PHILOSOPHY

The Drop-In Children's Center is a community of children, parents, staff members and board members whose purpose is to provide quality, affordable child care for ages six weeks to five years old

It is our intention to treat each other and all people with kindness and respect, to resolve differences in an honest and responsible way, to promote non-violence in action and in speech and to actively develop and promote understanding so as to embrace the diversity of humanity.

To this end, we resolve to include in the program for children and materials and training for staff, parents and board members the following:

CHILDREN

• Developmentally appropriate activities and equipment
  • Child led play/learning
  
  
• Exploration of the full range of human families (including single parent, adoptive, extended, two parent heterosexual, gay, foster, etc.) through age appropriate activities and materials
  
  
• Conflict resolution
  • How to handle strong feelings (anger, etc.)
  • How to resolve a conflict in a positive way
  
  
• Non-violent environment
  • No weapons or shooting/killing games
  • No hitting or hurting
  • No hurting words
    (staff will have training in positive intervention techniques)
  
  
• Anti-bias education/interventions
  • Modeling
  • Multi-cultural/multi-ethnic toys and materials
  • Activities
  • Appropriate positive intervention

PARENTS

• Parents take a big leap of faith when they entrust their children to someone else's care. They need to have access to their children and know that their questions and concerns will be respectfully attended to.
  
  
• Parents are welcome to visit the program at any time. They may take part in scheduled activities or observe. They are asked to check in with the Child Care Supervisor.
  
  
• Parent concerns will be listened to with respect. Problems that are not easily resolved will be referred to the Director.
  
  

STAFF

• The staff are the ones who make the center what it is. They do a challenging and important job and deserve respect and support.
  
  
• Staff will receive initial and ongoing training in:
  • Child development
  • Guiding children's behavior
  • Active listening
  • Conflict resolution
  • Anti-bias education
  • Health and safety
    (and other topics related to the care of young children)
  
  
• Regular staff meetings will include time for staff to talk about daily experiences and receive support.
  
  
• Staff concerns will be listened to with respect by their supervisors. Problems not easily resolved will be referred to the Director or Board Liason.
  
  
• Staff make-up will reflect the diversity of our community.

BOARD

• As volunteers, board members deserve appreciation for their service to the organization. In order to perform their jobs well, they need to have good communication with staff and be kept abreast of any trouble spots in a timely manner.
  
  
• The Board will strive to reflect the diversity of our community.
  
  
• New Board members will receive a packet that includes descriptions of Board positions and their function, decision making process, communication flow chart, DICC By-Laws and the organization's "working agreements."
  
  
• Board members will receive training in:
  • Anti-bias education
  • Conflict resolution
  • Active listening
  
  
• Board members will spend time in the program so as to get a feel for the issues involved in its running and aid in the communication with staff.

An ANNUAL RETREAT for Board, staff, and interested parents to take stock, set goals and clear up problem areas will help keep the DICC functioning well.