Jodi Lacasse joined the Early Child Community Development Center in March 2008, as Early Learning & Child Care/Quality Child Care Niagara (QCCN) Program Consultant. In this role she is responsible for supporting Niagara’s childcare centres to effectively implement the components of QCCN including the Diagnostic Preschool Screen (DPS), Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales (ECERS), Documentation and Communication, Speech & Language Checklist, Behaviour Checklist (C.A.R.E.) and Developmental Program Planning.
Jodi also assists child care supervisors and early childhood educators to set up their indoor and outdoor environments in a manner that reflects quality and safety, create developmentally appropriate program plans which address the individual needs of children in their programs, identify strategies to address behavior issues exhibited by children, and serves as an objective observer for the environmental rating and program administrator scales. Also, Jodi utilizes her exceptional skills and years of experience to train others to use assessment tools such as the Program Administrator Scale and Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales.
Jodi has over 20 years of experience working in non-profit organizations. Much of that support being with Adolescent’s Family Support Services of Niagara which provides centre and home based child care to young families wanting to complete their education. For the past several years Jodi has been a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Trainer for Quality Child Care Niagara, a proven model for successful early intervention and screening. Jodi also achieved her PAS (Program Administration Scale) Certification, which enables her to train on this tool.
Jodi has become well known and respected in child care centres across Niagara and beyond for her knowledge and exceptional facilitation and coaching skills. She is proud of her strong relationships with supervisors and centre staff across the Niagara Region.
Jodi is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with the College of Early Childhood Educator’s. She graduated with her Early Childhood Education diploma from Niagara College in 1988. She continues to advance her professional development through ongoing courses, workshops, seminars and committee work. In order to better assist our francophone centre partners, Jodi is taking French classes. As well, Jodi is an anaphylactic trainer and has trained many groups in the early learning and care field.
Jodi is professional, friendly and encouraging in her support to early learning and care centres and to her team. She is looking forward to growing with the ECCDC as it grows with the changing needs of child care.