Helping early childhood educators and caregivers build strong foundations for children from birth to five years old.

Thrive: Birth to Five

Our Networks:

Infant Toddler Child Care Collaborative Network

Home-Based Child Care Collaborative Network

Who Benefits?

Thrive: Birth to Five supports families, childcare providers, and communities by enhancing the quality of early childhood education and care.

Families

Support finding high-quality childcare.

Educators

Tools and resources to improve classroom practices.

Communities

Building a stronger future by fostering better educational outcomes.

The Infant Toddler Child Care Collaborative Network (ITN) is designed to strengthen early care and education programs across Missouri by providing personalized support and training for teachers and caregivers.

Information

Each infant and toddler teacher or caregiver is assigned an ITN Specialist who:

Offers support strategies.
Promotes stable relationships.
Fosters positive learning experiences.
Facilitates attachment between teachers and infants or toddlers.

Goals

The ITN helps:

Strengthen the capacity of early care and education programs statewide.
Meet the specific needs of each program.
Increase the knowledge and skills of childcare directors and staff when working with infants and toddlers.

Services

On-Site Coaching and Mentoring: Personalized coaching for each teacher using feedback from CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observations to address the strengths and needs of the classroom.
Build a Community of Practice: Join a six-month cohort to collaborate with infant and toddler teachers in your region and strengthen relationship-based care.
Earn Clock Hour Training: Access free, single-session training focused on best practices in infant and toddler classrooms to improve teacher-child interactions.

Infant Toddler Child Care Collaborative Network

Home-Based Child Care Collaborative Network

The Home-Based Child Care Collaborative Network (HBN) supports home-based childcare providers by offering tailored guidance, coaching, and collaboration opportunities.

Information

Each program operating in a home-based setting is assigned an HBN Specialist who:

Offers support strategies.
Promotes stable relationships.
Fosters positive learning experiences.
Facilitates attachment between caregivers and children.

Goals

The HBN helps:

Strengthen the capacity of home-based early care and education programs statewide.
Meet the specific needs of each home-based provider.
Increase the knowledge and skills of home-based childcare providers.

Services

On-Site Coaching and Mentoring: Receive personalized coaching based on CLASS observations to meet the strengths and needs of your home-based program.
Build a Community of Practice: Collaborate with other home-based providers in a six-month cohort to strengthen relationship-based care.
Earn Clock Hour Training: Attend free training sessions focusing on best practices for infants and toddlers in home-based settings.

Need some support?

To participate in the Missouri Mentoring Partnership program, you must be 26 or younger and either pregnant or parenting a child under three years of age. The program offers monthly support groups and parenting skills workshops designed to help you navigate the challenges of parenthood. Additionally, the program can assist you in completing your high school education, GED, college, or technical school program and guide you through the financial aid process. You will also be able to improve your ability to establish trust and build friendships with positive role models, supporting your journey toward a stable and successful future.

Contact us

Our services.

Parenting Support and Skill Development:

Young parents receive essential support focused on improving their parenting skills. Through mentoring and workshops, they gain practical knowledge in communication, daily routines, and discipline, helping them to confidently care for their children.
Health and Wellness Promotion:

Health and wellness are central, with a focus on practices like timely immunizations and regular check-ups. Parents are educated on child nutrition and development, while also receiving resources to maintain their own health, ensuring a healthy environment for their children.
Unplanned Pregnancy Prevention:

A key goal is preventing repeat unplanned pregnancies by providing education on family planning and reproductive health. With the right resources and support, young parents can make informed decisions and focus on their current parenting responsibilities and future goals.
Educational and Community Resources:

Young parents are connected with educational opportunities and community resources to support their parenting journey. This includes access to job training, continuing education, and building a strong support network within the community, empowering them to succeed.