Salary Supplements
A salary supplement program designed to improve the retention rate of childcare professionals and thereby improve the quality of care in McDowell County by providing annual salary supplements for providers. This program is directed by Joy Griffith.

Enhancing Resource & Referral
A Program which provides to parents childcare referrals, information concerning quality child care and parenting, access to an Early Childhood Resource Center which houses a toy and book library.  Providers receive access to technical assistance on-site and off-site to support their business while prospective providers receive assistance in providing new programs.  This program is directed by Joy Griffith.

McSmiles
An activity directed by Michael Ayers, which supports families by creating access to high quality early childhood education programs.  The Program is based in school buses that have been fitted with the essential play centers to deliver age appropriate preschool activities.  The buses travel to communities where other preschool activities are not available.



Subsidy Activities:


Wait List Prevention
Administered by Rose Wakefield of the McDowell County Department of Social Services, this activity was initiated to increase the number of qualifying families who are able to receive childcare subsidy.  Designed to reduce the number of families paying excessive percentages of income for childcare.

Expanding Child Care Eligibility
Provides childcare subsidies to families currently ineligible for existing subsidy.  Criteria include language barriers, adolescent parenthood, and substance abuse in the home and other risk factors.

Quality Bonus Program
Administered through the Department of Social Services by Joy Griffith of Children's Services Network and implemented by Linda Edwards, Bonus Consultant.  Makes available monthly bonuses to early childhood programs that have demonstrated a commitment to quality care by ensuring higher teacher education and licensure requirements.

Quality Bonus Consultant
Provides technical assistance to childcare providers participating in the Quality Enhancement Bonus Program through the Department of Social Services.  The Consultant assists the participating childcare programs in developing a quality improvement plan with priority identified to improve teachers' wages and benefits.