STCC offers free summer class for family child care providers
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Partnering with the union that represents early childhood educators, Springfield Technical Community College will offer a free class this summer for family child care providers.
The course, Administration of Family Child Care, will run during the five-week Summer 1 session at STCC between June 7 and July 9. This marks the second year STCC has partnered with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509, which represents nearly 20,000 human service workers and educators throughout Massachusetts.
The class is open to family child care providers who serve children with state Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) child care vouchers.
While one course will be offered this summer, Lakisha Coppedge, who will teach the class, said STCC hopes to create additional classes in partnership with SEIU.
“On behalf of STCC, we are thrilled to partner with SEIU again and family child care providers in this area. We recognize the importance of specializing courses in support of family child care programs in a way to revitalize and strengthen our partnership in the great cities we are connected to and support their specialized learning needs,” Coppedge said.
Administration of Family Child Care will provide specific family child standards of care, strategies of implementing equitable and inclusive learning and parent provider skills as it relates to relationship building, Coppedge said.
“It’s targeted to family child care providers, specifically those who are in the SEIU Local 509 union from the metro area of Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee,” Coppedge said.
Jynai McDonald, Family Child Care Coordinator for SEIU Local 509, the Massachusetts union for human service workers and educators, said SEIU does more than bargain for wages and benefits. It provides leadership development and training opportunities for its members.
“This is an opportunity for the union to formalize a partnership again with STCC to expand the training opportunities we have so providers can have access to a college course,” McDonald said.
Students can apply the credits toward an associate degree in Early Childhood Education or a related one-year certificate program in child development.
“We are thrilled to see this partnership happen for the second time. And we look forward to having a longstanding relationship with STCC so that we can help our providers stay connected, meet their education needs and matriculate on to credit bearing courses or getting their degrees,” McDonald said. “I’m so excited to see that STCC has stepped to the plate again to serve the needs of the community, specifically the family child care community.”
To register for the class, visit stcc.edu/explore/summer-sessions. For questions, email Lakisha Coppedge at lmcoppedge2001@stcc.edu or Jennifer Wallace-Johnson at Jwjohnson@stcc.edu.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu