How the Mentor/Coaching Program Helps
Eligibility
Types of Mentor/Coaching Services
Receiving Services of a Mentor/Coach
Forms and Surveys

The Mentor/Coaching Program benefits children by supporting child care providers in centers and homes throughout Idaho. We have qualified mentor/coaches waiting to help support child care providers with projects big and small.

Mentor/coaches can help Child Care Providers and Director/Owners:

• Integrate what you learn in the college classroom into your child care setting as part of the Apprenticeship Program
• Create a network for parent involvement and support
• Enhance your classroom environment
• Brainstorm lesson planning ideas, including ideas about a particular emphasis like science or literacy

Mentor/coaches can help Director/Owners:

• Complete Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) paperwork
• Market your child care program
• Create or revise a business plan
• Work on issues involving health and safety
• Write or revise program policies and procedures

Tell us about your dream project

We have different types of mentor/coaching available for you. Individual projects are set up between child care providers and IdahoSTARS approved mentor/coaches, depending on what you need.

Call the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1, or 1-800-926-2588, and ask to speak with the Quality Child Care Consultant in your region or with Margaret Elkins, the director of the Mentor/Coaching Program (melkins@idahoaeyc.org).

To be eligible for the Mentor/Coaching Program:

• Child Care Providers: All child care providers who work with a mentor/coach must be registered in the Professional Development System (PDS) and must be eligible for incentives.
• Directors: Directors who work with a mentor/coach must be registered in Professional Development System (PDS) and do not need to be eligible for incentives.

For Child Care Providers and Directors/Owners: The Mentor/Coaching Program offers mentor/coaching for Individual Projects.

Mentor/Coaching for Individual Projects (Examples)
Mentor/coaches with specific skill sets are available to support a home or center provider or director with a special project.

• Individual Projects: Mentor/coaches are available to support the development of a business plan, communication skills, parent education, policy and procedure development, staff development, room arrangement, or any other project. Mentor/coaches may meet with a provider just once, weekly, or monthly, depending on the project.
• Accreditation: Mentor/coaches are available to offer guidance, counseling, and resources to directors of child care facilities seeking accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
• Environment Enhancement: Specially trained mentor/coaches work with providers and directors who wish to increase the quality of their classroom environment. After receiving an Environment Rating Scale assessment, providers and directors can use the services of a mentor/coach to help them develop a plan to increase the quality of their environment. Mentor/coaches also work with providers and directors to implement the plan.

For Directors/Owners only: The Mentor/Coaching Program offers mentor/coaching for support with the Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS):

Quality Rating & Improvement System
QRIS mentor/coaches support director/owners in creating and completing four important QRIS documents:

• Application for a Facility Profile
• Improvement Plan
• Funding Request
• Application for a Star Rating

Mentor/coaches also provide follow-up support as child care program directors work to implement their improvement plan.
 

Guidelines for Receiving Mentoring for Individual Projects and the Apprenticeship Program

• Receiving Mentoring for Individual Projects - The Process ()

To Receive Mentoring for the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
If you want to work with a mentor/coach for the QRIS, complete the QRIS application you will receive at the QRIS orientation.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available to receive mentor/coaching. View Mentor/Coaching Scholarship information for an application and instructions.