GHA and First Steps join up to create childcare program
GREENVILLE, SC – A pilot program has been created to develop a training and support program to establish and sustain 10 homebased childcare providers with a priority given to communities that lack access to affordable, reliable and high-quality care.
This project is a collaboration between The Greenville Housing Authority (TGHA), Greenville First Steps, SC Childcare Resource and Referral (CCRR), the Palmetto Shared Services Alliance (PSSA) and other community partners.
It is being segmented into four unique phases.
Recruitment and Screening of Candidates
Orientation and Training
Licensure and Enrollment
Launch of Services and ABC enrollment
“This program is about working together to find answers to some of the key challenges facing our community,” said Derek Lewis, Executive Director of Greenville First Steps. “Childcare is a major barrier to people in the workforce. This is part of the solution.”
During the first phase TGHA will work to promote a pilot project, and to identify a cohort of ten individuals who are interested in becoming licensed in-home childcare providers. Candidates would be those who are able, after training and onsite support, to obtain a license from DSS to offer home based childcare in their place of residence.
More than 45 people applied for the initial cohort, and 10 were selected.
“TGHA is excited to have the first 10 participants screened and ready to begin this training,” said Jenneh Jones, Director of MTW FSS-Economic Mobility for the TGHA. “We hope it sparks greater interest in in-home childcare among both our participants and the broader community.”
The second phase includes 10 weeks of orientation and training and will be offered free of charge to participants.