Georgia Department of Public Health: Babies Can't Wait
Babies Can't Wait (BCW) is Georgia's statewide interagency
service delivery system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or
disabilities and their families. BCW is established by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) which
guarantees all eligible children, regardless of their disability, access to
services that will enhance their development. Additional information about IDEA
and national efforts supporting the implementation of the early childhood
provisions of the law is available through the National Early Childhood Technical
Assistance Center
The Georgia Department of Public Health is the lead
agency administering the Babies Can't Wait Program in Georgia. The Division
ensures that:
- services
are provided in accordance with federal guidelines;
- families
have access to the services which are needed to enhance their child's
development; and
- training
is available to ensure that professionals who work with children and
families have up-to-date information.
Babies Can't Wait is administered through 18 District
offices throughout the state. Through the 18 offices, children and families in
every county in Georgia can access early intervention services. Anyone can
refer a child to Babies Can't Wait. In order to refer a child to BCW for an
evaluation, contact the district office which serves the county in which the
child and family reside. You may use the Children and Youth with Special Needs Coordinator Contact List for
information on how to reach local Babies Can't Wait Programs.
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
NEA Is Committed to Improving Early Childhood Education
High quality early childhood education represents one of
the best investments our country can make. NEA believes it's a common sense
investment we can't afford to pass up. NEA recommends, among other things:
o
Free, publicly funded, quality kindergarten
programs in all states.
o Mandatory full-day kindergarten. Just 14 states require
school districts to offer full-day kindergarten.
o Optional free, publicly funded, quality
"universal" pre-kindergarten programs for all three- and
four-year-old children whose parents choose to enroll them. Three states are
moving toward such a program - Georgia, New York and Oklahoma.
o Federal funds to make pre-kindergarten programs available
for all three- and four-year-old children from disadvantaged families. State
and local governments should provide the additional funds necessary to make
pre-kindergarten available for all three- and four-year old children.
o Dedicated funding for early childhood education. Public
schools should be the primary provider of pre-kindergarten programs, and
additional funding must be allocated to finance them in the same manner as K-12
schools.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Early
Childhood Director
To provide leadership and supervision across all areas of
the Early Childhood programs. Directly supervise staff – education, social
service, support, etc. Providing professional leadership through the following:
supporting teachers with lesson plans and curriculum implementation, holding
case conferences with social service staff, scheduling in-service training,
providing staff development workshops and holding parent meetings.
Requirements:
Master’s
Degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education
New
York State Teaching certificate (preschool, nursery)
2 to
5 years of early childhood teaching experience & 2 to-5 years of
supervisory experience
Commitment
to Early Childhood Education and proven ability to collaborate and motivate
