PROGRAMS ACHIEVING QUALITY (PAQ)

Sixty percent of children under the age of 5 spend more than 35 hours a week in early education settings. We know that children who receive high-quality early childhood development services experience reduced behavioral challenges, higher academic achievement, improved work habits and healthier relationships. With our PAQ program, childcare programs are given the education and resources needed to offer high quality, developmentally appropriate and sustainable businesses while children are being prepared to succeed in Kindergarten and beyond.

We help programs achieve their quality improvement and accreditation goals through 4 main areas of support:

Individualized classroom coaching
Professional development for all staff
Center investment grants
Business development and resources

See how small business development and job training supports Kindergarten Readiness.

For more information regarding the PAQ program in St. Louis County please contact:

Rashaan Bush
bushr@united4children.org
314-531-1412 ext. 130

Here are some of the highlights of each level:

Pre-Level 1 Outreach

Developmental screenings for the children in your care
Fall conference (12 clock hours)
Professional development addressing social-emotional development
CPR and First Aid certification
Monthly home visits with information about early childhood development and available local resources

For registered in-home childcare providers

Level 1 Premium Relationship

Quality Improvement Grants

5 Kindergarten Readiness Kits
$300 Classroom Materials Grant

Coaching

Monthly classroom coaching for 1 classroom

Professional Development

Fall Conference (12 clock hours)
On-site training requests considered including Safe Sleep & CCDF or licensing corrections
Networking with the Community Impact Network Committees
CPR & First Aid

Resources

Basic needs & service matching through Collective Impact Network Partner portal
Business coaching & training: (Marketing, Accounting, Business practices, etc)
Marketing events
- Week of the Young Child
- Trunk-or-Treat

Level 2 Child Development

Quality Improvement Grants

$2,000 Classroom Materials Grant

Coaching

Monthly director & classroom coaching
Center & classroom action planning
TPOT & ERS assessments

Professional Development

Fall Conference
Developmentally appropriate practice administration training (16 clock hours)
On-site training requests considered including Safe Sleep & CCDF or licensing corrections
Networking with the Collective Impact Network Committees
CPR & First Aid
Intro to Early Childhood Class
CDA Essentials Class
Internship Program

Resources

Basic needs & service matching through Collective Impact Network Partner portal
Business coaching & training: (Marketing, Accounting, Business practices, etc)
Marketing Events

Week of the Young Child
Trunk-or-Treat

Business technology assessment and grants

Level 3 Preparing for Accreditation

Quality Improvement Grants

$2,000 Classroom Materials Grant
$1,000 Center Needs Grant
Potential $27,000 Facility Grant (up to 2 given per year based on set criteria)

Coaching

Monthly director & classroom coaching
Center & classroom action planning
TPOT & ERS assessments

Professional Development

Fall Conference
Social-Emotional Early Childhood (SEEC) skills & administration training (20 clock hours)
On-site training requests considered including Safe Sleep & CCDF or licensing corrections
Networking with the Collective Impact Network Committees
CPR & First Aid
Intro to Early Childhood Class
CDA Essentials Class
Internship Program

Resources

Basic needs & services matching through Collective Impact Network Partner portal
Business coaching & training: (Marketing, Accounting, Business practices, etc)
Marketing Events

Week of the Young Child
Trunk-or-Treat

Business technology assessment and grants
ChildPlus software subscription
CDA Internship Placement

Level 4 Seeking Accreditation

Quality Improvement Grants

$5,000 Accreditation Grant
$1,000 Staff PTO Grant

Coaching

Monthly director & classroom coaching
TPOT & ERS assessments
Accreditation support
Center action planning

Professional Development

Fall Conference
Social-Emotional Early Childhood (SEEC) skills & administration training (20 clock hours)
On-site training requests considered including Safe Sleep & CCDF or licensing corrections
Networking with the Collective Impact Network Committees
CPR & First Aid
Intro to Early Childhood Class
CDA Essentials Class
Internship Program

Resources

Basic needs & services matching through Collective Impact Network Partner portal
Business coaching & training: (Marketing, Accounting, Business practices, etc)
Marketing Events

Week of the Young Child
Trunk-or-Treat

Business technology assessment and grants
ChildPlus software subscription
CDA Internship Placement

Staff Members

Rashaan Bush
Director of PAQ Services
(314) 531-1412 ext. 130

Brittany Mischeaux
Lead Early Childhood Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 137

Denise Silhavy
Lead Early Childhood (CDA) Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 139

Kim Dunn
Assistant to PAQ Director and Early Childhood Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext.141

Nikia Brown
Early Childhood Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 138

Erika Mallet
Early Childhood Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 118

Brittney Wilson
Lead Outreach and Premium I Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 158

Lakeisha Jones
Early Childhood and Outreach Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 142

Muzhda Siddiqui
Early Childhood and Outreach Specialist
(314) 531-1412 ext. 123

OUTCOMES & IMPACT

Children are given the chance to succeed in kindergarten by attending quality early childhood programs. Through Programs Achieving Quality childcare programs are given the education and resources needed to offer high-quality developmentally appropriate and sustainable business.