We TEACH > Home Field Advantage

Home Field Advantage

Creating the conditions for family child care providers to thrive.

This 15-week program is designed to assist family childcare providers by increasing the quality of services they offer and growing their businesses.

2024 applications have closed - If you’re interested in future cohorts, fill out this form

Cohort 4 - Click Here

Designed for Family Child Care Providers who:

Provide care for two or more children (ages 5 & under) in their home.

Want to enhance the quality of services they offer to families with young children.

Want to grow and expand their Family Child Care with business and instructional support.

Here’s how it works:

1.

Apply

All applications will be reviewed by a team of individuals. Selected applicants will then be interviewed.

2.

Grow

Upon acceptance, participants will complete the Commitment Checklist.

3.

Thrive!

As you become more successful educators and business owners, you’ll provide the highest quality care for kids!

Commitment checklist:

Attend the In-person full-day orientation session

Engage in all virtual learning sessions focused on increasing critical competencies around early childhood practices and strengthening business practices specific to Family Child Care Providers

Complete Pre-and Post Evaluation of Program

Participate in pre/post CLASS and FCCERS observations

Attend the We PLAY Center once with the children in your program

Frequently asked questions

  • We will select ten to twelve family child care providers who are ready to enhance their instructional delivery and grow their businesses. Participants will come from a wide variety of life experiences, backgrounds, and experience levels in early childhood education. They will share a sense of purpose, vision of excellence for children, and a commitment to their own professional and personal growth.

  • If you can answer “YES” to the questions below, you should consider applying for the HFA:

    • Do you provide care to two or more children in your home?

    • Are you looking to improve the quality of services you offer to families with young children?

    • Are you interested in growing and expanding your in-home childcare business?

  • Online applications are available by clicking the button below. Applications will be reviewed by a team of individuals and recommendations will be made regarding who should move forward with acceptance into the program. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application throughout the process.

  • Home Field Advantage is designed to assist in-home childcare providers with the types of supports that are usually reserved for Type III centers. The program will be a combination of virtual and in-person programming to meet the needs of participants.

  • Attend the live, half-day orientation session

    Engage in all 15 learning sessions

    Complete pre and post evaluation of the program

    Complete all required weekly assignments

    Participate in pre/post CLASS and FCCERS observations

Customized Implementation

Because we recognize that each community is unique, our Home Field Advantage program has 3 options for implementation to align with the needs of each group of child care providers.

No matter what, providers have access to coaching, a community of peers, and coaching stipends for completion.*

*stipends are dependent on funding availability

What are the components of the program?

Zero To Three’s Critical Competencies

5 Sessions of Zero To Three’s Critical Competencies for Infant and Toddler Educators designed to increase understanding of child development and instructional support.

Pre/Post CLASS and FCEERS Observations

Pre/Post CLASS and FCEERS Observations no stakes introduction to what is involved in state-required observations tools designed to increase program efficacy.

All Our Kin Virtual Business Series

10 All Our Kin Virtual Business Series Sessions are designed to sustain and grow their in-home family child care businesses delivered by Certified TrainingGrounds staff.

There’s a critical gap for children in Louisiana.

90% of eligible infants and toddlers are not in any kind of early child care.

  • Over 90% of Latino children will not have had learning experiences in a school-like setting before the first day of kindergarten.

  • Only 11% of Head Start and child care subsidies reach children ages 0-3

  • Only 23% of children under age 5 are enrolled in publicly-funded or partially-subsidized early childhood education.

But why family child care?

  • Care outside of a child’s home enables parents to work or attend school or job training to secure the economic well-being of their families.

  • Among the primary child care arrangements parents use, family child care-care in the home of someone not related to the child-plays a significant role in meeting the child care needs of families, particularly those with very young children.

  • Providers come from all kinds of personal backgrounds and have different reasons for choosing to become Family childcare providers. They also have varied experiences and training in Early Childhood Education (ECE).

The Home Field Advantage

We believe Family Child Care providers have both the passion and the potential to be successful educators and business owners who provide the highest quality care for kids living in the greater New Orleans Area.

Home Field Advantage program is designed to assist these providers with the type of supports that are usually reserved for Type lll center.

This program will:

  • Increase quality early childcare access

  • Ensure childcare providers are receiving the support they need to start and run their business

  • Give children a safe place to PLAY and grow

When Family Child Care providers are given adequate time, resources, and support, they will thrive. And when they thrive, so will the children and families they support.

Are you interested?

If yes, complete this form to let us know. We’ll reach out to you when the next round of applications opens!

2022 Cohort Participants!

Cohort 1

Cohort 2