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Program Enrollment Update Reports
Program Enrollment Update Reports are due on September 15, 2026. Please complete reports between September 1 – 15, 2026, for September enrollment. Quarterly Update Form Link
UPK Safety Net or Publicly Funded Child Care Benefits
Do you have questions about UPK Safety Net or Publicly Funded Child Care Benefits? Natasha Needs is available to meet with you. Click here to book time
Parent and Youth Ambassadors
We know your support for families goes above and beyond early education, and our Parent and Youth Ambassadors can help.
Parent & Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) are members of your local community with lived experience navigating social systems. They understand the challenges families face and are dedicated to helping you access the resources you need—quickly and without judgment.
PYAs assist with:
Housing Support – Connecting to rental assistance, shelters, and housing programs
Food Resources – Locating food pantries, WIC, and meal programs
Benefit Navigation – Guidance on applying for state assistance and other programs
Special Needs Support – Finding services for children with disabilities
Youth & Family Activities – Identifying programs to enrich your child’s growth and development
No eligibility requirements, no judgment—just support.
For support, printed materials to distribute or poster to display, contact Cuyahoga County Ambassador, Latishia Gomez at LaTishia.Gomez@Starting-Point.org or (216) 293-4947
Special Needs Child Care Program
Early support makes a difference! When Children have support early, they have more opportunities to build skills, feel successful and thrive in their early learning environment. If you have a child in your program with a social-emotional, behavioral, developmental, physical or medical need, don't wait for concerns to become a crisis, contact Starting Point now.
The Special Needs Child Care program, funded by Cuyahoga County's Office of Early Childhood, Invest in Children, through the Health & Human Services (HHS) Levy; works alongside teachers to help them understand a child's needs, develop supportive strategies, and feel confident responding to challenging moments. This allows families to remain in the programs they know and love.
Early intervention starts with reaching out, and there is currently no wait list for services. Contact Connie McGinnis-Loftin at; connie.mcginnis-loftin@starting-point.org to initiate special needs childcare services.
Schedule Family Engagement/Resource Coordination Visit
Please schedule your first Family Engagement/Resource Coordination visit if you haven’t already done so. During this initial meeting, we’ll create a support plan, identify your site’s needs and goals, and review the checklist. We’ll also discuss available resources and map out what our visits will look like for the remainder of the year to ensure your site receives ongoing, meaningful support. Contact your assigned Family Engagement & Community Resource Coordinator to schedule:
Review of Action Team Processes
Self-reflection is important because it stops us from running on autopilot. Taking time to look inward helps us understand our true emotions, learn from past mistakes, and make better choices for the future. Without it, we repeat bad habits and stay stuck in unhelpful routines.
In May, each program completed a Review of Action Team Processes form to identify ways to improve your program’s Action Team for the upcoming school year. Please take a few minutes to review your answers again and plan ways to implement some of the strategies for this year’s action team meetings. Reach out to your assigned Family Engagement & Community Resource Coordinator for support or to answer any questions you may have.
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