are also held periodically.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Brockton Day Nursery serves many families in need of additional supports beyond child care.
BDN staff have over twenty years of experience working with the supportive child care client population and are adept at facing the challenges of working with these families. Because many of these families are referred to us by DSS, often because of a supported 51A report, some are initially very distrustful of our efforts to assist them. We have been successful in developing positive and trusting relationships with these families in addition to providing a safe and nurturing child care experience for their children. We try to provide an atmosphere that is welcoming and supportive, and let family members know that their thoughts and opinions
are valued. BDN serves as a positive liaison between the family and DSS and assists in problem resolution and effective communication.
Because so many of the families we serve face issues such as poverty, neglect, abuse,
substance abuse, and domestic violence, the children within these families often suffer
from developmental delays, poor social skills, low self-esteem, post traumatic stress
disorder, attachment disorders, and behavioral difficulties, as well as a myriad of other
problems.
BDN has established relationships and collaborations with many other community agencies to access the resources necessary to support children and families with these difficult problems.
Each family is treated individually to work towards the goals of family stabilization and
optimizing the child’s total development. Our efforts begin with assessing the family’s needs and then ensuring that they access the appropriate services to match their needs. Referrals are made on a regular basis to community service providers such as South Bay
Mental Health Services, Early Intervention, Brockton Family & Community Services, BAMSI, Visiting Nurse, MSPCC, and the Brockton Public Schools Special Education Dept. Progress is tracked and documented on individual service plans and quarterly progress reports.
|
|
