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Resource, referral centers offer toll-free hotline
MISSISSIPPI STATE – Child-care directors may feel alone as they try to manage teachers, families and children, but help is just a phone call away with a toll-free number provided by Mississippi State University.
The Mississippi Child Care Resource & Referral Network supports the unique needs of child-care center directors through a statewide network that offers free educational items and professional development courses through MSU’s Extension Service. The MSCCR&R Network provides a wide variety of services for child-care providers, parents and children.
“As a former child-care center director, I understand the stress directors are under,” said Amy Stokes, the new regional technical assistance supervisor. “With all the demands on their time, they often need an objective third party to help them figure out solutions to challenges.”
Stokes said a new toll-free number, 1-866-706-8827, connects callers to the MSU office where several team members are available to assist with a variety of issues.
Whether the topic relates to training, classroom management, room arrangement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture food programs, technical assistance, or the Early Learning Guidelines, the MSCCR&R Network can help directors find the information they need. In addition to training in early childhood development, most staff members have professional experience in the child-care field.
“People call us ‘The Helper Piece’ of the puzzle because we help child-care center directors and early care and education providers offer the best possible early education experiences for Mississippi’s children,” said Louise E. Davis, child and family development specialist with the MSU Extension Service and project director for the network.
The Mississippi Child Care Resource & Referral Network has resource centers across the state that provide information on finding local child care, educational materials for free check-out, and information on training and technical assistance for child-care providers. Call the toll-free hotline to locate a local resource center, or visit http://www.childcaremississippi.org.
