Partnership Profile: Frederick, Maryland
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While every partnership looks different, there are several existing models that can serve as a guide.
This profile focuses on Frederick Community College and YMCA Head Start in Frederick, Maryland. In this partnership, Head Start is embedded within an existing child development center on campus.
Head Start embedded within an existing child development center on campus
Some community colleges already have an active child development center or a “lab” school on campus, and the Head Start program uses space within this existing site. In this situation, Head Start runs the program independently, but in coordination with the center.
Fast Facts
Head Start website: https://frederickymca.org/programs/children-teens/birth-to-five
College numbers: 5,389 total students (1,537 full-time and 3,930 part-time)
Child Development Center capacity: 82 children
Head Start slots: 15-20 children
Partnership Overview:
Frederick Community College (FCC) operates a tuition-based child development center on campus that offers care for children ages eight months through five years old. The center is available to all, including community members, but prioritizes students and staff and faculty, in that order. Scholarships are available through the county for students, which may eliminate all out-of-pocket costs for FCC student-parents.
The FCC children’s center operates in its own building on campus, is licensed by the state to serve 82 children, and operates year round.
Through this partnership, Head Start operates one classroom within FCC’s children’s center.
Retrofit and Start-Up
When the partnership began, the room was already licensed as part of the children’s center. Because the building was already a functional child development center, there were no additional expenditures needed to meet Head Start requirements when the partnership began.
Head Start Operations
Head Start operates its classroom independently from the rest of the children’s center and its programming. The Head Start classroom operates during the school year or 10 months of the year, while the rest of the center operates year round. Head Start is responsible for its own enrollment and staffing, separate from the rest of the children’s center.
The Details
Head Start pays FCC a minimal cost per month for the space. In return, the college supplies space, internet, janitorial services, phones, security, and parking. FCC also maintains the outdoor space that is used by the entire children’s center. Head Start is able to record in-kind donations for the market rate value of the space, less their monthly payment.
Head Start has access to other facilities on FCC’s campus, such as the gym, student center, and library.
The director of FCC’s children's center and the Head Start liaison are the key staff who collaborate and interact in this partnership.
Challenges:
The college calendar and Head Start calendar may not sync. In particular, the children’s center operates all year, while Head Start’s classroom only operates for 10 months of the year. Head Start’s hours of operation and days closed may also differ.
Head Start may struggle with enrollment at times because of the prioritization of FCC student-parents over community members.
It can be confusing for parents to have multiple programs in the same building, especially when it comes to eligibility and funding streams.
Benefits and Strengths:
The building was already established as a licensed child development center, including dedicated outdoor playspace, so Head Start was able to easily slide into the classroom without any need for retrofitting or construction.
The arrangement between FCC and Head Start is fairly simple, as Head Start operates their classroom independent of the rest of the center.
FCC students get practical exposure to two different program operation types, different populations, and curriculum.
Families have access to a variety of service options because there are two programs operating in one space.