Staff

The center is rich in child care professionals. The manager, Judith Goston, has extensive experience in early childhood education and Head Start programs. Working at the center are seasoned Montessori directors and teacher assistants with associate's or bachelor's degrees, as well as teachers aides and volunteers. These volunteers are screened, and are usually senior citizens or high school students. An on-site social worker ensures the prompt recognition and solution of child or family concerns.

Judith L. Goston
Education Manager, Center for Children

Ms. Goston joined Focus: HOPE's Center for Children in 2001. She has 16 years as an administrator in the area of Early Childhood programs, Early Childhood scholar and as a Head Start parent.

Prior to joining Focus: HOPE, Ms. Goston served as the deputy director of the Oakland -Livingston Human Services Agency / Head Start in Pontiac, Michigan. There she successfully directed a staff of 45 program professionals and managers as well as managed a comprehensive educational program for 644 children and their families.
One of her many accomplishments in that role involved planning, developing and implementing a program to prepare preschool children for their transition into kindergarten.

Ms. Goston holds a Master of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education Administration, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and has completed National and Regional Head Start Training. Her professional affiliations include National Association for the Education of the Young Child, National Head Start, Michigan Head Start, and Phi Delta Kappa.

Center for Children News:

Focus: HOPE's Center for Children Staff

Lead in Child Development Associate Certification

Detroit -- Focus: HOPE's Center for Children (CFC) has proven that it's making the grade with nearly 90 percent of its teaching professionals certified in Early Childhood Development.

The Center is ahead of the State of Michigan mandate, which on December 7, 2006 began requiring that all lead teachers must have at least a Child Development Associate credential and a minimum of 480 hours of experience working in the classroom.

Focus: HOPE CFC went beyond the state requirement by encouraging all instructional staff, including aides and teacher assistants, to achieve the certifications. The CFC enrolls approximately 190 children, from infants through kindergarten and children ages 6-12 who attend after school.

“We know the importance of training and development for all instructional staff,” said Judith Goston, CFC manager. “Therefore, before the State's mandate for higher education took effect, 20 of our 23 teachers, aides, and/or assistant teachers completed the necessary course work and final assessments to earn their Child Development Associate credential (CDA).”

Two teachers are pending their final CDA assessments. Another teacher will graduate in May from Marygrove College with a bachelor degree in early child education.

In addition, 10 teachers, assistants and/or aides have reapplied for their second CDA which means they will be cross trained in the areas of infant/toddler or preschool education.

This will make the center more exceptional than it already is, stated Goston. “It is rare to find a center where assistant teachers and aides are also certified,” said Goston. “Our teachers and staff are highly skilled in curriculum deliverance, health and safety, and professional development. You must have well-trained instructors to offer a high caliber program.”

The education process will continue, noted Goston. Instructors will participate in at least 12 hours of training per year.

Focus: HOPE's high number of CDA certified employees says a lot about the dedication of its staff, said Deborah C. Jordan, deputy director of the Council for Professional Recognition, which awards the certification.

“That's quite an accomplishment,” Jordan said. “It shows a lot of incentive to pursue professional development.”

Candidates for the CDA credential are assessed based upon the CDA Competency Standards established by the Child Development Associate Consortium. These national standards are the criteria used to evaluate a caregiver's performance in working with children and their families as well as the candidate's ability to show competence in their professional and management abilities.

The Center for Children opened in 1987 to serve the children of Focus: HOPE colleagues and students enrolled in the organization's education and training programs. It now serves the entire community and provides bus transportation to and from six neighboring elementary schools for students enrolled in the CFC before and after school program. Its popular Summer Day Camp, which starts on June 25, offers a wide variety of field trips, craft projects, and recreational activities. To enroll a child in any of its programs, call 313.494.4400 or visit the Center located at 1550 Oakman Boulevard at Linwood in Detroit . www.focushope.edu