CSUB awarded JumpStart Grant for 2020-2021 academic year

Funding of $103, 232 will help students prepare low-income children and families for success

By California State University, Bakersfield

December 12^th, 2020

Children are the future, and the Child, Adolescent and Family Studies (CAFS) prospective student teachers at California State University, Bakersfield recognize that fact. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Elaine Correa and Dr. Jin Hee Hur, the CAFS Department was awarded with a JumpStart grant of $103, 232 for the 2020-2021 academic year.

“I am very pleased that the CAFS Department can offer this opportunity to our students, particularly given the difficulties that everyone is encountering with the impact of the pandemic. This grant, along with the work that the CAFS Department faculty has completed with the Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Initiative with eliminating textbook costs for students in our major, brings us one step closer in achieving greater equity and inclusion for students on campus,” said CAFS Department Professor and Chair, Dr. Elaine Correa.

JumpStart is a National Early Education Organization that recruits and trains college students and community volunteers to work with preschools in low-income neighborhoods.

The organization partners with communities and higher education institutions to access and recruit caring adults to become AmeriCorps members. They also partner with early childhood centers to deliver high-quality supplemental early literacy services to children and families, enhancing the education of young children.

“I am very proud of the work that the CAFS team, teaching faculty and staff, continue to do to ensure quality education for our students that is affordable and accessible,” said Dr. Correa.

Brenda Castro, CAFS administrative support coordinator, also stated “this is a great opportunity for students to experience hands-on training in the field they are most passionate about, all while serving our local community. We have some hardworking, intelligent and caring students, who deserve to be supported in their education and career goals. I’m thankful to be part of a team that champions serving needs and dreams.”

Photo of Mrs. Castro — Mrs. Brenda Castro

“This grant is a recognition of the dedication and commitment of early childhood educators to the development, growth and care of young children from low-income families,” said Dr. Correa.

The JumpStart award will provide students and faculty with opportunities to give back directly to the children in the local communities where the CAFS Department lives and serves.

The curriculum through JumpStart is designed to foster oral language in English for young children. It is also designed so children will receive adult-child interactions and meaningful outcomes for children through developmentally appropriate classroom experiences.

“As we know field-based, high-quality practicum experiences for teachers is important for implementing high-quality instructional practices to better support children’s learning and growth, I’m grateful for being able to provide this opportunity to our students,” said Dr. Hur, assistant professor in the CAFS Department.

“This program is meaningful because the JumpStart mission is to support the learning and development of children who are in adverse circumstances by training students to implement evidence-based instructional practices that are focused on language and social-emotional skills. Additionally, I believe students will be able to obtain the skills and knowledge as early childhood education teachers, which will have positive long-lasting impact on our community when they enter their careers,” Dr. Hur added.

The CAFS students will be able to utilize the educational award waiver at this time, due to the additional stresses they have been encountering with financial instability from the pandemic. The funds will be available for up to seven years, and students are able to transfer the credit to another member of their family, should they not use it for themselves.

“As recipients of the JumpStart training, our students will become AmeriCorp members, working with preschool children in local childcare centers that serve children and families from low-income backgrounds,” said Dr. Correa. “As a nationally recognized organization, students will be eligible for other benefits that are available to all AmeriCorp members across the United States.”

The students will participate in a minimum of 10-hours per week preparing, training and delivering instruction. Students will also work together in two weekly session for a total of four hours per week. The CSUB/CAFS site manager, Shanell Tyus, will guide and direct students through peer and faculty mentoring.

“This is such an exciting accomplishment for our department and the university - in my opinion, theories to practice is critically important to those pursuing careers with children, adolescence, and families. This partnership with JumpStart allows our students to put the theories learned in our courses into practice with children who can truly benefit from them,” said Tyus, CAFS lecturer.

“The local childcare centers in the community can always benefit with trained student assistants in the classroom who can provide individual, one-one-one attention and care to a child,” said Dr. Correa.

“By providing our CAFS students with this opportunity, the local children in Bakersfield will receive one-on-one individual assistance that is critical to the educational preparedness needed for students to be successful in school.”

Dr. Correa continued to explain how this award will also benefit and provide for the children and families in the greater Kern County community.

This program will also strengthen children’s foundational skills that will ultimately provide them with opportunities to advance in school and eventually increase learning opportunities in higher education.

“I trust that our CAFS students know that the department team cares tremendously about them. Our faculty and staff are invested in improving opportunities for educational success, driven through greater connections to the teaching field, with the hope of eventually witnessing increased financial stability for our students when they fulfill their educational career aspirations through their studies at CSUB,” said Dr. Correa.