USC SECE annual report
excerpts
Our focus on children's social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development is rooted in our belief that family, culture, and community are the primary shapers of children's values and behavior. We are proud that 42 percent of our staff are parents of children enrolled in our programs. Every step we take into the future is based on our awareness that the needs of our families must always come first.
Program Goals
SUCCESS STORIES: MARIA LOVOS
In the six months that Maria Lovos' daughter Sophia has been enrolled in USC SECE's Early Head Start Home-Based Program, a new world has opened up for the toddler, now two years old.
"She's more interested in her surroundings," Maria said. "She looks for spiders or little bugs, and she's starting to say the numbers and the colors. She really likes it when we read to her."
Home-Based Educator Melvin Morales taught Maria how to help develop Sophia's language skills. "For example," Maria said, "When a child says 'ball,' if you say, 'Yes, this is a red ball,' you're helping teach color and shape at the same time.
"The three of us go outside and play in our little back yard, and Melvin says, 'What is the shape of this rock? How does it feel in your hands?' Sophia is not talking much yet, but she understands."
When Maria worried about Sophia's speech development — her vocabulary is unusually small for a child of her age — Melvin arranged for her to be referred to a speech therapist.
Maria's son Diego, a graduate of the USC SECE pre-school program, also has speech problems — pronunciation issues and a habit of talking so fast that he is hard to understand.
"But he was one of the best readers in his first-grade class," Maria said. "He's in fourth grade now and is always winning awards and certificates. I know it's because he came to this program. It has also helped with his self-esteem."
Home visits also involve the parent's other concerns. Maria, who emigrated from El Salvador at age 13, wanted to continue her education beyond her A.A. degree from Trade Tech. But whenever she applied to a college, no financial aid was available.
Melvin not only encouraged her not to give up but also gave her information about Mount St. Mary's College, located across the street from University Park Child Development Center, where Diego had been enrolled. In January, she entered the Mount St. Mary's Weekend College program to earn a B.A. in social work, with the goal of helping at-risk teenagers.
"Sometimes you overlook things that are right in front of your eyes," Maria said. "You just need someone to say, 'Look, here it is. This is really a possibility for you.' "
excerpts
Our focus on children's social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development is rooted in our belief that family, culture, and community are the primary shapers of children's values and behavior. We are proud that 42 percent of our staff are parents of children enrolled in our programs. Every step we take into the future is based on our awareness that the needs of our families must always come first.
Program Goals
- To promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of infants and toddlers by enabling parents to guide their children's development
- To support parents in their roles as children's primary caregivers and educators, and to help them meet family goals and achieve self-sufficiency through skill-building and entry into the workforce
- To strengthen collaborations with community partners that support families and children
- To provide staff with training, fair compensation, and opportunities for professional growth
- To implement a management structure that ensures high-quality services and continuity of care for children
- To meet Head Start performance standards, based on an assessment of local needs
SUCCESS STORIES: MARIA LOVOS
In the six months that Maria Lovos' daughter Sophia has been enrolled in USC SECE's Early Head Start Home-Based Program, a new world has opened up for the toddler, now two years old.
"She's more interested in her surroundings," Maria said. "She looks for spiders or little bugs, and she's starting to say the numbers and the colors. She really likes it when we read to her."
Home-Based Educator Melvin Morales taught Maria how to help develop Sophia's language skills. "For example," Maria said, "When a child says 'ball,' if you say, 'Yes, this is a red ball,' you're helping teach color and shape at the same time.
"The three of us go outside and play in our little back yard, and Melvin says, 'What is the shape of this rock? How does it feel in your hands?' Sophia is not talking much yet, but she understands."
When Maria worried about Sophia's speech development — her vocabulary is unusually small for a child of her age — Melvin arranged for her to be referred to a speech therapist.
Maria's son Diego, a graduate of the USC SECE pre-school program, also has speech problems — pronunciation issues and a habit of talking so fast that he is hard to understand.
"But he was one of the best readers in his first-grade class," Maria said. "He's in fourth grade now and is always winning awards and certificates. I know it's because he came to this program. It has also helped with his self-esteem."
Home visits also involve the parent's other concerns. Maria, who emigrated from El Salvador at age 13, wanted to continue her education beyond her A.A. degree from Trade Tech. But whenever she applied to a college, no financial aid was available.
Melvin not only encouraged her not to give up but also gave her information about Mount St. Mary's College, located across the street from University Park Child Development Center, where Diego had been enrolled. In January, she entered the Mount St. Mary's Weekend College program to earn a B.A. in social work, with the goal of helping at-risk teenagers.
"Sometimes you overlook things that are right in front of your eyes," Maria said. "You just need someone to say, 'Look, here it is. This is really a possibility for you.' "
client
USC School for Early Childhood Education
project
2009 annual report
audience
USC leadership, Los Angeles community, partner agencies, parents, and staff
goal
Community outreach
USC School for Early Childhood Education
project
2009 annual report
audience
USC leadership, Los Angeles community, partner agencies, parents, and staff
goal
Community outreach