Alberta Resource Center for Quality Enhancement

Frequently following workshops, ARCQE receives requests from participants for resources and/or mentoring services aimed at strengthening individual professional practice.  In a concerted effort towards continuous quality improvement, ARCQE is pleased to share that it is now working on a number of new items to support front line practitioners in transcending “theory to practice” through services and resources that further build upon information provided via ARCQE workshops.  Watch for these new & exciting items coming soon.

New Service: Valuing Cultural Diversity - Reflections on Practice:  Similarly to the CIS service, and line of ECERS services, ARCQE has now established a service to assist programs meaningfully review policies and practice applications in integrating cultural diversity across all aspects of the agency.

New Resources: 
Diversity Resource Kit that includes an array of materials to support professionals in applying knowledge of diversity as it applies to all aspects of programming, administration and creative environments.
Open-Ended Art Kit for practitioners which offers both materials, and best practice information relative to the ARCQE Open Ended Art workshop, with hands-on implementation strategies.

New Service:  Individualized Mentor Services
Noted as one of the top two priorities from the sector following the “Caring for our Futures” symposium held by ARCQE in November of 2008 ARCQE is pleased to introduce support services for professionals looking for individualized mentor services which they can subscribe to as a means of strengthening and supporting individual caregiver practice.  Based on the national standards developed by the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF), the Occupational Standards service offers both the support of a personal mentor on a weekly basis through provision of observations and debrief & strategy reflections.  This service also provides professionals with the Occupational Standards booklet published by CCCF.