By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Pictured during the tour of Centro Mater in Little Havana, from left: Dr. J. Abilio Rodriguez, program director, Centro Mater West; Jane McQueen, director Head Start/Early Head Start Program; Miriam Roman, executive director, Centro Mater Child Care Services; Madelyn Rodriguez, program director, Centro Mater East; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa; Julie Edwards, director, Community Action Agency; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez; and Evelio Torres, Chief Executive Officer, Early Learning Coalition.
MIAMI � Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and members of his staff, as well as representatives from various Miami-Dade agencies, visited Centro Mater East in Little Havana Aug. 23 to view firsthand the operation of a top-rated Head Start provider.
Centro Mater is nationally accredited and has received the highest ranking during the Head Start RFP process. Head Start requires that at least 50 percent of teachers have degrees; Centro Mater boasts a 90 percent Bachelor level degreed staff, all with certification from the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. In addition, minimum staff turnover contributes to consistent quality and continuity for the children.
�We have had teachers with us for over 30 years,� said Miriam Roman, executive director of Centro Mater and herself a career-long employee. �It is about commitment and dedication.�
Centro Mater�s five sites � operated under the auspices of Catholic Health Services of the Archdiocese of Miami � run year-round child care services, after-school and summer programs that serve almost 1,200 children, approximately half of whom are enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start. Since 1968, Centro Mater has provided educational, nutritional, health prevention and other services conducive to child growth and development and family support in disadvantaged areas of our community.
Operated under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start promotes school readiness for children in low-income families by providing educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
For more information call 305-545-6049 or visit www.catholichealthservices.org/early-education.
Centro Mater is nationally accredited and has received the highest ranking during the Head Start RFP process. Head Start requires that at least 50 percent of teachers have degrees; Centro Mater boasts a 90 percent Bachelor level degreed staff, all with certification from the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program. In addition, minimum staff turnover contributes to consistent quality and continuity for the children.
�We have had teachers with us for over 30 years,� said Miriam Roman, executive director of Centro Mater and herself a career-long employee. �It is about commitment and dedication.�
Centro Mater�s five sites � operated under the auspices of Catholic Health Services of the Archdiocese of Miami � run year-round child care services, after-school and summer programs that serve almost 1,200 children, approximately half of whom are enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start. Since 1968, Centro Mater has provided educational, nutritional, health prevention and other services conducive to child growth and development and family support in disadvantaged areas of our community.
Operated under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start promotes school readiness for children in low-income families by providing educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
For more information call 305-545-6049 or visit www.catholichealthservices.org/early-education.
