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Spring
2002
What
is Family Child Care ?
 A
family child care home is any private residence that provides child
care services to children from birth to 12 years of age. Family
child care providers are licensed by the Massachusetts Office of
Child Care Services. Once licensed, the family child care provider
has the choice of working as an independent provider or affiliating
with a system.
Here at Rainbow we have a system of fifteen providers who are located
throughout Worcester. Our providers are hired on the ability to
care for and to promote developmental growth of young children.
Each provider is responsible for the care of up to six children.
This home like setting provides a safe and secure environment for
each child in which they can develop self-confidence, as well as
social and personal awareness. Our philosophy is that children learn
through play. Children will learn in a stimulating environment with
a provider who allows them to learn and grow at their own pace and
play at their own level.
The independent provider manages his/her program completely. These
responsibilities include setting and implementing program policies,
and maintaining enrollment. Many independent providers affiliate
themselves with a support group, which offers the provider the opportunity
to network with other providers. The support group offers training
that is geared to the needs of family child care. Training's may
include workshops in early care and education and becoming successful
small business owners. “Being part of the support group gives
me the opportunity to be with other adults,” states Marcia
Brown-Reale, an independent provider.
Family child care systems are child care agencies that, through
partnerships with family child care providers, offer care and education
to children in a home setting. Systems have been offering child
care services to families in Massachusetts since 1970. Family child
care systems promote and support professional development. Systems
encourage providers to pursue credentials such as CDA, NAFCC accreditation.
Through on going training, monitoring and individual support, the
system enables the provider to develop his/her skills to their highest
potential.
Spotlight
on Volunteer, David Miller
 Reverend
David Miller is a retired Unitarian Universalist Minister. As an
active “retiree”, Dave drives a school bus part-time in
Rutland and Holden. But, on Wednesdays, he comes to Rainbow to volunteer
in our School Age Program. When asked what made him call the agency
a few years ago to see if we needed volunteers, Dave noted that
he enjoys children tremendously and has been involved with children
throughout his career but mostly in a suburban setting. He was interested
in working with a more diverse population in an urban setting. And
he hasn’t been disappointed. Dave notes that “Rainbow
kids are superb! They are bright, friendly and truly special.”
Dave finds himself doing a little bit of everything when he comes
on Wednesdays. He helps with homework, plays recreational games
in the gym, works on arts and crafts projects, reads a book to a
group of children or just chats with one or more of the “kids.”
His one concern is that some of the children struggle with math
because they haven’t learned basic math concepts. When they
work on math problems, they are apt to say “I can’t do
math – I’m dumb.” Dave notes that these children
are not dumb, they just haven’t been taught well.
What keeps Reverend Miller coming back each week to Rainbow? His
answer is “the wonderful kids and the quality staff.”
He states “the nice part of the program is that it is run well
and the staff are doing good work with the children.”
Rainbow is very fortunate to have Dave Miller care about “our
kids.”
Summer
Camp Performing Arts Program
Rainbow has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Worcester Cultural
Commission to provide support for our School Age Summer Camp music,
dance and theatre arts program. In collaboration with the Performing
Arts School of Worcester, all children enrolled in summer camp will
participate in one of these three arts curriculums for six weeks.
Our program theme: “Pride, Patriotism, and Pathways to Empowerment:
Allegiance to Self, Community and Nation Through the Arts”
will give children the opportunity to make simple musical instruments
which they will then learn to play; dance will include creative
movement in the Euro-traditional genre, Latino, and African dance;
theatre arts will include a basic overview of the theatre with appropriate
theatre games, dialogue and scene development. The children will
present a performing arts program on Friday, August 8th for parents
and friends.
The goal of our summer camp performing arts program is multifaceted.
Exposure to the arts will provide youngsters with skills they can
continue to develop throughout their lifetime as well as give them
an awareness and appreciation for the arts and assist in helping
them to develop increased confidence and self-esteem,. As inner
city children, their exposure to the arts is minimum. It is our
hope and expectation that this program will give the children opportunities
for more positive outlets of self-expression. Thanks to the generosity
of the Performing Arts School, Joy of Music Program and the Worcester
Art Museum many of our school age program children receive scholarships
for music, arts and dance programs throughout the school year. However,
our summer program will give opportunities for all the children
to participate in this unique cultural experience.
Thanks to the Worcester Cultural Commission for their assistance
in supporting this valuable program.
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