READYGO

Readying Educators And Developing Young Children for Great Outcomes

OVERVIEW

In 2019, MASSCAP was awarded a synergy grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts (THFCM) for a new early education and care workforce development initiative called READYGO, Readying Educators And Developing Young Children for Great Outcomes. The first year of the project, 2020, was a planning year. Following the planning year, the project entered a pilot phase (2021), and it will be followed by implementation (2022 and beyond).

GOAL

To maximize the number and outcomes of children in Early Education and Care/Head Start programs by:

• Creating trauma-informed learning environments through new behavioral management skills to successfully impact children’s social and emotional health and academic achievement  
• Increasing educators’ capacity to deliver trauma-informed care and foster more equitable educational outcomes for children 

PROBLEM

• An increase in number of children experiencing trauma from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has negative impacts on learning in the classroom for all children.
• As a result, some Early Education and Care/Head Start programs have limited classroom capacity. 
• Current solutions to address behavioral issues use a piecemeal approach (outside referrals, limited professional services, and curricula that focuses on social and emotional development) and do not foster resiliency in children.

APPROACH

• Develop two 4-credit courses on trauma-informed learning environments and behavioral management skills to be included in early educators’ degree work and certification through Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) and Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) 
• Provide workforce education and training in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at 3 community-based Early Education and Care/Head Start providers: Making Opportunity Count (MOC), Worcester Community Action Councill (WCAC), and The YMCA of Central MA
• Use a research-based approach to develop a scalable model for system-wide changes to provide early educators with the skills and credentials needed to optimize outcomes for children in their classrooms 

PROJECT TEAM

• This project is led by MASSCAP, the state association representing the 23 Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts which together provide early education and care for more than 20,000 children. 
• The Leadership Team is comprised of representatives from Edward Street Child Services, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, MASSCAP, MOC, The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts (THFCM), WCAC, and The YMCA of Central MA childcare programs.
• The Advisory Council is comprised of representatives from Central MA StrongStart & Connected Beginnings, Children’s Health Watch, MA Association of Early Education and Care, MA Head Start Association, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, SEIU Education & Support Fund, Strategies for Children, UMass Medical School, Worcester Technical High School. 
• The Institute for Community Health is providing evaluation services for this project.