Child and Family Development Center:
A Caring Place to Grow!
Highlights
- Licensed by MSDE's Office of Child Care
- Open to the local community and UMES employees
- Hours of Operation: 7:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
- Breakfast and afternoon snack provided
- Summer school age program available (June – August)
- Tuition based on household income
- Purchase of Care accepted
- Diverse population of children and staff
- Teacher to child ratio exceeds Maryland state requirements
Philosophy
The Child and Family Development Center (CFDC) is licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care for one hundred two children ages six weeks through school age. The center encourages each child to develop an individual
learning style which compliments the child’s personal desires, interests and needs. We are committed to facilitating each child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional growth within a proactive environment.
Curriculum
The state approved curriculum, "The Creative Curriculum," is thematic-based and is designed to encourage children to direct their own learning experiences in an enriched, supportive environment where rewards are felt intrinsically by the child and
reinforced by personal experiences and interactions with others. This success-oriented focus helps develop a desire to learn and participate without fear of failure or discouragement. The activities encourage trial and error learning to develop problem
solving skills and to create multiple solutions. Variety is vital for children's development. We plan a balance of indoor and outdoor, individual and group, quiet and active experiences. UMES and the Delmarva area provide us with various resources for
extending the learning through extracurricular activities (e.g. fieldtrips, music lessons, guest visitors). We consider these resources crucial in maintaining a balanced and exciting curriculum.
Staff
The Center promotes diversity among the children and the staff. Each classroom (two for infants, two for two- and three-year olds, two for four- and five- year olds and one for school age) has one full-time lead teacher (child care specialist) and
one assistant teacher (child care worker) who plan and manage the daily program. The support staff includes UMES students who plan to enter fields related to early childhood. The Center is pleased that its student to teacher ratios remain low. Regular
in-service training is encuraged for all CFDC staff.
Teacher Development
The CFDC not only provides quality early child care for the University and local community, but also serves a demonstration site for undergraduate students in UMES’ Child Development, and Family and Consumer Science program options within the Department
of Human Ecology. These students are placed at the Center for various practicum experiences.
The Center also hosts workshops for both its own staff and other professionals.
Facilities
The Center has many amenities including seven fully equipped classrooms with many age-appropriate materials, games, and activities. Six CD-Rom computer stations with color printers, speakers and on-line capacities have added a lot more fun to the
children's learning experience. The outdoor classroom boasts of jungle gym equipment and large motor activity equipment.
Families
The CFDC recognizes that family members are the first teachers of children. We are supportive, not substitutive of parenting. Parents are encouraged to participate in the education of their children. Observation windows provide opportunities for
witnessing children during their daily activities. Adult sized chairs in the classrooms are provided for visitors who would like to interact with children. Open communication is vital to the staff/family relationship. Monthly newsletters, calendars, quarterly
assessments,daily notes home and conferences are used to keep the lines of communication open.
Service Delivery Model
A multidisciplinary approach is used in the CFDC because the staff understands that children do not enter the Center in a cookie cutter mold and therefore their needs can not be met using one teaching style or approach. Specialists from a variety
of resources (Lower Shore Early Intervention Program, TLC Mental Health Department, Infants and Toddlers and Child Find) are linked with those children and families whose needs extend beyond the capabilities of the CFDC staff. All children are screened
and/or assessed using the Creative Curriculum Developmental Continuum, Dial 3 and DECA. Findings are supported through observations and anecdotal records and parent, teacher and specialists' input. The child’s curriculum is then adapted based on information
gained from the assessments.
Funding Sources
The CFDC is a self-supporting program. Funding is derived from family tuition and fees, Purchase of Child Care payments and grants.
Philosophy
The Child and Family Development
Center (CFDC) encourages each child to develop an individual learning style that complements personality, interests, and needs. We are committed to facilitating each child’s language, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth within a supportive
environment. The Center
- Is licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education’s Office of Childcare.
- Cares and educates children from six weeks to five years of age.
- Is open to both the local community and the UMES family.
- Operates from 7:45—5:15, year-round.
- Provides morning and afternoon snacks.
- Accepts non-toilet trained children.
- Accepts Purchase of Care.
- Represents a diverse population of children and staff.
- Maintains teacher to child ratios that exceed the state’s minimum requirements.
Our program also seeks to enroll children representing diverse backgrounds, as well as those with special needs. The CFDC is a not-for-profit, self-supporting program. Funding is derived from family tuition and fees, Purchase of Care payments, and
grant funding. Applications are available year-round and may be obtained by calling (410) 651-6173.
Curriculum
Our thematic-based curriculum
is designed to encourage children to direct their own learning experiences in an enriched and supportive environment where rewards are felt intrinsically by the child and reinforced by personal experiences and interactions with others. This success-oriented
focus helps develop a child’s desire to learn and participate without fear of failure or discouragement. Our learning activities encourage trial and error experiences while developing problem-solving skills.
Variety is vital for a young child’s development. We plan a balance of indoor and outdoor, individual and group, and quiet and active experiences. Learning activities feature directed play and exploration,supportive dialogue and conversation, skill
building through music and movement, and alternative communication through sign language. UMES and the Delmarva area provide us with many resources for extending learning through extracurricular activities, including field trips and guest visitors. We
consider these resources crucial to maintaining an individualized, balanced and exciting curriculum.
We use a multidisciplinary approach to learning because our staff understands that children do not enter the CDFC in a cookie-cutter mold, and therefore, their needs cannot be met using one teaching style or approach. Our collaboration with the Infants
and Toddlers Program link those children and families whose needs extend beyond the capabilities of the CFDC staff. We adapt our curriculum to match the goals and objectives set for the child through the assessment process and invite professionals into
our classrooms for on-site intervention and observation.
Programs and Facilities
Information will be updated soon...
Families and Staff
Family
We honor family members as the
child’s most important teachers. Thus, the CDFC is supportive, not substitutive of parenting. Parents are encouraged to participate in the education of their children. Observation windows and video-monitoring systems provide opportunities for witnessing
children during their daily activities. Adult-sized chairs are provided for comfort while visiting. Our open-door philosophy is vital to the relationship. Newsletters, calendars, special events, assessments, and conferences are used to keep the lines
of communication open.
Staff
The Child and Family Development
Center promotes diversity among the children and staff. Each classroom has one full-time child development specialist with professional training who plans and manages the daily program. Our support staff includes UMES students who are pursuing careers
in fields related to young children.
Teacher Development
Along with the quality childcare and education we provide, we also serve as a demonstration site for undergraduate students in the Department of Human Ecology’s Child Development program. Students are placed at the CFDC throughout their matriculation
at UMES for various practical experiences including observation, lesson and activity planning, implementation, and assessment.
Enrollment
Application
The CFDC seeks to enroll children representing diverse backgrounds, as well as those with special needs. Applications are available year round and may be obtained by calling the Center at 410-651-6173 or stop by the Center on campus. Completed applications
are placed on a waiting list for future consideration. Placement on this list does not guarantee enrollment at the CFDC. Children do not need to be toilet trained to become enrolled at the Center.
Enrollment Procedures:
Click the links to download and print pdf files.
Complete registration information card
- All About Me form
- Complete health inventory signed by physician
- Immunization Form signed by physician
- Lead Addendum signed by physician
- Complete emergency form
- Pay $10 non-refundable application fee
- Sign Child Care Regulation Acknowledgement
- Sign parent-school agreement form
Please contact us (dmlong@umes.edu) to receive any forms that do not have links.
Tuition and Fees
- Registration Fee: $10
- Student Activity Fee: $100
- Weekly Fees: >>>>>Infant to Two Years - $195.75 >>>>>Preschool Program - $145.50 >>>>>School Age Program - $22.85
Gross Annual Family Income
|
Full Day |
$14,500 - $39,999
|
$441 |
$40,000+
|
$504 |
Gross Annual Family Income
|
Half Day |
| Less than $40,000 |
$252 |
| Greater than $40,000 |
$283.50 |
| Infant Program |
$677.25 |
| School-aged - Before/After School |
$78.75 |
Hours of Operation
7:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Contact Us
Director: Donna Long, Ed.D.
E-Mail:
dmlong@umes.edu
Telephone: 410-651-6173
Fax: 410-651-6285
Address:Child and Family Development Center
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
11941 Early Childhood Research Building
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Directions to CFDC
Detailed maps from Salisbury & Crisfield directions
Parents' Comments
“I cannot express how thankful
I am that my child has been a part of your childcare program! He has thrived there and I have always known he was safe and loved by all of your staff. I have nothing but praise for the entire center.”
“Thank you for everything you have done for me and my child. He has really grown and learned a lot at your center. Knowing the care he has received has given me peace of mind over the last three years. For that I am truly grateful.”
“Words cannot describe how much our family appreciates all the love and support we have received from the CFDC. Our child has grown so much over the past few years and we know that it is because of the dedication and support you have provided him.”
“I have been witness to the many changes in my child, due in large part to the love and care she has received at the Center. I’m sure with the foundation she has been given at the CFDC, she will only continue to grow.”
Educational Links
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For Children
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For Parents
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 Kids will meet Arthur and his friends,
Mr. Rogers, Barney, Daniel Tiger, and Sesame Street,
etc. online at any time they want.
 This is a place for teachers, parents
and kids (craft, coloring book, on-line
art, games, story time, etc.)
 This site has a full collection
of the nursery rhymes from A to Z,
a very nice tool for classroom learning.
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