Developing an Elevate Program Plan is a key step in reaching Member+ status. Your plan outlines how to improve your program — how to get it from where it is today to where you want to be.
1. Reflect on where your program is right now
Think about your child care program as it is right now. What are its strengths? What are its growth areas? Do you have any data you can use? Consider:
- Feedback from families
- Feedback from staff
- Information about the children in your care
- Reflections from self-assessment tools or program observations
- Your program’s financial situation
- Your program’s licensing or health inspection reports
Use these self-reflection tools to evaluate your program
OEC worked with NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) to develop these tools.
2. Decide what you want your program to become
Now, focus on what you’d like to improve. Are there skills you’d like your staff to learn? Do you want to expand or upgrade your facility? Don’t be afraid to think big at this stage.
Elevate offers resources for child care providers and across 6 focus areas. When you choose one, you’re making a commitment to your program, your staff, and the families you serve.
3. Set SMART goals
SMART Goals will help make your plan actionable and measurable. Think about how you could break up your big picture goals from step 2 into concrete SMART goals. Remember: your program plan has to include 1 to 3 SMART goals.
| Specific | Specific goals are clear and well-defined. They include what is going to be achieved, by whom, when, and where. |
| Measurable | Measurable goals have clear markers of success, both for the end result and for milestones along the way. |
| Attainable | Attainable goals are reasonable and realistic. |
| Relevant | Relevant goals support the program’s mission and vision. |
| Time framed | Time-framed goals have a clearly-defined window for completion. |
Need help setting SMART goals?
Check out our guide on how to create SMART goals. It has:
- An overview of what SMART goals are
- Examples of SMART goals for each Elevate Focus Area
- Sample SMART goals from other programs
4. Set action steps and develop your Elevate Program Plan
Now you’re ready to set the concrete action steps that will help you meet your SMART goals.
If your child care is a center or group child care home, your Program Plan also needs to include:
- Training and educational professional development SMART goals for your program
- 1 specific professional development SMART goal for each staff member
Use our templates and samples to develop your plan
Our templates will help you create your own plan — and they have helpful tips, definitions, and details about how Service Navigators will evaluate your plan. Our samples will also help you get started by providing some examples.
5. Upload your plan to the Registry
When your plan is complete, upload it to the CT Early Childhood Professional Registry.
Watch this video for a step by step tutorial for uploading your plan.
What’s next?
When you submit your plan to the Registry, Service Navigators will review it. They may have suggestions to ensure your plan meets the standards and they can support you to edit your plan.
Once your plan is approved, your program will earn Member+ status.
Use your approved plan to check in on your progress
Even after your plan is approved, consider it a living document. Keep going back to it. Make changes and updates. Use it to mark progress and document changes you’ve made based on your program’s goals.
Connect with a Service Navigator. They’re experienced guides who can talk about your program’s needs and direct you to Elevate resources.