The Child Care Resource Network (TCCRN) is the child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agency housed within Right Steps Child Development Centers. We provide services to family, ECE and OST programs, and the communities of 12 counties in northwest Indiana. TCCRN, in partnership with Right Steps Child Development Centers, was selected as one of ten child care resource and referral agencies in the nation to serve as a Vroom Ambassador. As a selected agency, we have strategically embedded Vroom brain-building tips and materials into our local community.
What’s Vroom?
Vroom provides interactive tools and resources that highlight the science behind early brain development, showing parents how they can turn everyday activities like bath time and meal time into opportunities that build their children’s brains. The Vroom Partnership at Child Care Aware® of America is made up of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies who educate and provide Vroom resources to families, providers, and organizations in their communities so they too understand the importance of brain development during the first five years of life. Learn more about Vroom here.
How We Use Vroom
Once we began to really dive in to the Vroom content, it seemed it was a natural addition to the outreach we were already conducting in our region. When speaking with families, we generally provide consumer education about choosing high quality programs and the indicators of quality including family engagement, open communication, and educational and social-emotional curricula that foster the early brain development of young children. If a family is receptive to that information—and even if they aren’t—the conversation can take a natural turn to talking about Vroom and the huge benefits for young children’s development. The parents we have told about Vroom are excited that there is a tool to help them interact with their children as well as understand the “brainy background” behind what they are doing.
We have also found that community organizations that serve families with young children love Vroom and see the benefits to their clientele. In fact, one program, Nurse-Family Partnership, has been particularly interested in ensuring their clients have access to Vroom and the great information found within. Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), a program of Goodwill Industries, allows first-time mothers access to a specially trained nurse that guides and supports them throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and on to the child’s second birthday.
After having connected with the head of the local NFP office a few months ago at a social services networking meeting, our Outreach Specialist was invited to their staff meeting to present information about assisting families in locating quality child care programs and Vroom as a tool for the new and expecting mothers in the program.
After hearing the information about Vroom and participating in an activity about the developing brain, it was amazing to see the nurses light up with inspiration! They instantly noticed two significant correlations between Vroom and their program. NFP utilizes research-based activities that parents can perform with their young child. One nurse pointed out how similar these activities were to the Vroom Tips we talked about and how the “brain science” really matches up to the activity. Another nurse commented how NFP serves mothers until their child reaches the age of two. She went on to say that the brain development activity helped her realize the importance of the first three years as that is where most brain development occurs.
Overall, being a Vroom ambassador has been an incredible opportunity to educate and engage families, providers, and the community. The materials and support provided by Child Care Aware® of America have helped guide our initiatives and has made Vroom an essential and exciting addition to our current work. Vroom will continue to be an essential tool when sharing with families and the community about the importance of early learning and how they can turn everyday moments into brain building moments.
Learn More
The Child Care Resource Network
Grant Britzke
Outreach Specialist
gbritzke@thechildcareresourcenetwork.org
Right Steps Child Development Centers
Carly Cripe
Marketing & Communications Director
ccripe@rightstepscdc.org
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