Our first year in our new Early Childhood Center was truly magical! The thoughtfully designed space has enriched our program in countless ways. Our large, flexible classroom environments have allowed us to increase capacity and plan and implement innovative curriculum that meets the unique needs of all children. The communal spaces have created new opportunities for our parent education and support programs, building vital social connections. The warm and welcoming environment has helped to create a strong sense of community for our children, families and educators. We are so grateful for the essential role that MVYouth played in building the foundation for the future of our early childhood programs!
We continued to explore innovative ways to support our early childhood workforce and attract new educators to the field. We welcomed students from MV Regional High’s School’s ECE Program, providing opportunities for observations and practical experience in the classroom. We also partnered with the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Education and Training and Cape Cod Community College to launch the Early Childhood Education Cohort, which connects new and prospective educators with college coursework and wrap-around supports. It is our hope that this initiative helps to build our ECE workforce across the island!
We are excited to share that we will begin to offer Early Head Start (EHS) services in 2023, targeting families with children birth to three! Our home-based model will build on the learning opportunities in the home environment. During weekly visits, Home Visitors will help parents to identify opportunities to support their child’s development during ordinary experiences that happen each day. Home Visitors and parents will also work together to identify family goals and access the supports needed to achieve them! Our EHS program will complement our well-established Head Start program, which serves families with preschool-age children.