Some of our Community Collaborations

SKCDC's Head Start program partners with several public school systems to provide prekindergarten programs.  The programs are designed to prepare four year old children for success in kindergarten and beyond.  Family involvement includes home visiting, parent conferences, parent meetings, and family events.

This program, developed in partnership with the Capital Area Vocational Center/Augusta Public Schools serves the infants and toddlers of parenting teens. Children receive comprehensive early care and education services while their parents pursue high school diplomas and train for jobs that will support their family’s self-sufficiency.

We have joined with Kennebec Valley Community Action Program Healthy Families and the Maine Parent Federation Parents as Teachers, two community based home visiting programs, to provide education, support and encouragement to expectant parents to gain skills and use resources to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life. Enhancing parent/child relationships, ensuring healthy outcomes for children, promoting child growth and development, teaching problem solving skills, improving the family’s support system and establishing trusting and nurturing relationships are some of the goals of the program. Families access SKCDC’s full-day programs, or home-based program, following the birth of their babies.

HomeStart, a partnership between SKCDC and the Family Child Care community, expands family access to comprehensive Head Start and Child Care services in full day, full year home settings while enhancing the quality of care through training and support opportunities for family child care providers.

SKCDC’s programs serve as work sites for community programs such as Goodwill, ASPIRE (the State Welfare Training Program), the University of Maine-Augusta, the University of Maine-Farmington and area high school Child Development training programs. Approximately 24 student placements from the Capital Area Technical Center (CATC) Early Childhood Program participate in our classrooms annually.

In collaboration with Child Care Options, staff and family child care providers participate in the CDA competency based training program. Staff and Providers participate in "Maine Roads to Quality" coursework and receive support and technical assistance as they gain the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully receive their CDA credential.

Foster Grandparents are working with Early Head Start and Head Start children in classrooms, offering a valuable generational experience for children and families.

A collaboration of community agencies including SKCDC has, since 1994, offers parenting education classes serving both parents and children. Financial support is provided by the Department of Health & Human Services.

Since 1997, our Agency has worked to increase male involvement in the program. Focus groups, trainings and community events have heightened awareness and provided staff and parents with opportunities to establish goals and facilitate involvement of more men in Early Head Start/Head Start and in the lives of children.

In an effort to make WIC services more accessible for our families, we collaborate with HealthReach Network, providing space for a WIC clinic in one of our Child Development Centers.

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA), a Healthy Maine Partnership, is a collaboration of individuals and community partners working together to improve the quality of life of the people living in communities of the greater capital area.  Through community forums, workgroups, and special projects, HCCA's mission is to increase physical activity, support nutrition, and decrease tobacco use and exposure.  Individuals can access informaiton to quit or reduce tobacco use, find hiking trails in their community, find nutrition education programs, and much more.  SKCDC has partnered in several projects with HCCA, including a Community Garden project at South Gardiner Head Start center, Real Foods project involving families in learning about healhy foods, cooking together, menu planning, and food safety and sanitation.  Several staff members participated in Tobacco Awareness training, learning useful strategies to promote smoking cessation.  We help support the Smoke Free Pledge kits with families.  HCCA representatives participate on the Healthy Services Advisory Committee and the Parent/Staff Nutrition Committee.

SKCDC parents have participated as part of this statewide low-income group since 1985. M.A.I.N. meets regularly and sets legislative goals and priorities. SKCDC parents have testified at the legislature on numerous issues such as expanded health care for children, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families increases, and welfare reform. They have been involved in supporting efforts to increase parent access to health insurance, and in the promotion of legislation for early care and education programs.