Raising Quality in Early Education

One of our top priorities is increasing and maintaining the quality of Licensed Child Care Centers and Family Care Homes in McDowell, Polk and Rutherford Counties. The goal is to improve or maintain families’ access to high quality early care that is child-focused, family-friendly and fair to providers.

The Partnership for Children of the Foothills partners with child care providers to create effective early learning programs by offering professional development and technical assistance.

Quality Support for Early Education

The Partnership’s in-house Quality Support program serving Rutherford, Polk and McDowell, provides services to licensed childcare facilities and prospective businesses. These include on-site technical assistance through modeling, coaching, and observation.  We provide resources and training for early childhood educators working with children birth to five years old and support centers and homes preparing for the Environmental Rating Scale assessment or reassessment.   The program provides assistance to directors in helping their teaching staff reach professional development goals.

In Rutherford/Polk, contact Crystal Williams at 828-393-5630 or at williams.crystal@swcdcinc.org.

In McDowell, contact Melanie Fox at 828-439-2328 ext. 9 or at mfox.ccc@gmail.com.

Child Care WAGE$

This project provides eligible child care professionals with education-based supplements in Rutherford County. Supplements are issued to teachers, directors, and family child care providers based on education attained.  Research shows children benefit from stable relationships with well-educated teachers.

For more information, contact Jessica Osteen at 828-245-8673.