| Immigration
and Refugee Assistance Transitional Childcare Administering
Organization
Catholic Charities, Buffalo New York
Program Objectives and Unique
Needs Addressed
CC Buffalo has created a transitional childcare facility to relieve
the stress and anxiety of newly arrived refugee families caused
by parents leaving their children to attend ESL classes. The transitional
childcare program allows refugee families to become familiar with
the concept of child care (structure and routines). The transitional
childcare room is located in the middle of the center and has
a window through which parents can observe their children without
disrupting activities. All of the classes and the babysitting
center observe the same break times throughout the day, granting
parents and children several opportunities to see each other throughout
the day, which eases the family’s tension over their separation.
Program Description
Supervised play and educational activities are provided on-site
for 3-4 months for children of newly arrived refugee families.
These activities take place while refugee parents attend ESL classes.
By participating in these activities refugee children acclimate
to being in a diverse group of children and build socialization
skills. English becomes the common language of the children in
the group, as there may be children from numerous countries in
the program at any time.
After 3-4 months the children are transitioned into daycare,
Head Start or Even Start Family Literacy programs. Family Educators
for Head/ Even Start come to the Resettlement Center to process
the intake of children starting their programs. The Even Start
program works with the parents, ESL teachers and Head Start workers
to coordinate activities the parents and children can do together
in their homes.
Resource Materials Used in Program
Educational materials and toys are used with the children.
Groups Served by Program
Any refugee child (infant to 5/6 years old) resettled by CC Buffalo
is eligible to participate in this program. Current populations
include: Somali, Burmese, Turkish, Russian and Ethiopian.
Program Funding
Funds for the salary of the one FTE teacher/babysitter are paid
out of NY State funds designated to provide assistance helping
refugee parents become more employable.
Program Staffing and Required
Staff Training
One FTE teacher/babysitter and several volunteers. The FTE is
a former teacher with previous experience teaching in Ethiopia.
She possesses teaching skills, cultural sensitivity and linguistic
skills.
Program Additional Comments
The Resettlement Director has received positive feedback from
mainstream daycare providers who have refugee children from other
agencies, as well as from the Immigration and Refugee Assistance
Transitional Childcare program, emphasizing the ease with which
children from CC Transitional Childcare have entered into the
routine of the daycare center. The daycare provider remarked that
refugee children who have not participated in the Transitional
Childcare center exhibit signs of separation anxiety and fear
which tends to cause them to act out in disruptive behavior.
Program Evaluation
CC Buffalo uses observation as the primary evaluation mechanism.
The program observes the adjustment and emotional levels of the
parents and children enrolled and each child’s progress
in participating in the activities to determine their developmental
progress.
Program Outcomes
Children enrolled in the Transitional Childcare program
exhibit increased socialization skills and have the ability to
perform the following skills prior to being enrolled into mainstream
daycare, Head Start or Even Start programs:
- sing/follow a song
- count in English
- use appropriate English greetings
- know their ABCs, and colors
- communicate/play with children of varied backgrounds
After 3-4 months all children are transferred into daycare or
Head Start or Even Start. Between 60-100 children are placed in
mainstream childcare, Head Start or Even Start each year.
Other Key Elements
The collaboration CC Buffalo has with Head Start and Even Start
began 2-3 years ago.
Program Contact
Ann H. Brittain, Resettlement Director
Catholic Charities of Buffalo
394 Franklin Street, Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone (716) 842-0270
Fax (716) 842-0509
E-mail: ann.brittain@ccwny.org
Program Dates
This program began in 1989; it is still operating.
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