EARLY CHILDHOOD

When your early childhood program is listed with Starting Point, you’ll get free referrals, marketing and updates on important early childhood developments. We offer training, education and credentials for administrators, teachers and staff. We’ll help you become quality-rated through the State of Ohio Step Up to Quality program, get accredited by the NAEYC (centers) or NAFCC (family child care homes) and earn Starting Point’s Care for Kids and Care for Kids’ Gold Star certificates for excellence in family child care homes. We also offer help, equipment and support to centers and homes caring for children with special needs.

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OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST)

If you offer OST activities in Cuyahoga County, you’ll get free referrals and marketing by filling out and submitting a quick two-page form. Families and youth count on us for information on after-school, out-of-school time and summer camp programs in their neighborhoods. We also issue periodic requests for proposals for out-of-school time proposals that meet specific criteria. If you have questions, call an out-of-school time staff representative at 216.575.0061, or log onto MyCom@starting-point.org

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FUNDED AGENCIES

If you’re an agency or organization that receives funding from Starting Point, login here to find the information, forms and manuals you need, including Report Forms, Billing Forms, Instructor Manuals, Financial Manuals and Requests for Proposals for Special Needs and Regional Family Child Care Home Administration.

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MATERIALS FOR PARENTS

Starting Point has a wealth of valuable materials, like The Daily Parent, you can download to pass on to the families of children you serve. You can also purchase our popular set of books on fostering resilience, Magic Helpers (for children) and Building Blocks (for early childhood professionals and parents) as well as our new book on nurturing boys, Wired to Move: Facts and Strategies for Nurturing Boys in an Early Childhood Settings in our online Store.

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WHAT'S NEW

NEW AT STEP UP TO QUALITY (SUTQ)

SUTQ program now offers an expanded rating system of 1-5 stars. Find out about becoming SUTQ quality rated by contacting Karla Martin at 216.575.0061 or Karla.Martin@starting–point.org. Or log onto jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/stepUPQuality.stm.

LITERACY

To help children improve reading skills, Starting Point offers literacy programs and tools to after-school programs.

  • Lit Kits for Kids is a progressive series of three kits—Early Reader Kit, Developing Reader Kit and Fluent Reader Kit—all designed to engage children and their tutors in meaningful literacy activities to improve reading skills. They’re “fun” for children and easy-to-use for tutors or families. Each kit contains two books and interactive skill-building activities. Order your kits here.

BOYS’ PROJECT

Starting Point is addressing the special needs of boys in early childhood through this innovative first-in-the-nation initiative. If you’ve ever wondered how boys’ brains work and how to get the most out of their special attributes, arrange a training session for your staff. Call Constance Walker at 575-0061 or e-mail constance.walker @starting-point.org.or e-mail

LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN!

We need more men to become early childhood professionals. This is especially important to the boys in our classrooms. Think about hiring quality males for your program and encouraging men to apply for open positions. Bring in men to read to boys, volunteer and talk about their jobs, Contact Men In Early Childhood for more information.
ALERTS

    NEW BOOK ON BOYS. Starting Point has a new book for early childhood teachers, Wired to Move: Facts and Strategies for Nurturing Boys in an Early Childhood Settings,published by Gryphon House. It’ll help you understand why boys’ brains work differently, discover strategies for helping them succeed and for working with African American and Hispanic/Latino boys. Order your copy.
    MAGIC HELPERS BOOK. Now you can order a supply of this much-loved Starting Point book online. It shows young children how to be resilient in the face of life’s challenges. The teacher /parent supplement Building Blocks shows you how to reinforce the book’s lessons in the classroom. It’s available online too. See our Store. REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS. Get current Requests for Proposals(RFP) here.
Call the Starting Point Parent Hot Line for information on these programs: 216.575.0061, 800.880.0971 (toll-free) or TTY 800.750.0750.