The QCC County Program Profile provides county data from the Common Data File (CDF) and the Annual Progress Report (APR). For counties that are a part of a consortium, the QCC County Program Profile provides a combined view of the CDF and APR. Both qualitative and quantitative data are presented to provide a local view of early learning and care climate.

Calaveras County’s voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), known as Strong Start Calaveras, serves early learning programs in Calaveras and is administered by First 5 Calaveras. The consortium is committed to promoting continuous quality improvement in early learning venues throughout the county. Participating sites will identify their key areas of interest in one or more of the following four areas:

1. Developmental and Health Screenings
2. Social–Emotional Development
3. Effective Teacher-Child Interactions
4. Family Engagement

• First 5 Calaveras
• Calaveras County Office of Education
• Columbia College
• Calaveras Child Care Council
• The Resource Connection Resource & Referral Agency
• Prevent Child Abuse Council Calaveras
• The Resource Connection Head Start and Early Head Start Program
• Calaveras Unified School District
• Lilschuz Footsteps Preschool
• Calaveras Public Health

Discussions are held during monthly consortia meetings to strategize and target child care sites and alternative settings for recruitment. Also, recruitment of consortia membership is discussed. Outreach to individuals is done in person, by phone, or at trainings and events.

Strong Start Calaveras has one coach/Director Mentor. She provides one-on-one mentoring through the California Director Mentoring Program to five early childhood professionals. She also hosts two “Early Care and Education Get Togethers” each month, one in the morning and one in the afternoon/evening for early childhood teachers and directors.

“Incentive Guidelines” are reviewed, adjusted, and approved by consortia members each year based on allocated budget and priorities. These guidelines are provided to each participating agency/site. Incentives during 2018–2019 included stipends for professional growth hours, Early Childhood Education units, attending mentor/coaching sessions, reaching site goals, increasing rating scores, and initial enrollment in Strong Start Calaveras.

A Family Child Care Provider shared: I started the program almost a year ago. Since then, we have been CLASS observed, which provided my assistant and myself with very valuable information and tips on how to better teach the children we work with. We participate in the ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2 assessing, which has improved our parent involvement with weekly activities. We have even had two get-togethers since joining the program, which has encouraged family-family interactions, where before the get-togethers were very little if at all. I am lucky to be a part of such a wonderful program that not only teaches us as providers, but helps us help the families we work with by providing information and encouraging them to be more involved with their children.

A Library Assistant shared: Strong Start Calaveras has made me think more about my role as a child advocate. I always strive to hold meaningful conversations with parents visiting the library, and I especially enjoy being able to offer professional advice related to parenting; however, I have never considered it part of my job description. Strong Start Calaveras has allowed me to grow and realize that I am not just providing a library program. I am providing a holistic and dynamic service to my community. I am here to offer support as well as early learning literacy services.