Organization: THE OPEN DOOR OF BALTIMORE INC
Mission: TO PROVIDE QUALITY SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMMING.
Activities: SINCE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN SPEND SIX AND A HALF HOURS EACH DAY IN THE STRUCTURE OF AN ACADEMIC SETTING, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME SHOULD OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIALIZATION, ACTIVE OUTDOOR PLAY, TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES, CREATIVE EXPRESSION, FINE MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICE IN SCHOOL WORK. CHOICES ARE THE CORE OF OPEN DOOR OF BALTIMORE, INC.'S (OPEN DOOR) PROGRAMMING TO BEST MEET THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. OPEN DOOR PROVIDES CHILD CARE SERVICES TO 1,196 CHILDREN IN THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR AT 20 LOCATIONS. NURTURING TEACHERS AT THESE LOCATIONS PROVIDE A CARING EAR AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR GUIDANCE AFTER THE RIGOR OF THE SCHOOL DAY AS CHILDREN SELECT THEIR ACTIVITY FROM AN ENRICHED ENVIRONMENT. OPEN DOOR IS ACCREDITED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. TO ENSURE OPEN DOOR TEACHERS BRING HIGH LEVEL SKILLS TO THE PROGRAMS, TRAINING IS OFTEN OFFERED IN TWO LOCATIONS, AND AVAILABLE TO ANY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE, NOT JUST OPEN DOOR EMPLOYEES. NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST AND AN AFTER SCHOOL SNACK MAKE TRANSITIONS FROM OPEN DOOR TO SCHOOL AND FROM SCHOOL TO OPEN DOOR SEAMLESS FOR CHILDREN. EDUCATIONALLY, PROGRAMMING IS BASED ON WEEKLY THEMES, WITH DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES EACH DAY RELATED TO THE THEMES. THOSE ACTIVITIES BRING LEARNING TO LIFE, AND INCLUDE VOCABULARY BUILDING AND PRACTICE OF SKILLS ASSESSED ON STANDARDIZED TESTS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN DESIGNING THEME BASED PROJECTS FROM INCEPTION. OPEN DOOR CONTINUES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S EXPOSURE TO TECHNOLOGY AT EVERY CENTER. SCHOOLS ISSUE LAPTOPS TO STUDENTS, AND TO COMPLEMENT THAT TREND, OPEN DOOR PROVIDED THE USE OF KINDLE DEVICES WITH EDUCATIONAL GAMES AND AGE APPROPRIATE READING MATERIAL, FOR USE BY CHILDREN IN THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM. WEAVING A THREAD OF CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT EACH CHILD'S DAY IS IMPORTANT TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND OPEN DOOR TAKES THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. ADDITIONAL ENRICHMENT WAS OFFERED WITH WEEKLY YOGA AND MEDITATION, INTRODUCED AND LED BY THE HOLISTIC LIFE FOUNDATION, A NON-PROFIT GROUP BASED IN BALTIMORE. EXTENSIVE STAFF TRAINING WAS PART OF THIS ADDITION, ENABLING CENTER STAFF TO CARRY THE WEEKLY PRACTICE BEYOND THE PRESENCE OF THE HLF MEMBERS, TO FRIDAY PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN AND STAFF AT ALL CENTERS. LAST YEAR, AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE INITIATIVE, IMPACTING STAFF AND CHILD AWARENESS AND PRACTICE, WAS SCHOOL SAFETY. A STATE SAFETY EXPERT, DR. MICHAEL FORD, WAS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE STAFF ANNUAL MEETING, WITH FOLLOW UP PRESENTATIONS THREE TIMES OVER THE SCHOOL YEAR. SAFETY POLICIES FOR LOCKDOWN AND EVACUATION WERE PRACTICED AT CENTERS WITH CHILDREN AND STAFF, AND COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS WAS WOVEN INTO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE PRACTICES FOR HOME BASED SUPPORT, IN THE EVENT THAT CHILDREN INITIATE CONVERSATIONS AT HOME. SAFETY CONTINUED TO BE AN EMPHASIS AT EVERY CENTER, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, AND THE NEW INITIATIVE FOR 2018 - 2019 MIRRORED THE APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE ADOPTED BY THE MARYLAND STATE SCHOOLS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LISTENING TO CHILDREN, CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE. STAFF PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, AND PARENTS RECEIVED UPDATES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE NEW APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE, CONTINUING OPEN DOOR'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE CHILDREN'S VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS GIVE THEM A SENSE OF CONTINUITY.EFFECTIVE MARCH 13, 2020, ALL SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR, DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. OPEN DOOR WAS CLOSED AT THAT TIME, AND REMAINED CLOSED FOR THE DURATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR. EMPLOYEES WERE COMPENSATED FOR HALF THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED HOURS UNTIL OPEN DOOR WAS AWARDED A PAYROLL PROTECTION PLAN LOAN, AFTER WHICH ALL PERSONNEL WERE COMPENSATED AT THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED HOURS UNTIL JUNE 19, WHEN THE LOAN EXPIRED.
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Youth Development