Services and Supports

To achieve its mission the AFP provides a variety of services to improve the quality of early care and education programs and move programs to successful NAEYC Accreditation. The AFP delivers services across the state of Connecticut using a regional model. For a map of the state with contact information for AFP staff, please click here.

Any program may access these free workshops, study groups, and information services, regardless of their funding status or geographic location.

Workshops

These sessions provide an opportunity to learn about the steps of the NAEYC Accreditation process, and to explore and discuss opportunities for program improvement as guided by NAEYC’s Accreditation process.

For the schedule of current workshops click here.

Study Groups

What is a Connecticut AFP Study Group? A Connecticut AFP Study Group is:

• A facilitated discussion of best practices;
• A model to take back to your program and encourage shared understanding;
• A network of administrators, teaching staff, and other early childhood professionals;
• The right people in the right place to answer your questions: Up-to-date NAEYC guidance and counseling by trained Connecticut AFP staff;
• Innovative strategies to put criteria in policy and practice;
• A discussion place for deciding on the right evidence in your portfolios.

For the schedule of current study groups click here.

Individualized Intensive AFP support

This Individualized Intensive Support includes on-site technical assistance and support by the AFP facilitator to program leaders including administrators, lead teachers, and the self-study team. This assistance guides leaders through the four identified steps of the NAEYC process and empowers them to engage their staff in the work of accreditation. These AFP services are available only to programs that are licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. For information on the availability of the application to the AFP, please contact Nikki Valerio at nvalerio@ctcharts.org.

Individualized Intensive AFP support includes:

On-site Assistance

• Support for the use of NAEYC's tools for self-study and program assessment and feedback to programs as they use the tools;
• Consultation on program improvement issues;
• Guidance on the establishment of timelines for the process;
• Meetings with staff, parents, boards, owners

Monthly Support Meetings

• Guidance through the steps of the NAEYC process;
• Opportunity to network with professionals from many different types of programs;
• Training to support implementation of high quality early care and education;
• Technical assistance documents to guide programs in the NAEYC process

Financial Support (pending availability)

• Payment of NAEYC Accreditation fees;
• Opportunities for professional development and higher education scholarships through priority consideration for CCAC scholarships.

Click here for a one-page summary of AFP services.

Support to programs serving 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds with identified disabilities

Accreditation workshops and funding support is also provided by the AFP through a collaboration with the State Department of Education’s Early Childhood Special Education Program (IDEA 619). Funds are targeted to programs delivering preschool special education services in settings that include public school preschool, kindergarten, school readiness, Head Start, full- and/or part-day center-based preschool or early childhood and/or nursery school. Programs eligible for financial support include:

• Public schools providing special education and related services to children ages 3, 4 and 5 with disabilities and
• Community programs working collaboratively with a school district to serve and support children ages 3, 4, and 5 with disabilities who are receiving special education and related services.

Workshop sessions offered through this collaboration are listed in the SERC Early Childhood Catalogue. For information the financial support available through funding from the State Department of Education's Early Childhood Special Education Program (IDEA 619) for the NAEYC Accreditation fees click here.