OMART Training & Development, Inc.
"Empowering and Equipping Child Care Providers to Succeed Above Standards"
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Early Childcare Professionals Must Understand 5 Primary Keys to Development:
2. How to keep children safe, feeling secured and remaining healthy.
3. How children’s families support their lives;
4. How and why children’s development is assessed; and
5. How to value and support the diversity of the children, their families and the staff.
Early Childcare Professionals must:
1. CREATE a safe, attractive,and interesting environment for children.
2. PLAN activities and experiences that are age-appropriate for the children’s grotwth and mastering skills.
3. DEVELOP activities which stimulate children’s physical, social,
intellectual and emotional development.
4. FACILITATE children interacting with one another in ways that guide them toward an understanding of one self, others and toward increased self-control.
OMART Training, Consulting & Development providing CDA Training at Congreso
Rudy and Obioma Martin of OMART Training, Consulting & Development (plus their son Paul) joined Mayor's Nutter's Press Conference announcing over a million and half additional Stimulus Training dollars for Philadelphians.
"Educating Philadelphians for diverse, lifelong careers is absolutely critical in today’s ever-changing economy,” said Mayor Nutter. “We want to make sure people have the strong skills they need -– to compete in a constantly evolving job market. That’s what we mean when we say we want to build strong human capital, and it’s how we’ll get people in jobs today and improve Philadelphia’s position in a global labor market for tomorrow.”
The announcement was made at Congreso de Latinos Unidos, recipient of up to $150,000 for a diesel mechanics and technicians program in partnership with Lincoln Technical Institute. In the previous round of funding, Congreso de Latinos Unidos was awarded $300,000 for a childhood development associate program. Participants in that program, who are expected to graduate later this month and all have employment lined up upon graduation, attended the event.
The accelerated CDA Training Program is a 10 week program that provides unemployed participants with the training & education necessary to obtain the national credential.
The participants are required to work as classroom aides, assistant teachers and teachers within the childcare industry.
On Janauary 21, 2010, ALL 11 students will have successfully completed the training and will be graduating on that day!!!
I am happy to report that every graduate is employed with a quality Day Care Center in Philadelphia at an average wage of $10.00 per hour.
Becasue of our highly successful training and job placement outcomes, we are contracted to provide additional CDA training.
Obioma Martin,
President
OMART Training, Conuslting and Development
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EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT - "WHAT'S NEW WITH KEYSTONE STARS"
Keystone STARS has been allocated a significant amount of money through the ARRA stimulus money through the Obama administration for the purpose of improving quality in Early Education programs, and Infant/ Toddler care. What this means is that there is money ouit there for your programs but you have to "Pay to Play" by meeting and aligning your programs to their standards. This money will not last forever. just like everything else if you don't use it you loose it. This is why we have to pay
… ContinuePosted by Obioma Martin on February 7, 2010 at 1:00pm
Talking points when meeting with your legislators –
Please note that these talking points are simply a tool to help you frame your messages to legislators. Please use your OWN words, beliefs, and experiences in your letters, emails, etc.
Your primary goals when meeting with your legislators are:
1. Ask legislators about their involvement in or views on early education. It is incredibly helpful to start your conversation with legislators by finding out what they know about
… ContinuePosted by Obioma Martin on January 24, 2010 at 12:30pm
Wage Survey
PACCA's 2008 Wage and Benefit Survey (6/12/08)
On February 9, 2008 the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) conducted a survey to study the current level of wages and benefits for child care teaching staff in Pennsylvania. The study also compared the wage and benefit levels to those from a previous study done in 2005. Approximately 3,700… Continue
Posted by Obioma Martin on November 22, 2009 at 7:30am
How do you restore your soul and find balance?
What do you do at the end of a long day to restore your soul and to renew your mind, so that you are recentered, refresh and rejuvenate… Continue
Posted by Obioma Martin on November 10, 2009 at 12:40am — 1 Comment
New Year, New Leadership
Let's CONNECT, COLLABORATE, and COMMUNICATE so that together we will raise excellent standards of professional child care services that will create a strong foundation for our children to grow, develop and ultimately flourish as productive adults with significant success and sustainability!!!!
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As you know, in December Estelle Richman resigned as Secretary of Public Welfare in December to become Chief Operating Officer at the US Housing and Urban Development agency. The Governor has nominated Harriet Dichter to succeed Richman as secretary. Her nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. Todd Klunk is now the Acting Deputy Secretary of OCDEL and Marci Walters has become acting Bureau Director for Finance, Administration and Planning. We look forward to Harriet’s continued support of our agenda as she uses her expertise to serve Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens.
Senate Education Committee hearing on Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts
On December 16, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on SB 1073 and Senator Piccola’s amendment regarding PA Pre-K Counts. The committee voted in favor of the amended version of SB1073 and to move to the Senate for consideration. Attached is the language for the bill.
OCDEL had worked for several months with the committee’s staff to address their concerns and modify the original language of the bill which would have required co-pays to families earning between 235% - 300% of poverty. The amended version of SB 1073 would require the Department to
•Establish guidelines for grantees to partner and collaborate with Head Start, Child Care Works and other child care programs as they conduct outreach/recruitment activities;
•Give higher priority in funding of grantees to providers that have the highest number or highest percentage of at risk children in their communities;
•Make sure that the program is disbursed throughout the commonwealth;
•Verify the residency and income of applicants;
•Enable the Auditor General to conduct audits and reviews of the program; and
•Authorize a study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee into the efficacy of requiring copays for families between the income eligibility requirements for Head Start and Child Care Works and the income level for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts.
In her testimony, Harriet addressed OCDEL’s concerns regarding co-pays and provided evidence that co-pays would be damaging to Pennsylvania’s families and to the program:
“We agree that no movement should be made on imposing co-pays for our families that make too much to be eligible for Head Start or Child Care Works subsidy but do not make enough to be able to pay for quality pre-kindergarten services until the issue has been thoroughly examined. The study proposed in the legislation would examine the risk status of children living in families earning between 235% - 300% of the federal poverty level as well as the ability for these families to afford high quality pre-kindergarten services. If, as research has shown, children in this income bracket are at risk for school failure yet their families are unable to pay for high quality services, the commonwealth will receive the same return on investment in these children as we will in children from poorer families.
Recently, the National Institute for Early education Research (NIEER) economic and child performance data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS-K) and found a marked performance gap between kindergarten children whose family federal poverty level falls between 235%-300%, and children above the 300% income level. Children in this income group are underperforming, compared to their peers from lower income families, in the area of math. They are also significantly underperforming compared to their peers with family incomes above 300% of the federal poverty line. This indicates that this group of children is as much at risk as the children who qualify for programs targeting children below the poverty line.
Also, according to the Self-Sufficiency Standard Index developed by the Department of Labor and Industry, families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level do not have sufficient income to pay for the quality pre-kindergarten that can prepare their children for school. ”
Here’s what you can do:
In your communications with school leadership, community leaders and legislators, it is important to reinforce that children who live in families earning between 235% - 300% are at risk and need access to quality early education because:
1.evidence shows that they are at equal and sometimes higher risk for failing in school than poorer children;
2.families in this income range cannot afford early education in addition to other basic living expenses; and
3.evidence shows that these children make significant developmental progress in a high quality early education program, providing the same return on investment for communities.
Attached is a short backgrounder on the research that supports these statements.
Mid-year state revenues down, outlook for outreach around 2010- 2011 budget
On December 15, Governor Rendell released mid-year state budget revenues and indicated that revenues are below projections by $217 million for the first five months of the fiscal year. Without additional cuts, the administration projects a revenue shortfall of $450 million when the current budget year ends June 30. That amount would represent 1.5 percent of estimated General Fund revenues. The Administration has provided direction to each Department regarding additional cuts, and OCDEL is in the process of determining cuts for the Office.
Here’s what you can do:
Although not a huge surprise, the fact that the economy is still struggling means that budgets will again be tight and outreach and education to our leaders is vital to keep early education a priority.
The early childhood community made a fantastic effort last year to educate our decisionmakers and moved some of our legislators into a more positive position on early education. Now is the time to build on this momentum.
Take Action and Get in Position - Contact Me Today!!!!
Obioma Martin
Visionary. Childcare Expert.
Trainer. Consultant
215-605-6193
Events
February 1
Monday
-
CDA (Child Development Associate)
February 1, 2010 at 12:30pm to July 29, 2010 at 2:30pm – Aggie's Child Care
February 15
Monday
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Inclusive Practices
February 15, 2010 from 3pm to 5pm – Muirs Little Scholars
February 26
Friday
February 27
Saturday
March 13
Saturday
2010 THE YEAR OF COMPLETION, DIVINE ECONOMY AND FULFILLMENT
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Guberatorial Election
Save the Date!
MONDAY, APRIL 12, 7 PM
Gubernatorial Candidates Forum
on Children and Youth Issues
Sponsored by PCCY (Public Citizens for Children and Youth)
in cooperation with a coalition of Southeast Pennsylvania-based
children’s advocacy groups*
(Find out where our next governor stands on education, children’s health care, juvenile justice, school funding, health, early childhood education and more.)
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Created by Obioma Martin Jan 24, 2010 at 2:26pm. Last updated by Obioma Martin Jan 24.
Jan 14 2010 Mayor Nutter's Press Conference: 1.5+ million Training $$$$
Funds Will Help Hundreds of Philadelphians Train for and Find Good Jobs
PHILADELPHIA – Today, Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (WIB) awarded $1,537,225 in federal Recovery Act funding slated for 10 separate workforce development programs that will train a total of 558 people. Coupled with the $3 million announced over the summer that will train over 600 people, ARRA will now have put nearly $5 million in work
… ContinueCreated by Obioma Martin Jan 20, 2010 at 10:43pm. Last updated by Obioma Martin Jan 21.
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Created by Obioma Martin Nov 1, 2009 at 5:32am. Last updated by Obioma Martin Nov. 1, 2009.
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