Child Development Programs
CalSAFE
The CalSAFE Centers provide services to pregnant teenagers and teenage parents who are enrolled at all area high schools. Parents qualify for the program until age 19; children qualify while they are 0-5 years of age.
Children are provided with quality child care on site while the teenage parents attend their high school classes. Both pregnant teenagers and teenage parents are offered assistance with their academic coursework. They also attend prenatal and parenting classes and complete a supervised one-hour lab in the center each day.
The major goal of the program is to provide support services to these teenagers so that they can remain in high school and graduate. The program has met this goal with a 95 percent success rate over the past 20 years.
Contact: CalSAFE coordinator, (805) 564-1421.
Children’s Centers
Children’s Centers provide full time child care for parents who are working, in job skills training, in school, or who are disabled.
Children between the ages of two- and five-years-old are enrolled. Children’s Centers open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. They are open Monday through Friday most days or the year, except for major holidays.
A teacher and an instructional aide staff classrooms and each room is arranged into distinct learning centers with developmentally appropriate materials. Children are instructed in small planned groups as well as encouraged to initiate their own learning while receiving guidance and support from staff. The program serves two nutritional meals and a snack per day. All centers are licensed by the state of California, Community Care Licensing Division.
The Children’s Centers operated by the Santa Barbara Elementary School District are funded by the State Department of Education, Child Development Division. In order for family to be eligible for child care services at these centers, they must meet the state’s eligibility and income guidelines.
Contact: Senior office assistant, (805) 899-4129 or 965-4633, extension 253.
State Preschools
The Santa Barbara Elementary School District has 17 state preschool classrooms, most of which are located on elementary school campuses. Each classroom is licensed by the state of California, Community Care Licensing Division.
State preschools operate for three hours in the morning as well as three hours in the afternoon. Families must meet state Department of Education income guidelines in order to qualify for the program. The program follows the school district’s calendar and thus operates approximately nine months. Priority is given to four-year-olds.
Classrooms are staffed by a certificated ECE teacher and an instructional assistant. Each room is arranged into distinct learning centers with developmentally appropriate enriching materials. Children are encouraged to initiate their own learning while receiving guidance and support form staff. A nutritious meal is served daily.
Contacts: Enrollment clerk, (805) 899-4129; head teacher 965-4633.
School Age Child Care
The Santa Barbara Elementary School District offers after school child care at all elementary schools. Many of these programs are funded by the state Department of Education, Child Development Division. Several programs are funded through parent fees. One site (Peabody) is funded by a unique three-way partnership between the city, county, and school district (Peabody).
These programs run year round. A staff member picks up kindergarten students from their classrooms during the school year. Children in first through third grade walk to the center classrooms.
Most centers close at 6:00 p.m. During the summer, and some other times when the elementary schools are closed, the centers are open 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The children are served a nutritious snack each day during the school year and breakfast, lunch, and snack are served when the centers are open full days. The major focus of the program is to provide a safe, enriching, and educationally-sound environment that supplements and supports the regular school program. Homework, enrichment activities, outdoor organized and free-choice activities, indoor small- and large-group activities are offered. During the summers. an academic program is offered and special enrichment themes are used. Field trips and specialists in music, drama, art, and physical education are also added to enhance the curriculum
Contacts: Enrollment clerk, (805) 965-4633; head teacher 965-4633, extension 251.