Coaches: Your Partners in Improving Quality
As a participant in Quality First, homes and centers receive personalized support from a Quality First coach whose role is to assist a program throughout the quality improvement process.
Quality First coaches will provide:
• Training, technical assistance and coaching at no cost
• Coaching activities tailored to the individual needs of homes and centers
• Classroom management tips and techniques
• Curriculum guidance and support
• Ideas to strengthen family involvement
• Team support including the T.E.A.C.H. Arizona scholarship program and child care health consultation
• Guidance on how to use financial incentives to best increase quality
Quality First coaches support enrolled child care centers and homes in their efforts to achieve quality milestones.
What are the qualifications of the coach?
Coaches are required to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or closely related field with two years of direct child care experience. They must have knowledge of child development and family dynamics, Arizona Department of Health Services child care licensure, assessment in early childhood, the Arizona Early Learning Standards, inclusive practices, community resources, quality indicators and adult learning.
How will a coach support a child care center or home?
Upon acceptance as a participant in Quality First, a coach will establish contact and provide the center or home with an orientation to the improvement and rating process. After the orientation, an assessor will contact the center or home and complete an assessment. When the assessment is completed, the coach will review the findings with the provider and develop a quality improvement plan. Coaches will work directly with administrators, directors and teachers to improve skills and program activities as outlined in the plan. Coaches will also assist the center or home in submitting their requests for financial incentives that are effectively tied to their quality improvement plan.