Program and its Purpose

The Palo Verde College Child Development Center, a licensed facility since 1975, was established to meet the needs of increasing numbers of working parents and parents enrolled on a vocational training leading directly to a recognized trade, or profession and/or for parents that are seeking employment, seeking permanent housing for family stability and/or parents with justifiable incapacity. The program provides reliable quality services to children of parents who could not otherwise seek and maintain employment and/or education due to parenting responsibilities. The Center operates twelve months a year; open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To coincide with the hours of working parents and/or the class schedules of students, parents arrange with the Site Supervisor at time of the enrollment of the child, for the numbers of hours they need to leave the child in the Program.

The Program provides enriched activities which enhance the child's ability to respect the rights and feelings of others, to learn to share, to give him/her an opportunity to make judgments and decisions, thus increasing a positive self-concept and personal strength in individual or small group activities. The educational program is designed to help children develop and grow socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively through the preschool years until age 5.The program is geared to teach each child choices in judgments and decisions which will aid in preparation for later life of living in the community. Because cultural diversity is abundantly present throughout, the Palo Verde College Development Centers' program, children and staff members are rich sources of understanding and appreciation of a variety of cultures and ethnic groups present in Blythe. The Child Development Program is an excellent environment in which to prepare children for the diversity they are likely to encounter as they grow, enter school, and seek fulfillment as adults.

The Program is funded by the California Department of Education and must comply with the California Code of regulations, Title 5 guidelines, and with the Funding Terms and Conditions set forth by the California Department of Education.