Child Development Center

"The Oxnard College Child Development Center provides on campus childcare and child development services to children between the ages of 18 months through 5 years.The children's program is well-rounded and covers critical thinking,creative experiences, science, music, language development,movement education, social development, and school readiness. The Center serves as a model lab school for college students who are learning to observe and work with children. A $50.00 deposit will hold a space for children of Oxnard College students, staff and community. Contact the Center for dates of registration. Tuition fees are paid on a monthly basis in advance of services per a contracted schedule. There is a minimum of three hours per day, and two days per week. Registration materials are available at the center.Phone (805) 986-5801 for more information."

The Child Development Center as a Laboratory Preschool

As a laboratory school, the Center allows students observe the interactions of the children with each other, with their parents, and with Center staff. It affords the opportunity to have direct, hands-on experience in working with children of preschool age allowing them to blend theoretical with the practical and to integrate knowledge with experience.

As a conveniently located site for observations, the Center plays a critical role in the Oxnard College Child Development instructional program. It is a valuable asset notonly to the faculty who are charged with carrying forward the college’s vital instructional mission, but also to the students who are studying to become licensed, certified childcare providers and to the children in the community who will benefit from the training that these students receive.

The Child Development Center as a Campus Childcare Program

As a childcare provider, the Center offers a wide range of programs and services for approximately 100 infant- toddlers, and preschoolers who range from eighteen months to 6 years of age. Given the important milestones in physical, mental, and emotional growth that children must reach within this particular age range, the Center makes it a point to offer programs and services that cater to the various developmental needs of the children. Parents pay for a contracted schedule of services that is available to their children either on a full day or a part-day basis. To enrich the children’s learning experience at the Center, parents are required to participate in Center activities at least five hours each semester. These parents are Oxnard College students, faculty, or members of the broader local community.

The fundamental goal of the Center is to provide a safe and caring learning environment for children. Its programs are diverse and well rounded, with a focus on providing a variety of learning experiences in critical thinking, science, math, music, language and literacy development, movement education, social development, and school readiness activities. The programs all incorporate individualized assessment components. The staff places a high premium on providing activities that are developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive. The activities are individualized, tailored to children’s specific needs and interests, and designed to honor each child as special and unique. Center staff use positive guidance and strive at all times to foster a climate that is warm and supportive to both children and their parents.

In terms of the Center’s physical and structural layout, its indoor and outdoor learning environments are specifically designed to encourage exploration, self-direction, responsibility, and decision-making among the children. Each child chooses from a variety of “learning centers,” including those dealing with creative art, math, science, dramatic play, and manipulative activities. Many of the activities available in the centers (puzzles, legos, blocks, etc.) enhance the fine motor coordination and perceptual skills necessary for school readiness. In addition, opportunities for language and listening-skills development and self-expression are provided.

Child Development Center Initiatives

Child Development Careers Project: Is a vocational program offered through CalWORKs The project has received special funding from the California Department of Education to offer these services to qualified students:

• Accelerated child development teacher training at the CDC or other local sites
• Mentor/teacher supervision
• Counseling, assessment, and program planning
• Assistance with book and tuition costs
• Assistance in accessing transportation to college, job placement sites and local child care centers
• Qualifications include the following:
• Commitment to work with young children as a career
• Currently receiving Cal Works assistance and be age 18 years and older
• Ability to complete college-level classes
• Commitment to complete required coursework within two years
• Meet and clear criminal records review (fingerprints) and have a negative tuberculosis
• Currently, 15 Childcare Careers students work on a daily basis as teacher aides in the CDC classrooms under the supervision of Mentor teachers.

The First 5 Ventura County CARES Project

The Ventura County First 5 Commission provides $250,000 in annual funding countywide for a Retention Incentive Program for early child care educators and professionals which is distributed in the form of training stipends for those who complete college level courses. This year Seventy five percent of the stipends will be awarded to Oxnard College child development students!

This is an awesome incentive for local childcare workers who may have little or no formal education. The CARES Project (Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards) encourages early childhood education professionals to obtain higher levels of education by taking college units that apply towards the Child Development Permit, and/or a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. In an effort to enroll the maximum number of OC students in 2006/07 CARES Project, the Commission worked out an agreement with the Oxnard College administration and the CDC. As a result of mutual cooperation a CARES Counselor is now working to support and guide child development students on-site at OC, at no cost to the college.

The “Destined to Succeed Program”, funded by a grant from the South Oxnard Port Hueneme Neighborhoods for Learning

In the last 2 years the CDC has received $45,000 in grants to support early learning and school readiness. The grants provide full-time child care/school readiness scholarships for 7 three to five year olds while simultaneously supporting their parents to stay in school, become capable parents, and develop into self sufficient adults.

The “School Readiness Project” funded by a grant from Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates

A $10,000 grant from Driscoll’s allows the Oxnard College Child Development Center tooffer mini-grant tuition scholarships to 12 low income preschool age children, with the goal that all project participants receive quality childcare and be emotionally, socially, physically and academically ready for school. The project includes an enriched early education program for the children and on-going workshop sessions to support parents and promote learning in the home.

The Child Development Center “Internship Program”- Funded by a grant from the Oxnard College Academic Senate

The grant provides a $500 stipend to 4 students who complete a semester long internship project focused on enhancing to programs and services offered at the CDC. This years Intern Projects include:

• Establishing a “Father’s Club” at the Center
• Coordination of the CDC “Volunteer Program” including orientation and training of volunteers
• Coordination of a staff development training series
• Establishing a parent programs for mono-lingual Spanish speaking families

The Child Development Center Volunteer Program

Each semester a variety of volunteers offer their services to the Child Development Center. Currently such organizations as ROP, Association For Retarded Citizens (ARC), send participants to learn job skills, to advance career goals, or to obtain on-the-job training. Other High School and College students as well as community members volunteer at the center. All volunteers must participate at least 3 hours weekly.