Caring for Kids launched an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) pilot program at Interfaith Outreach
In October 2019, Caring for Kids (CfK), a foundational program of the Great Expectations (GE) Initiative, launched an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) pilot program at Interfaith Outreach.
Caring for Kids surveyed client families with young children and discovered that parents felt isolated and needed connection with other parents. They wanted to expand their knowledge of child development while gaining parenting tips and tools. Parents also identified barriers to attending traditional ECFE classes, such as work conflicts, the need for care for older siblings, and feeling intimidated by joining a class somewhere new.
The CfK ECFE pilot met for five weeks. The structure followed a traditional ECFE model of parent-child time, then parent time with a licensed parent educator. Meanwhile, children engage in meaningful play and activities with a licensed early childhood educator and volunteers. The community-building dinner provided the opportunity for families, teachers and volunteers to get to know each other as they shared a meal. Post-pilot survey results reveal unanimous participant feelings of connection with other parents, feeling supported in their parenting journey and being thankful for their new “parenting toolkit.” Many indicated they would now consider attending ECFE through their school district, too.
Caring for Kids (CfK), the foundational program of Great Expectations, provides quality early childhood education, parenting resources, and broad wrap-around support services for young kids and their families in partnership with our Quality Provider Network.
2021 Caring for Kids Breakfast
Together let’s celebrate 15 years of Caring for Kids!
Virtual | Wednesday, May 19 | 8 to 8:40 a.m.
Where Great Expectations Start. Grab your breakfast, join us virtually and together let’s raise $150,000 in scholarships for kids—birth to age 5—who are facing barriers to quality early childhood education. Register today!