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EDUCARE is Coming to Oklahoma City |
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The groundbreaking ceremony for Educare, a high quality early care and education program serving young children, was held November 5 in south Oklahoma City. Governor and Mrs. Henry, Mayor Mick Cornet, Bob Ross and George Kaiser were among the guests for this exciting event. Educare comes to Oklahoma City through a collaboration among Sunbeam Family Services, the Inasmuch Foundation, Community Action Agency and Oklahoma City Public Schools. The program will combine Head Start, Early Head Start and pre-K dollars to fund quality child care and education for 200 at risk children birth through age five. Within each classroom will be a bachelor’s level teacher, an associate’s level |
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Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony is 2 1/2 year old Natalia Guerrero. |
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teacher and a para-professional. This will provide lower staff to
child ratios with eight children per infant and toddler classroom and 17
The first Educare center originated in Chicago and there are now centers located in Omaha, Milwaukee, Denver and Tulsa. Oklahoma will be the only state with two centers when OKC Educare opens in early 2009. Oklahoma City Educare will be
unique within the Educare network because it will be the only center
specializing in and offering infant and early childhood mental health
services on site. A diagnostic nursery will offer a thorough assessment
of and recommendations for children and families exhibiting mental
health issues/concerns. Through a collaboration with the
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children per preschool classroom. Parent participation will be an
essential part of the program. Parents will be encouraged to volunteer
in classrooms and to take part in services offered on site.
OUHSC
Department of Psychiatry, fellows and residents from that program will
assist in the assessment process. The therapeutic nursery will provide
individual, small group and family therapy on site. Additionally, infant
massage classes and parent education/support groups will be offered.
Oklahoma City Educare‘s comprehensive infant and early childhood mental
health services will be a resource locally and for the state.