WELCOME TO MENTORING PAIRS FOR CHILD CARE
Mentoring Pairs for Child Care is a province-wide program that enhances child care quality, by matching more experienced child care supervisors with less experienced child care supervisors in their own communities. It is funded by the Government of Ontario and managed by the Early Childhood Community Development Centre (ECCDC). The ECCDC is a Niagara-based, charitable organization that has successfully coordinated research and other projects for all levels of government.
Mentoring Pairs for Child Care enhances the quality of care in Ontario's licensed child care centres, by expanding child care supervisors' knowledge of and application of the Human Resources Sector Council's Occupational Standards for Child Care Administrators (http://www.ccsc-cssge.ca/english/research/occupationalstandards.cfm). Using a proven process of group learning, guided communication, site visits and one-on-one coaching and interaction, Mentoring Pairs for Child Care offers both mentors and mentees the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Occupational Standards for their profession and develop their personal capacity for excellence in child care administration.
In addition to the benefits of this one-on-one mentoring relationship, Mentoring Pairs for Child Care offers both mentors and mentees many additional networking, professional development and recognition opportunities. Both mentors and mentees can expect to gain skill sets that allow them to accelerate their careers and achieve higher levels of job satisfaction.
How much does it cost to participate?
Funding from MCYS means that there is no cost to mentors, mentees or their employers related to participating in Mentoring Pairs for Child Care. In fact, mentors, mentees and their employers all receive honorariums in recognition of their commitment to the betterment of child care services in Ontario.
Mentors and their employers will each receive $750.00 for completing the full twelve-month program. Mentees will receive $500.00 and their employers will receive $550.00. These honorariums help offset incidental expenses mentors or mentees may incur related to participating in the program. The honorariums for employers help offset backfill staff expenses for the times when a mentor or mentee is away from work due to her/his participation in the program.
How do I know if Mentoring Pairs for Child Care is right for me?
If you love the field of Early Childhood Education and want to help promote and advance this very rewarding, but often undervalued profession, participating is an ideal way to leave your mark. Whether you're selected as a mentor or a mentee, your contribution of time and expertise will benefit Ontario's children, families and Early Childhood Educators for many generations to come.
I think I'm interested in becoming a MENTEE, how do I know for sure?
Do you often find yourself saying, "there must be a better way to do this"? If you're currently employed as a child care supervisor, have been in the position for less than five years, and sometimes feel overwhelmed by your workplace responsibilities, becoming a mentee will give you practical solutions to everyday challenges. It's a way to quickly improve your child care supervisor skills and level of administrative competence.
I think I'm interested in becoming a MENTOR, how do I know for sure?
Does your program exemplify best practices? Have you been employed as a child care supervisor for five years or more? Do you feel competent, confident and able to meet the expectations of your role? If you answered "yes" to these questions and would like to enhance your sense of career satisfaction by passing along some of what you've learned over the years, you might be an ideal mentor.
What is my commitment as a mentor or mentee?
The Mentoring Pairs For Child Care program takes one year to complete. It involves five main components.
1. Participation in the Skills Development Training Sessions.
Both mentors and mentees participate in three days of training in January. Topics covered include:
- Orientation to Mentoring Pairs for Child Care
- Ethical practice
- Leadership
- Reflective practice
- Adult development
- Communication
Mentors also take part in a fourth day of training on Facilitation and Coaching Skills.
2. Participation in monthly Occupational Standards Study Groups
- Each session is three hours in length and includes all community mentors and mentees
- Sessions are facilitated by a specially trained animator
- Examples of topics covered include: Human Resources, Finances, Facilities Management, Child Development and Care, Governance, Family and Community Relations, and Information Technology
- At these study sessions, participants review materials on the selected topic using a variety of facilitated methods, share lessons learned and successes from the previous month and plan for the upcoming month's activities.
3. Site Visits
- Members of each mentor/mentee pair visit each other’s and/or other learning and care workplaces, at least once monthly, to observe best practices, materials and skills in action. They also implement plans and practice skills identified in the monthly Occupational Standards Study Groups.
- Site visits begin in February 2009 and conclude in December each year. They may be conducted weekly, biweekly or monthly depending on the specific needs of the mentoring pair.
4. Ongoing Communication with Mentoring Partner
- Ongoing one-to-one communication between mentor and mentee is vital, and provides time to reflect, problem-solve and set goals for professional development and enhancing practice.
- The pairs dialogue and reflect on daily practice and identify priorities and strategies for improving performance.
- This communication may be in person, by phone or by email and, in combination with site visits is expected to take between 8-10 hours monthly.
5. Participation in the Evaluation of Program
- Participating Supervisors may be asked to complete online surveys or questionnaires, or participate in pre and post program on-site observations using standardized tools such as the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales, Program Administration Scale, and Caregiver Interaction Scale.
What is the commitment of my child care employers?
Employers that give consent to their child care supervisor to participate in Mentoring Pairs For Child Care agree to:
- Release their Mentee child care supervisors with full compensation to participate in three days of Skills Development training in January OR
- Release their Mentor child care supervisors with full compensation to participate in four days of Skills Development training in January AND
- Release their child care supervisor from February to December if needed, to engage in monthly study groups, pair conferencing and/or site visits.
- Participate in the evaluation of Mentoring Pairs for Child Care by agreeing to, and supporting, pre and post program on-site observations using standardized tools such as Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales, Program Administration Scale, and Caregiver Interaction Scale.
- Have an understanding of, and commitment to, the Day Nurseries Act, Occupational Standards of Practice, and an overall commitment to quality and willingness to support the application of knowledge gained through the program at the centre.
NOTE: The information provided will be treated confidentially and used in an aggregate form only, that is, as a profile of the total mentor or mentee average scores for a cohort or a combined group of cohorts. This data will be used to inform the actual mentoring process and report on the Mentoring Project. In the future, the aggregate data may be used to inform the planning an development of workforce training and for reporting more generally on sector human resources issues.
Applicant Checklist--Mentor
To be considered for participation as a Mentor, you must meet the following criteria:
- You're employed as a supervisor of a licensed child care centre as defined in the Day Nurseries Act (DNA)
- The centre must be located in one of the following communities: Click here to view the list
- The centre must demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the Day Nurseries Act, Occupational Standards of Practice, and an overall commitment to quality.
- The centre must have a regular license, meeting all licensing requirements under the Day Nurseries Act on the day of the inspection.
- The centre's owner or board of directors must approve your participation in the program.
- You have five or more years experience working as a licensed child care supervisor in one or more licensed child care programs.
- You have the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to competently perform child care supervisor tasks, as outlined in the Child Care Human Resources Sector Council's (CCHRSC) Occupational Standards for Child Care Administrators (http://www.ccsc-cssge.ca/english/research/occupationalstandards.cfm).
- You have demonstrated your commitment to ongoing professional development.
- You possess an Early Childhood Education Diploma or Letter of Equivalency.
- You have strong coaching and communication skills.
- You feel a strong desire to support the growth and development of less experienced supervisors and a commitment to the mentoring process.
Applicant Checklist--Mentee
- You're employed as a supervisor of a licensed child care centre as defined in the Day Nurseries Act (DNA)
- The centre must be located in one of the following communities: Click here to view the list
- The centre's owner or board of directors must approve your participation in the program.
- You have less than five years of experience working as a supervisor in one or more licensed child care centres, as defined by the DNA.
- You possess an Early Childhood Education Diploma or Letter of Equivalency.
- You sometimes feel overwhelmed at work and want to improve and/or acquire the skills, knowledge, and abilities required for competent supervisor practice through a mentoring process.
How do I apply?
Just go ahead and fill out the Mentoring Pairs for Child Care online application form. Please be advised that you must have obtained permission from your employer for you to participate in the program.
Do I get to pick my mentoring partner?
Your mentoring partner will be assigned to you based on your geographical location and a thorough examination of both of your strengths and needs and learning/teaching styles. The matching process customized for use by Mentoring Pairs for Child Care has been used in other provinces since 1994, when it was developed for the Partners in Practice Child Care Mentoring project. In some circumstances, we can accommodate special matching needs. Please let your group Animator know about these at the January Skills Development Training and he/she will forward the request to us.
Once I apply, how soon will I know I'm accepted into the program?
Applications open September 1st and close October 31st. Applicants will be notified by mid-November.
What happens if I'm not accepted into the program?
Your contact information will be kept on file for at least one year and you will be contacted by us should a spot become available or the program is offered in your area again in the future. Please do not be discouraged if you aren't selected for participation. There are a variety of factors involved, including a limited number of available spaces for mentors and mentees, geographical location, budgetary constraints, etc. Not being selected is not a reflection of the value of your qualifications. We wish we could take everybody who wants to participate!
Where can I get more information?
If you have specific questions about the Mentoring Pairs for Child Care program, please contact our Administrative Assistant, Julie Thompson, at 905-646-7311 ext. 318 jthompson@eccdc.org
If you have questions about how to complete the application, please contact our Registrar, Darlene Drouin, at 905-646-7311 ext. 315 ddrouin@eccdc.org
You can also contact the Project Manager, Glory Ressler, at 905-646-7311 ext. 319 gressler@eccdc.org
