Starting Point Hosts "Get Ready 'Cause Here We Come!" Event for Child Care Home Providers

CLEVELAND, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cuyahoga County's family child care home providers will be feted at Starting Point's "Get Ready 'Cause Here We Come!" 10th Annual Recognition Event and Professional Development Workshops this Saturday, November 19, 8 am to 4 pm at the DoubleTree Hotel, 1111 Lakeside.

Providers throughout Cuyahoga County will be honored for their commitment to quality care and early learning through Starting Point's Care for Kids program, which is aimed at preparing the County's young children academically, nutritionally and physically for kindergarten and first grade. Through Care for Kids, family child care home providers participate in extensive training, professional development programs, have access to technical assistance and are assessed according to national standards of quality care. They become certified and can go on to earn status as Care for Kids Homes or Gold Star Homes, based on the level of quality their homes achieve.

The awards presentation will be at 12:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom. Morning and afternoon sessions will include panel discussions and professional development workshops, as follows:

• 8 am: Panel Discussion: The 5Cs of Transition, Collaboration, Continuity, Communication and Coordination
• 10 am: Workshops on Family Engagement, Early Literacy Skill, Special Needs Services, Recordkeeping and Kindergarten Readiness
• 2 pm: Workshops on Kindergarten Readiness, Family Engagement, State Changes, Diabetes, Recordkeeping, Observing and Assessing

Sponsors of the day-long event are Starting Point, Invest in Children and Cuyahoga County.

Starting Point is Northeast Ohio's Child Care, Early Education and Out-of-School Time Resource and Referral Agency, serving families, child care professionals and communities in Cuyahoga, Geauga and  Lake Counties. For more information call 216-575-0061 or log onto www.starting-point.org.

SOURCE Starting Point