Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Programs

Mission

The Early Childhood Programs at Western New Mexico University seek to support the highest quality of early care and education through community outreach, teacher education/training, and advocacy. We promote the primacy of play in child development in a child-and family-centered context, respecting each family’s uniqueness and diversity.

Purpose

The Programs offer a comprehensive array of child- and family-centered services. The Programma foster and maintain collaboration and flexibility to meet the increased need for quality care and education throughout the campus and Southwest New Mexico.

The Early Childhood Laboratory Sites

The Programs provide a rich learning environment for university students with many other University Departments, including, Social Work, Nursing, and Education. In these model early care and education settings, education students, counseling interns and students from other disciplines have the opportunity to enhance their course work by overseeing young children interact and learn in developmentally appropriate environments. The Programs offers on-the-job training to graduate and work study students. Service providers from the community utilize the lab site to provide specialized services to children enrolled in the programs.

The Preschool/Child Development Center (CDC)

Located in Sechler-Rhoades Hall, CDC is accredited by the National Association for Education of Young Children and licensed by the State of New Mexico as a five star early care and education center. It serves 120 children of students, WNMU staff members, faculty, and community families. Children range in age from 6 weeks to 5 years. The center is open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The Growing Tree Infant/Toddler Program (GT)

Located on the campus of the Opportunity High School, the Growing Tree Program is also a nationally accredited, five STAR program for children, ages six weeks to three years, of teen parents enrolled in Silver Schools and WNMU students. Growing Tree operates on the Silver Consolidated School District calendar and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Early Childhood Family Counseling Center (FCC)

The WNMU Family Counseling Center supports young children, their families, and the professionals who work with them by providing comprehensive, play-based child and family services. Licensed counselors, including play therapists and infant mental health endorsed specialists, offer developmentally appropriate assessment and therapeutic interventions to children and families at the CDC and Growing Tree. They work intensively with families and teaching staff developing and implementing strategies to support secure attachments. The mission of the Family Counseling Center is to strengthen families through child- and family-centered therapy that enhances relationships and effects long-lasting, sustainable change. This program:

• Includes collaboration with various departments at WNMU, for students who are seeking internship, and lab site experiences.
• Connecting with the community to bridge services for children and families.
• Provides trainings and hosts conferences related to Play Therapy, Infant Mental Health, and other family- and child-centered intervention strategies.