Photo courtesy of Deborah VanderGaast, Tipton Adaptive Daycare
Arlington, VA – Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), National Head Start Association (NHSA), and National Indian Child Care Association (NICCA) would like to congratulate Deborah VanderGaast and the staff at Tipton Adaptive Daycare in Tipton, Iowa. They have been named Provider of the Month for November 2015.
The Provider of the Month campaign was launched earlier this year in conjunction with Provider Appreciation Day on May 8, 2015 to honor outstanding child care providers and early childhood educators who exemplify what it means to be a quality care provider for children.
Creating an environment where children with disabilities or special medical needs can grow and thrive is not an easy task – but Deborah VanderGaast and her staff at Tipton Adaptive Daycare go above and beyond every day with the children in their care to do just that!
VanderGaast herself is a registered nurse with a BSN, and is a former lead preschool teacher for the U.S. Navy Children’s Center in Long Beach, California. She has 36 years of experience working with children and people who are differently abled.
Tipton Adaptive Daycare focuses on play-based learning, with targeted curricula for each age group and an emphasis on developing the skills needed for school readiness and basic executive functioning. The activities are always variable to accommodate children with physical or learning disabilities, so all children can participate in the learning.
VanderGaast took a medical emergency that almost caused the death of her own daughter while in child care, and turned it into a lifelong career serving children with special needs. She used this skill to fill a gap in her own rural community – a lack of care for children with medical issues and physical disabilities.
We’re so grateful to exemplary providers Deborah VanderGaast and her staff – they’re adding significant value to the development and overall health and well-being of the children in their care, and bringing added resources to a rural community.
Congratulations to Deborah VanderGaast and the staff at Tipton Adaptive Daycare! VanderGaast will be recognized at the Child Care Aware® of America 2016 symposium alongside other exemplary providers across the country.
Nominate an Outstanding Provider
Do you know an outstanding provider or early childhood educator who is deserving of the Provider of the Month award? Visit www.providerappreciationday.org for details on how to nominate them, and help Child Care Aware® of America and partner organizations honor those providers that go above and beyond every day!
Child Care Aware of America
Child Care Aware of America is our nation’s leading voice for child care. CCAoA works with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. CCAoA leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families. To learn more, visit usa.childcareaware.org. Follow them on Twitter @ChildCareAware and on Facebook at facebook.com/childcareaware.
National Association for the Education of Young Children
NAEYC’s mission is to promote high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. NAEYC advances a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and supports all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. Learn more at www.naeyc.org.
National Association for Family Child Care
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care. NAFCC accomplishes this mission by strengthening state and local associations as the primary support system for individual family child care providers, promoting a professional accreditation program which recognizes and encourages quality child care for children, representing family child care providers by advocating for their needs and collaborating with other organizations, and promoting the diversity of the family child care profession. Learn more at www.nafcc.org.
National Head Start Association
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life. The opportunities offered by Head Start lead to healthier, empowered children and families, and stronger, more vibrant communities. NHSA is the voice for more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 1,600 Head Start grantees in the United States. For more information about NHSA, visit www.nhsa.org.
National Indian Child Care Association
The mission of National Indian Child Care Association is to unify tribes and tribal organizations to promote high quality culturally relevant child care and development. National Indian Child Care Association will provide leadership, support, and communication on behalf of Native American children, families, and communities. To learn more about NICCA, visit www.nicca.us or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/nicca.us.
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