IdahoSTARS - Types of Mentor/Coaching Services

All child care providers who work with a mentor/coach must be registered in the IdahoSTARS Professional Development System and be eligible for incentives. Directors who work with a mentor/coach must be registered in IdahoSTARS Professional Development System and do not need to be eligible for incentives.

The Mentor/Coaching Resources Program offers three main categories of mentor/coaching services: mentor/coaching for Apprenticeship, mentor/coaching for support with the Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS) and mentor/coaching for Individual Projects.

1. Mentor/Coaching for Apprenticeship
   • The Apprenticeship Program is:
     • A nationally recognized program that supports wage increases with increased education and experience for child care professionals.
     • A two-year mentor/coaching relationship for any child care provider or director working 25 or more hours/week in a licensed child care facility and working toward a degree in Early Childhood Education.
     • The apprentice receives up to 4000 hours (two years) of on-the-job training, supported by weekly meetings with an IdahoSTARS Approved Mentor/Coach.
     • Scholarships are available to help the scholar complete a CDA or college degree.
     • Apprenticeship sites are registered as Participating Employers with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho AEYC) as official Apprenticeship Sites and are recognized for their commitment to excellence.


2. Mentor/Coaching for Individual Projects (several examples are listed below)
   • Individual Projects
     • IdahoSTARS Approved Mentor/Coaches with specific skill sets are available to support a home or center provider or director with a special project. Mentor/Coaches may meet with a provider just once, weekly, or monthly, depending on the project. Mentor/Coaches are available to support the development of a business plan, communication skills, parent education, policy and procedure development, staff development, room arrangement, or any other project.
   • Child Care Health Consultation
     
     • Mentor/Coaches with specialized Child Care Health Consultation expertise are available to providers and directors who are seeking input in the areas of health and safety. Center and home providers and directors can receive the services of a child care health consultant who is qualified to provide consultation and technical assistance on child health and safety issues.
   • Accreditation
     • Mentor/Coaches are available to offer guidance, counseling and resources to directors of child care facilities seeking accreditation through NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) or NAFCC (National Association for Family Child Care)
   • Environment Enhancement
     • Specially trained Mentor/Coaches work with providers who wish to increase the quality of their classroom environment. Reliable IdahoSTARS Assessors use an Environment Rating Scale to observe the environment of the classroom and mentor/coaches are then available to support the providers in developing a plan to increase the quality of the environment. Mentor/Coaches also work with providers to implement the plan and measure the results.


3. Mentor/Coaching for the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
   • QRIS Mentor/Coaches support director/owners in creating and completing four important QRIS documents:
     • Application for a Facility Profile
     • Improvement Plan
     • Funding Request
     • Application for a Star Rating
   • For more information on the IdahoSTARS Quality Rating and Improvement System visit our QRIS web page.