Parent Handbook

Oberlin Early Childhood Center

..nurtures the healthy growth of young children and their families by providing

• the highest quality early childhood education program with wrap around child care services;
• an environment that is safe, stimulating and appropriate to the stage of development of each child;
• support to the diversity of families of all income levels from the local community and surrounding area; and
• a nationally accredited early childhood facility.

National Accreditation by

The National Association for the Education of Young Children

Recipient of the 2000 Irene Bandy-Hedden Award

Ohio Department of Education, Early Childhood Division

Introduction

Executive Director's Message

I welcome your child into The Oberlin Early Childhood Center (OECC) family where the staff nurtures the healthy growth of children and their families.  OECC is an early childhood education center that provides wrap around full-day services for families. Children come to this center from diverse cultural, racial and economic backgrounds, and we share a common investment in the care, education and nurturing of their children.  OECC's environment is staffed with caring teachers who respect children and their families. The center has been designated as a recipient of the 2000 Ohio Department of Education, Early Childhood Division's Irene Bandy-Hedden Award for exemplary early childhood education programs. We are pleased that you have selected our center to be part of your child’s growing years.

OECC Philosophy

It is the aim of the Oberlin Early Childhood Center staff to care for children and their families within an environment that provides a strong sense of security and emotional support while upholding standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  The individual needs and interests of each child are taken into consideration while fostering a sense of independence and learning through play. Oberlin Early Childhood Center considers a child’s potential growth in the social, emotional, language, intellectual, creative and physical domains.  Varied community and professional resources support our program. It is our goal to respect the diversity of families and to support them as partners in the task of nurturing their children.

Purpose

OECC provides quality childcare for children age’s three months to eight years.  OECC’s child-centered education program provides opportunities for creativity and problem solving through developmentally appropriate activities that encourages creative problem solving and inquiry. The learning activities are scheduled to meet the needs of individual children, and instill a sense of security.

Oberlin Early Childhood Center History

The Oberlin Early Childhood Center (OECC), founded in 1968, began as an experimental summer program for low-income preschoolers.  Originally located in the basement of Christ Episcopal Church, the program moved within months to larger quarters in the basement of First Church.  This low-cost program quickly became popular with families of all socio-economic backgrounds.

Before incorporation, the Center’s fiscal agent was the Oberlin Consumers Co-op whose manager was James "Bill" Long.  The Co-op also provided support for the Center through its "Causes Fund" now called the Bill Long Foundation.  In 1973 the Center gained status as a nonprofit corporation and received its first United Way grant.

In 1973 it was clear that the growing program needed it’s own space.  With the influence of Evan Nord of the Nordson Corporation, the Nordson Foundation agreed to build a facility on land located on East College Street. Ground was broken in 1975 and in April of 1976 the building was completed and the program moved to 317 East College Street.  The support continued with the Nord family’s support through establishment of the Oberlin Early Childhood Center Fund and the Oberlin Early Childhood Center Building Fund-The Nord Family Foundation to offset the cost of building maintenance and utilities.

1987 brought programming questions.  The Nordson Foundation contracted with the High/Scope Foundation of Ypsilanti, Michigan to conduct a comprehensive critique of the facility and programming.  The result was the implementation of a full time Programming Director to work in conjunction with the staff to enhance the curriculum and center related activities.

OECC has seen many changes in the needs of its children and families as well as in funding streams.  Federal funding cuts have made an impact on the program and the support of funds received from the City of Oberlin, Oberlin College as well as foundation grants helps to sustain the program.  Contracts are in place with the Department of Human Services of Lorain, Cuyahoga, Huron and Medina counties to provide tuition reimbursement for low-income families.

Through the years OECC has remained an early childhood program that has focused on comprehensive quality services for families of all incomes.  In January 1998 the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited OECC giving it the hallmark of an exemplary program.

Department of Human Services License

Our license is issued by the State Department of Human Services is posted in the lobby.  Representatives of the licensing agency regularly visit, review and evaluate OECC for rules and regulations compliance twice yearly.  Reports are available for review from the Department of Human Services 1(800) 686-1581.

National Accreditation

The National Academy of Early childhood Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children has validated OECC as an accredited early childhood program. This accreditation is awarded to exemplary early childhood programs that meet the Academy and NAEYC criteria, which includes:

• Qualified staff with degrees/credentials in early childhood or child development;
• An enriched, safe, healthy learning environment  which supports all areas of child’s growth and development: physical, social-emotional, cognitive, linguistic, and creative;
• Respect for the diversity of children and families and inclusion of diversity in all aspects of the programs, and
• A meaningful partnership with families, including family participation in program decision-making and support for their primary role in the lives of their children.

Policy of NonDiscrimination

It is OECC policy to provide equal educational opportunity to its clients and equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, or sex.  Our primary objectives are:

• No exclusion or segregation of persons from services because of race, ethnicity, or sex.
• No discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex with regard to recruitment, hiring, position assignment, promotion practices, or other conditions of employment.
• No discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex in the selection of member selected to serve on the Board of Trustees and/or other governing bodies.
• No contractual agreements for work or other services with agencies or firms that are in violation of state and federal regulations or current court ruling regarding equal employment opportunities.

The implementation of this policy will be the responsibility of the Executive Director in cooperation with OECC’s Board of Trustees.

Abuse Reporting Requirement

By law, each OECC staff member must report to the Executive or Assistant Director when there is suspected child abuse or neglect.  The Executive Director will then notify the local office of Children’s Services.