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Behavioral Health Services & Therapeutic Trauma Informed Childcare
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Developing Young Minds
517 West Breckinridge Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203, United States
Hours
Open today | 07:00 am – 05:30 am |
Monday - Friday: 7:00am - 5:30pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@developingyoungminds.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
DYM's learning style is one that focuses on a child's strength and weaknesses. Children are accessed and screened to obtain a starting point to begin the development process. Children develop through weekly Lesson Plans with individualized activities that strengthen their strengths and weaknesses. Teaching Strategies Gold and Creative Curriculum are utilized.
Each day Amazing Children uses the educational power of play to grow your child socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually—all while having fun.
Our passionate and engaging teachers grow, learn, and imagine with your child. We believe “curriculum” is everything that happens in the classroom and we never miss an opportunity to make education fun.
We provide a balance between choice, structure, group, individual and teacher and child-directed experiences. Our activities are aligned with learning standards across six developmental domains:
- Math & Science
- Creative Expressions
- Problem Solving
- Language & Literacy
- Balance & Coordination
- Social Development
DYM is a licensed and insured full service child care center.
- Infant (6weeks to 1 yr)
- Toddler (1yr to 3yr)
- PreSchool (3yr to 5yr)
Two Home Visits & Two Parent-Teacher Conferences conducted annually. Center to Home activities that connect classroom learning experiences with in home practices. Lending Library that allows parents to take home books and materials to practice with children. A Parent Support Group that meets twice a year to support our efforts as a private nonprofit that provides child care services. Annual Family Dinner (Fall), Annual Resource Fair (Spring), Annual Summer Festival (Summer). We encourage observing and volunteering within the center and with events.
An ongoing challenge for every educator is to develop and enhance skills that will offer students the best possible learning experiences and opportunities, in school, at home, and in community settings. It is therefore essential that every effort be made to ensure that ongoing and effective communication and partnerships be established and maintained with parents
In the front vestibule you can find a copy of the Parent Handbook, Online, and we may email a copy per your request.
The Parent Handbook has been written to describe our program, philosophy, policies, and all the practical details that go into making each day as happy and successful as possible. Please carefully read this handbook and keep it for future reference.
Please understand the importance of your support. Parent Pay are weekly payments agreed upon between DYM and our families for child care services, Child Care Contract Parent Co-Pay are weekly payments agreed upon between the Child Care Assistance Council and DYM Families for child care services.
These payments are essential as they support the DYM foundation in enabling us to pay salaries, provide food, provide supplies, and provide activities for children in care. These payments are eligible for a credit on your annual tax return.
Yes!
The Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC) is a consortium of 13 school districts serving over 50,000 students in north central Kentucky. The mission of the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative is to provide professional learning, advocacy, and services that support, lead and inspire. Established in 1976, the cooperative provides a vehicle for conducting regional planning, development, and implementation of educational programs on a continuing basis. OVEC offers programs that serve member school districts, their student populations and families.
The Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative Head Start/Early Head Start Program serves 244 preschool children and 85 infants, toddlers and prenatal women in a predominantly rural six county area adjoining the urban sprawl of Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky on the Ohio River in Northern Central Kentucky.
Through the Early Head Start-Childcare Partnership Grant, the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative partners with 10 private childcare providers in North Central Kentucky to expand Early Head Start services for children under the age of three and improve the quality of existing early childhood programs. Their partners includes Type I licensed centers in Bullitt, Franklin, Jefferson, Owen, Shelby, and Spencer Counties. The new Early Head Start Childcare Partnership directly affects 193 children and their families, the improved quality of centers will benefit nearly 1,500 children enrolled in partnering providers' centers.
OVEC Mission
The OVEC Head Start program, through a team effort, will build a positive
rapport with Head Start families and children based on individual strengths.
Recognizing that parents are the primary educator of their children, the program will provide opportunities for families to enhance their growth and well-being in collaboration with community resources.
OVEC Philosophy
Based upon the child’s current developmental level, Head Start/Early Head Start will help the child develop fully as a unique individual physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially.
To support, promote and uplift the well-being of the Family.
To provide experiences and opportunities for enrichment of the child and
the family.
School Readiness Goals
Kentucky Head Start School Readiness Goals
Head Start Parent, Family and Community Engagement Outcomes
OVEC Head Start School Readiness Program Goals
Ways Your Child Could Qualify for the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Program:
Must have an infant or toddler that is younger than 3 years of age on or before August 1st
(AND)
You are attending school or, You are in job training and/or, You are currently working.
(AND)
You must need full day full year care for your child.
(AND)
You are receiving child care subsidy for your child.
To apply you will need:
Income Verification (1040, check stubs, SNAP/Medicaid letter, etc)
Foster Care Paperwork(if applicable)
Any Legal Documentation regarding custody
Proof of Address
Proof of Child’s Birth Date
Child’s Insurance Card
Consecutive successful payment for child care services will afford a lucky family every quarter for a free 1 week of childcare services. We want to reward our families for supporting DYM. Yes free child care every three months awarded to a faithful payment remitter.
Developing Young Minds - Early Childhood Center (4 weeks - 5 years)
517 West Breckinridge Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40203
(502) 384 - 9371
info@developing-youngminds.com
Monday - Friday (7:00am - 5:30pm)
Director/Owner: Darrin Lee Jr / Darrin@developing-youngminds.com
Assistant Director: Jenny Warren / assistant@developing-youngminds.com
Infants (6 weeks - 1 yr) = $200 weekly
Toddlers (1 year - 2 yr) = $200 weekly
Pre-School (3 years - 5 yr) = $185 weekly
Our low teacher-to-student ratios allow teachers to focus on the individual learning styles and needs of each child in our center.
Once a year for two days we participate in an Head Start early childhood teacher training for all of our staff. This is in addition to the monthly, weekly and daily training we all attend to maintain all of the state and federal mandated health, safety and educational requirements and certifications carried by the center to provide the best child care in Louisville. Teachers are required to get their Child Development Associate within 12 months of employment.
Research shows that early childhood educational and development efforts are critical for helping children enjoy health, confidence and success later in life. The following resources offer more information about the value and societal benefits of a commitment to early childhood education:
The Heckman Equation
Nobel Laureate James J. Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at The University of Chicago and an expert in the economics of human development. His recent work has proven that the quality of early childhood development heavily influences outcomes for individuals and society.
Read more at heckmanequation.org
Harvard University Center on the Developing Child
Drawing on the full breadth of intellectual resources available across Harvard University’s schools and affiliated hospitals, the Center on the Developing Child generates, translates, and applies knowledge in the service of improving life outcomes for children in the United States and throughout the world.
Read more at http://developingchild.harvard.edu/
You can get involved in matters that you care about. Learn more about issues affecting children and families, and contact your legislator with questions or concerns.
Early Care and Education Consortium - http://www.ececonsortium.org/
Find Your State and Federal Legislators - http://www.usa.gov/Agencies.shtml
U.S. House of Representatives - http://www.house.gov/
U.S. Senate - http://www.senate.gov/
State Legislature Web Sites - http://www.ncsl.org/
Through the VIP Visitor Program DYM encourages public officials to spend time interacting with children in our centers, and their teachers, to foster a greater understanding of the value of early childhood education while enriching the lives of the children we serve. VIP visits can also give parents an opportunity to meet and speak with their elected representatives about the issues they care about most.
The VIP Visitor Program is one of several ways that Amazing Childcare advocates for support of early childhood education, ensuring that high-quality early childhood education is a top priority for the people who shape state and national policy affecting our children and families.
Programs & Curriculum
Early Education & Learning Programs Overview
We structure our early childhood education curriculum around four key elements of development to ensure the growth of the whole child, from infant to age 12. They are:
Social
Your child will communicate with others verbally and nonverbally to engage the world around them. Your child will make new friends and gain the confidence, self-esteem, and negotiating skills necessary for a lifetime of healthy relationships.
Emotional
Children will enjoy a safe, nurturing “home away from home” where they can learn to express themselves and understand their own unique identities. Your child will gain the comfort and confidence to forge trusting relationships, value their individuality, and have fun just being himself.
Physical
We focus on the physical health and well-being of your child so he grows up safe and strong. Motor-skill development, coordination, mobility, and exercise all help ensure your growing child has a healthy body for a lifetime.
Intellectual
Our early education programs help build brain power by supporting the development of judgment, perception, memory, reasoning, critical thinking, and language through a series of age-appropriate cognitive activities. Reading, writing, and math are important and children learn by experiencing the world around them.
Searching for the right caregiver is stressful, but finding the right fit can also be rewarding for your family. The right center gives you the peace of mind that your child is learning, growing and having fun.
Below for some questions to consider while evaluating child care centers:
Questions to Ask Potential Child Care Centers:
Staff
Does staff communicate daily with parents about their child’s progress?
Do children receive individual attention?
Is staff respectful of children and parents?
Does staff appear lively, smiling and interacting in a positive manner with children?
What is the teacher-to-child ratio?
Safety
•Does the facility appear orderly and clean?
•Are there age-appropriate toys in the classrooms?
•Are hazardous materials locked away?
•Is there an emergency plan and is it posted?
•Are there security measures in place?
•Is there a policy for sick children and other circumstances?
Children
•Do the children have a consistent routine that they can understand and follow?
•Do the children seem occupied and engaged?
•Is there a policy on discipline?
•Do the children seem happy and excited?
Feelings
•Is your initial reaction a positive one?
•Is this a place my child would enjoy?
•Would my child be safe here?
•Would I/we feel comfortable using this program?
•Would my child learn new things every day at this program?
Misc
•May I visit any time?
•How do you handle discipline?
•What would you do in case of emergency?
•Are all children required to be immunized and does staff have physical examinations?
•May I see a copy of your license or other certification?
•Do you have a substitute or back-up care giver?
•May I have a list of parents who have used your care (current and/or former)?
•Where do children nap, and how do you put babies down to sleep?
Yes! DYM provides a variety of healthy meals and snacks. We participate in the State Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP).
Our menu, planned by a dietitian, provides wholesome meals and satisfying snacks that meet federal and state requirements and guidelines established.
Allergens & Adaptations: If your child has a special nutritional need or requires an adaptation to our menu, we will work with your family to create a plan that adequately meets your child’s needs.
Please alert us if your child has a known allergy or nutrition need. Physician statement required and documentation maintained on-site.
Meal Service times: 9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm
DYM cares for your child like you would. Protection and preparedness are critical considerations in everything we do at Developing Young Minds
Playgrounds
Our high-quality playground equipment is safe, sturdy and tested monthly to ensure it is secure and in good working order. We have safe fall zones with soft landing areas if your child takes a tumble. All outside play areas are wrapped in secure fencing.
Wellness
We assess every child’s health by talking with parents and monitoring for symptoms during the course of each child’s day with us. We increase assessment during flu season.
We notify parents when a child does not feel well to help prevent an illness from spreading.
Sanitation
We clean our centers each day with safe, non-toxic cleaning products. Cleaning supplies are locked safely out of reach of children. While other child care providers clean toys each evening, DYM sanitizes toys throughout the day to help prevent the spread of germs.
We encourage children to wash their hands throughout the day by singing songs and teaching lessons about health and hygiene. Diapering is conducted in an area separate from children’s play areas.
Medications
We have strict policies for administering medication to your child to ensure they are protected. Based on new research about healthy practices for infants and toddlers, we require a doctor’s note for any medication, prescription or over the counter, given to a child under 2 years to ensure safety.
Security
Our centers are secured so that only authorized staff and families may enter. Safe, secure perimeters ensure that children can enjoy outdoor play safely. We use safety gates, window guards (except fire escapes) and cap electrical outlets. Our centers include smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Radiators and heaters are covered to prevent your child from touching something hot.
Qualifications
We have dedicated, friendly caregivers who are trained in child development, early-childhood education or a related field.
We conduct criminal background checks to ensure trustworthy staff and passionate teachers provide the best care and education for your child. Our staff and teachers are trained in first aid and CPR
Emergencies
We are serious about training for earthquakes, fires and lockdown situations. We have an emergency evacuation plan at each center.
We don’t just have a plan, we regularly test and train so our people are ready.
Feeding
All perishable food is refrigerated. Our menu is planned by a registered dietitian so your child eats nutritious foods. We welcome breastfeeding mothers, and we have careful policies for separating breast milk from formula.
Authorization
Only pre-approved people with photo identification may pick-up your child.
Yes! DYM, Support Military Families and the U.S. Coast Guard. Please contact our director for an application or assistance.
If your child or children currently attend a Developing Young Minds or you have withdrawn from a DYM, please see the Director to obtain your Year-End Statement.
DYM welcomes children of all abilities, with the commitment to provide quality care and education to each child. We believe every child is a unique individual with varying needs, and we welcome the diversity that brings to our centers. All children and families deserve to be full members of their communities, to have the opportunity for development and learning, and to experience a sense of belonging.
DYM supports inclusion by providing access to our world-class curriculum programs, embracing inclusive participation in our programs, and offering support to our educators through training and consultation by our Education and Inclusion Services teams. Inclusion is not just a strategy for helping certain children overcome challenges; inclusion is a way of life at DYM.
Developing Young Minds
517 West Breckinridge Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203, United States
Copyright © 2024 Developing Young Minds - All Rights Reserved.
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