Head Start Child Care Consultant
Laura Charlesworth - 1989
HDFS Major
Additional Education: She has 11 credits toward her Early Childhood Masters
Job Title: Head Start Child Care Consultant
Employer: Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Position Description: Laura works with Child Care Providers (Family Homes, Group Homes and Day Care Centers) to provide Head Start Services to all eligible children at their site. She works with the Providers to improve the quality of services that they provide. Each site they contract with must meet the Head Start Performance Standards, which exceed Pennsylvania's DPW standards for Providers. She performs developmental screenings and assessments on all Head Start children. She writes goal plans for each child and meets with the parents twice a year to discuss their child's development. They were one of the first programs in the country to develop partnerships with Child Care Providers and have the largest network of providers. She has been involved with the program since the beginning and have been privileged to see Providers that have made great improvements in their sites.
Salary Range: $ 17,000 - $27,000
Previously Held Positions: She was a Head Start Home Base Visitor for 10 years
Courses Found Most Helpful: Parenting, Interpersonal Relationships & Child Development
How HDFS Helped to Prepare Her: “One of the major skills necessary for my position is good communication skills. When I meet with parents they often are looking for parenting tips. The ability to encourage others to see changes that they need to make and support them through the process of improvement. I have also come across many cases of domestic violence and felt well prepared for understanding the dynamics of these families.”
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