Abstract
The Maricopa County Human Services Early Education Division (EED) expanded their partnership with the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT). The previous agreement only included high school students studying early childhood education and has expanded to include other EVIT career programs. This expansion presents new opportunities for high school students to gain practical knowledge while enhancing learning experiences for the Head Start students and families.
Need and Context
The agreement now includes the programs that train for Nursing Assistant, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, Mental and Social Health Technician and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) careers. The expansion allows EVIT students to gain field experience working with young children in the classroom setting if needed. Another opportunity presented was to incorporate in-classroom field trips for preschool children to explore future career opportunities. This includes the culinary, fire fighter department, criminal justice (policeman), cosmetology, and the dental department as visitors in the classrooms to present their careers to the children. It has been a great way to introduce children to a wide range of professions in a fun and engaging manner. Aligning these experiences with learning standards helps to reinforce educational goals while sparking curiosity about the world around them. By integrating these field trips with curriculum goals, preschoolers will not only have fun exploring different careers but will also be laying a foundation for important life skills such as socialization, safety awareness, responsibility, and self-care. The partnership helps to build future careers and learning all while in a safe classroom environment.
Program Implementation
EED has three classrooms, two Head Start (ages 3-5) and one Early Head Start (ages 1-3), all located on the EVIT main campus in Mesa. There are also several Head Start locations throughout the Easy Valley that allow the EVIT students to intern in a location near their high school. Through the collaboration on the EVIT campus, this has provided opportunities for successful program implementation to update the agreement and discuss opportunities to expand learning for both EVIT and Head Start students. After three years with Head Start on the EVIT campus, the agreement was expanded to include multiple career development programs.
Cost and Funding
There is no cost to Maricopa County with this agreement that provides invaluable experiences to all parties involved.
Results and Impact
The partnership provided unique learning experiences for both preschool and secondary level students, while also counting their valuable time that volunteers spend in EVIT classrooms as in-kind donation hours. In-kind contributions, including volunteer hours, are crucial to the Head Start program as they provide valuable support without requiring financial expenditure. These contributions, which can include goods, services, or volunteer time, help reduce costs and expand services. Volunteer hours, specifically, are tracked and valued based on a standard hourly rate, often using the average local wage for similar positions. Volunteers, such as parents and community members, contribute to various activities the program meet federal funding requirements and expand services without additional funding. Volunteer hours are important for fulfilling Head Start’s funding requirements, enhancing services, building community engagement, and reducing program costs. By involving volunteers, Head Start can improve its services while strengthening the connection between the program, families, and the community The total number of volunteer in-kind hours from August 2024 to March 2025 (and still in progress through end of May) is 374.83 which equals a $13,880 contribution to in-kind.
Innovation
By having EVIT students volunteer in classrooms, it has allowed more one-on-one time with each child to build crucial connections that help children progress on skills. Also, with the integration these in-classroom field trips that incorporate curriculum goals, preschoolers will not only have fun exploring different careers but will also be laying a foundation for important life skills such as socialization, safety awareness, responsibility, and self-care. The partnership helps to build future careers and learning all while in a safe classroom environment. Parents are invited into the classrooms as well to experience these learning opportunities along with their children. This is a resourceful and distinctive collaboration that benefits all that are involved and is a great way to encourage in-kind volunteer hours.