The goal of the Arizona
Kith and Kin Project is to improve the quality of care provided
by “kith and kin” (friends and family) child care
providers. Kith and kin providers care for the children of
friends and family members and are, for the most part, unregulated
and untrained.
The Arizona Kith and Kin Project is funded by the Arizona
Republic/12 News Season for Sharing, City of Tempe-H2O Funds,
Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families,
and Valley of the Sun United
Way,
JP Morgan Chase, and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.
Kith and Kin Project History
Recent national and local research has shown that kith and
kin providers, particularly in low-income communities, care
for more than 50 percent of children with working parents.
Many families prefer this form of care due to cultural and
language considerations. Yet, there is no support or training
available to these child care providers.
In response, ASCC developed the “Arizona Kith and Kin
Project” in March of 1999. ASCC, along with a coalition
of organizations, developed the project to strengthen the
quality and reliability of kith and kin child care in Arizona.
The Arizona Kith and Kin Project uses small support-training
groups as the delivery method. The support-training groups
meet weekly for fourteen (14) weeks and to date, the majority
of the groups are facilitated in Spanish.
Kith and Kin Project Objectives
| • |
Provide
early childhood training and support to kith and kin child
care providers. |
| • |
Increase the kith and kin providers’
knowledge of the elements of quality child care and of
available community training and support resources. |
| • |
Increase the kith and kin providers’
perceptions of the reliability and quality of the care
they provide and their level of satisfaction with being
child caregivers. |
Project Curriculum
The following subjects are covered in each two-week session:
| • |
Guidance
and Discipline |
| • |
Daily Schedule Planning |
| • |
Nutrition |
| • |
Parent/Caregiver Relationships (including
business practices) |
| • |
Language and Literacy (including
a Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) book event and distribution) |
| • |
Two guest speakers |
| • |
Brain Development |
Additional topics and speakers are presented based on the
individual needs and requests of the group and need for specialized
training.
Project Guidelines
| • |
Each support
training meeting is two hours in length |
| • |
The groups meet once a week |
| • |
Each group meets for a 14 week session |
| • |
Six people minimum to start group |
| • |
20 people in each group (maximum) |
Eligibility
The Arizona Kith and Kin Project is open to kith and kin providers
in Maricopa County and Pinal County, space permitting.
Community Partners
Arizona Kith and Kin Project collaborative partners include:
| • |
Catholic Social Service—Westside Head Start |
| • |
Murphy Head Start |
| • |
Southwest Human Development |
| • |
The Stardust House |
| • |
Wilson Head Start |
| • |
East Valley Family Resource Center |
| • |
Arizona Children’s Association |
| • |
Cartwright Family Resource Center |
| • |
Pendergast Pupil Services |
| • |
University Presbyterian Church |
| • |
Community Alliance Against Family Abuse |
| • |
United Methodist Church |
For information on the Arizona Kith and Kin
Project, please contact:
480-829-0500 x 126 (Maricopa County)
800-535-4599 x 126 (Toll Free)
Fax: 480-820-7288
480-820-7288 (Main fax)
Email: agarcia@asccaz.org
Association for Supportive Child Care
3910 S. Rural Rd., Suite E • Tempe, AZ 85282
480-829-0500 • 1-800-535-4599 (Toll Free)
Click here for email addresses |
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