Child-care center earns state award

Clear Skies Child Care/Preschool of Whitefish was honored Monday in Helena for reaching the highest level possible in the state’s Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program.

Clear Skies director Lori Adams was recognized by Gov. Steve Bullock during the second annual STARS Conference.

Clear Skies is the first child-care provider in Montana to achieve the STAR 5 level.

“I cannot emphasize enough how hard-working and dedicated my staff are to the children who attend Clear Skies,” Adams said. “This is a great accomplishment for us.”

Clear Skies has been in business in the Whitefish community for more than 25 years and serves preschool-age children. Adams said participation in the STARS program has added tremendously to the center’s success.

She said incentives from the program have been used to pay for staff professional development, including conferences, online training, college course work and local training.

“Through this type of training, my staff and I are then able to apply what we learn to improve the educational experience for the kids,” Adams said.

The program also has helped pay for improvements to the facility such as the installation of automatic faucets to improve sanitation.

The Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program launched a statewide field test in 2010 and offers incentives, coaching, technical assistance and training for participating childcare providers. Today, more than 100 child-care providers throughout the state participate in the program.

To move up through the STARS rating system, providers must have an emergency preparedness plan and complete training that covers safe sleep, how to administer medication, mandatory reporting, immunization, infant/toddler caregiver training, food safety and inclusion.

Other training focuses on business administration, the learning environment and curriculum and the social and emotional development of young children.