Findings Engage the Community Objective 1: Community members involved in development of a PLAN to increase childcare “Helped us decide how to recruit and what neighborhoods to focus on.”
Recommendations Develop guidelines for functions of Advisory and Planning Boards Consider blending functions into one group.
Findings Engage the Community Objective 2: Recruit, train, and support via paraprofessionals from the targeted community All sites well utilizing MSUE paraprofessionals for recruitment.
Recommendations Ensure targeted communities and providers are primarily low-income. Work with broad-based groups in determining strategies to address unique approaches necessary for rural areas.
Findings Provide Trainings Specific to Community Needs Objective 1: Trainings will be comprehensive, convenient and conducive to acquiring knowledge and skills Perceived to be uniformly effective– comprehensive, motivational, and realistic.
Recommendation Provide on-going avenues to build on collective experiences of group.
Findings Provide Trainings Specific to Community Needs Objective 2: Conduct two small group trainings conducive to relationship building. Providers were viewed very positively and acknowledged that they helped build group “togetherness.”
Recommendation Identify specific strategies to be applied in trainings to facilitate group rapport and relationship building.
Findings Mentoring and Support Objective 1: Assist providers in navigating regulatory process. “The process is overwhelming. I don’t have the money now and it’s just too hard.”
Recommendation Develop tool book with real situations/issues experienced by providers and strategies to overcome.
Findings Mentoring and Support Objective 2: Facilitate development of Associations/Groups Among Providers Only in Saginaw are formal efforts in place to develop a network of providers, although all sites expressed interest.
Recommendation Work to develop informal support systems among and between providers, with an ultimate goal of developing a formal network.