Mission Statement
The SCCOG Early Learning Center Believes that all children can learn with proper consistency, guidance and early childhood stimulation. Our staff is dedicated to running a quality, safe and clean program that we can proudly recommend to children and families. We run the type of center that ourselves would be happy to enroll our own children in.
Vision Statement
We aim to offer a safe, healthy, developmentally appropriate learning environment for all children. The program is designed to meet the individual age appropriate needs of each child enrolled in a variety of programs. We strive to offer quality, affordable education and care for all families. We provide quality Early Childhood training for early childhood staff, TSJC students and Trinidad High School students.
About Us
Currently the Early Learning Center is located at the facility location of 1225 Rosita Ave. The program provides licensed services for children ages 1 year to a child's tenth birthday. The hours of operation are 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. The Early Learning Center offers a comprehensive program, rich in social/emotional and educational programs year round which include before school care, after school care, preschool programs, infant and toddler programs, summer programs with inclusion programs for children with special needs.
SCCOG is actively involved with the Colorado Department of Education and utilizes the Expanding Quality (EQ) in Infant-Toddler Curriculum. The COG Preschool Program works closely with the Trinidad School District, the Hoehne School District, Colorado Preschool Program and utilizes the High Scope Curriculum. SCCOG prides itself in running a 9 am to 2 pm Monday through Friday preschool program for a nine month period, however is funded for day programming. Other programs run half day preschools, however our program feels very strongly that preschoolers and families are in need of a full day program for pre-kindergarten readiness and full week services for childcare for working and student parents. Throughout the years children that have been in the program have proven its success with high pre-kindergarten assessment scores. SCCOG prides itself in getting children excited about the educational experience and focuses heavily in the area of language and leadership skills. This educational approach gets children started in making positive choices early on which ultimately affects confidence levels, social / emotional behavior and the stable routine it takes in order to follow through with successful high school graduation.
The Early Learning Center is licensed through the State of Colorado and participates in the USDA Child Adult Food Care Program. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are provided at the center which provides approximately 7000 meals per month. The breakfast, lunch and snack are prepared on site and monitors alternate diets and allergies of children.
The Early Learning Center employees approximately 35 employees and approximately 7 (high school/college) lab students. High School and College students are able to access college and high school credit while participating in training at the Early Learning Center. There are four full time employees and the remaining staff are part time employees. Staff is hired for their knowledge in Early Childhood as well as their experience and sensitivity for the individual needs of children and families.
The SCCOG Program works consistently with other community agencies in the area of early childhood services and education. Some of those involved agencies are: The (LACDH) Las Animas County Health Department, (SCDDS) Southern Colorado Developmental Disability Services (Part C funding), (BOCES) Board of Cooperative Educational Services (Part B funding), (DHS) Department of Human Services (CCAP), School District #1 (Eckhart Elementary-Trinidad High School ECE Program), Hoehne School District, Licensed Home Care Providers, TSJC (lab site) and the Early Childhood Advisory Council in Huerfano-Las Animas County HuLa.