Office of Early Care and Education

The Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) is the umbrella agency for programs funded under the Federal Child Care Development Block Grants. Programs funded through this office include:

Upcoming Family Care Home Provider Network Meeting

The Office of Early Care & Education is pleased to host the Family Care Home Provider's Network in Southern Nevada. Their next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 23rd, from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. This meeting includes a 1 hour training on K.E.D.S., Kindergarten Entry Level Data Systems, by Sarah Yeats-Patrick of Social Entrepreneurs, Inc. All participants will receive a training certificate approved for 1 hour by The Nevada Registry. Please RSVP to Brandi Hearst via the phone number or email address listed below.

All Licensed Family Care Home Providers are invited!

Please join us and connect with other licensed home providers in the community to collaborate on ideas and express what your needs are, what ideas you have, or what trainings you would like to see offered.

View the attached flyer if you are a licensed family home provider and would like more information about the Network. If you have any questions, or if you would like to join our meetings, please contact Brandi Hearst at (702) 486-1421 or BHearst@dwss.nv.gov

FREE TRAINING!

The Office of Early Care & Education in southern Nevada is hosting a variety of free, Nevada Registry approved trainings in 2012! View the training calendar. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. If you would like to register for any of the trainings, please contact: Brandi Hearst at 702-486-1421 or BHearst@dwss.nv.gov

NEW! Recognition for Career Ladder Level Increase!

The Office of Early Care and Education, in partnership with Lakeshore Learning, is pleased to announce that any active Registry member who moves up on The Nevada Registry Career Ladder by one level or more, will receive their choice of a classroom materials kit from Lakeshore (a $400 value)!

This is a limited offer and available only while funding remains for this project. Eligible participants may only receive one kit per year at the time of their Nevada Registry renewal and will automatically receive notification of the award from the Office of Early Care and Education. Kits are awarded based on moving one step up The Nevada Registry Career Ladder (i.e. Level 2 to Level 3) and not movement within a level (i.e. Level 1.2 to Level 1.3). If you have any questions, please contact Patti Oya by e-mail at poya@dwss.nv.gov.

OECE MISSION

Promote and provide support, education, and resources to Nevada's child care community thereby increasing the development of high-quality child care environments for providers, families, and children.

OECE GOALS

Improve and maintain the quality and quantity of early care and education programs and services.
Increase the skills, education levels, and professionalism of field.
Increase the compensation, wages, benefits, and working conditions for early childhood professionals through public awareness, policy, and funding efforts.
Increase parents/guardians knowledge and ability to understand the importance of early care and education, to be involved in their child's learning, and to make informed child care choices.
Improve the quality of early care and education programs and services, by providing quality intervention services for identified children with special needs.
The State Office of Early Care and Education was established under the State Child Care Administrator's Office to oversee and coordinate the quality improvement funds received through the Federal Child Care Development Funds (CCDF).

Contact Information

Southern Nevada
Patti Oya
(702) 486-1432
poya@dwss.nv.gov

Brandi Hearst
(702) 486-1421
BHearst@dwss.nv.gov

Northern Nevada
Cindy Johnson
(775) 684-0574
cdjohnson@dwss.nv.gov