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Children's Center Collaborative - Quality Preschool Education

A child's intellectual, emotional, social, and moral development is shaped by experiences and education in the earliest years.  A quality early educational experience is vital to the future success of children.  Yet, for most families, both parents must work just to make ends meet.  So, teaching the primary skills to children must be done in partnership with parents and an outside care giver.

The Children's Center Collaborative offers a learning environment that promotes children's development to reach their full potential.  Our program is unique in that it provides one preschool by two expert child development programs.  This partnership offers low income families the highest quality care for their children and support for their family at no cost.

Our Unique Program . . .

The Children's Center Collaborative is a preschool program that is a partnership between two organizations specializing in the care and education of children:

Child Development Programs & Services
Butte County Office of Education

Head Start
E-Center

Children who attend the program are able to take advantage of what is offered academically and developmentally from both programs.

Program Activities . . .

The preschool classroom experience provides children with opportunities to learn new skills and to learn about themselves.  Most learning comes through a natural interaction in a rich environment rather than the studying that comes later in life.  Children in our program learn basic educational skills through music, art, story time, math play, and science exploration.  These activities will also support physical development and coordination, in addition to dramatic play and outdoor fun.  Social and emotional skills will also be learned through sharing, listening, and communication practice.

Family Involvement . . .

The home is the primary learning environment, and parents are children's first teacher.  For that reason, the Children's Center Collaborative wants to support parents and homes have the tools they need.

Home Visits:  Parents of the preschoolers have the opportunity to participate in weekly home visits, last 1 1/2 hours, with a Family Educator.

Groupings:  Children and parents participate in group activities twice a month at the Children's Center or on field trips.

Individualized Support:  The Family Educator works with the parents and children to identify strengths and goals for the family, and provides resources to meet those goals.

Parent Advisors:  Parents are welcome to participate in the classroom and are encouraged to offer input and ideas for a better program.  Parents can also elect to be on an advisory committee to be more involved in the program decisions.

Program Schedules . . .

The Children's Center Collaborative offers two program options for families, half day and full day.

Half day programs:  8:00 to 11:30 or 12:30 to 4:30
Full day programs:  7:30 to 5:30

Half day programs provide either breakfast and lunch for morning students, or lunch and an afternoon snack for afternoon students.  Full day programs offer breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.

Eligibility & Enrollment . . .

To enroll in the Children's Center Collaborative, phone one of the following numbers for an application:

Chico & Paradise - 891-2807
Oroville & Gridley - 538-7719

Eligibility is based on a number of factors, with income level and age being the primary requirement.  It is best to phone the numbers above to determine how your family fits within the eligibility and prioritization for enrollment.

Program Cost . . .

The cost of the program for eligible low-income families is absolutely free.

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The Children's Center Collaborative is a partnership between Head Start, E-Center and Child Development Programs and Services, Butte County Office of Education.

For more information

Contact:
Heather Senske - Administrator
Butte County Office of Education
1870 Bird Street, Oroville, CA, 95965
Phone: (530) 532-5763
Fax:     (530) 532-5698
Email: hsenske@bcoe.org

Diana Becerra - Direct Service Coordinator - Gridley / Oroville
Phone:  (530) 532-5622
Email:  dbecerra@bcoe.org

Diana Drobny - Direct Services Coordinator - Chico / Oroville
Phone: (530) 532-5657
Email: ddrobny@bcoe.org