Goodwin Associates-Link, Inc. Overview

Past Performance and Demonstrated Success

Our Mission and Focus

Goodwin Associates-Link, Inc. (“Link”) recognizes the importance of having a clear vision to attain practical goals with genuine results. Our mission to generate more constant progress in children’s learning and functioning, regardless of socio-economic status, through proven quality training and program development is the foundation of this vision. To achieve these outcomes, Link’s consultation, training, and management resources assist organizations in strategic planning, design, organizational and staff development, operations, and business development. The task is to work from within our client’s organization and community as architects and builders.

Link focuses on utilizing proven cost-effective methods to provide early education and after-school professional development content and services that are designed to deliver knowledge and practice skills to participating staff and to ensure that these skills are implemented in the classroom. The ultimate goal is to enhance the overall learning environment by providing content and using processes that result in functional applications in educators’ practices with children. Link’s notable track record is demonstrated through the organization’s rapid growth, the positive responses of educators who have participated in workshops and/or courses, and the strong relationships the group has assembled with our consumers.

Our History

Link associates have been involved in professional development since the 1970’s. Initial efforts centered on topics related to mental health and substance abuse. Beginning in the mid-1980’s, Link became involved in extensive professional and program development, specifically targeting educators working with early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school programs. These initiatives were located in Alabama, Cleveland Ohio, Georgia, greater Washington, DC, New Jersey, New York City, South Florida, and other cities and states. One targeted example was following the 9-11-01 disaster, Link associates were involved in providing stress management training to over 6,000 New York City early childhood education and after-school staff, parents, and children.

Today among other initiatives, Link is New York City’s largest professional development organization for early childcare education program (daycare centers, Head Start programs, and family daycares) and after-school (out of school time) program staff. Link provides quality professional development to staff that have traditionally been undeserved in terms of training opportunities. Since 2000, Link has worked with approximately 7,200 staff from over 600 programs in every New York City Borough.

Our New York City Initiatives

Link’s programs are consistently recognized for their ability to educate and empower participants. Link program content is relevant, practical, reflective of best practices, and our instructional process is hands-on and designed to impact both the individual and the classroom learning environment.

Our approach strongly impacts both staff educational advancement and the total learning environment. As to educational advancement, participating staff are strongly encouraged and supported to matriculate for their Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees and to secure appropriate certifications. Professional development at sites also allows for content to influence and strengthen the development and learning culture of a program.

Professional development workshops and undergraduate and graduate education classes through our promotion and coordination of Touro College classes are the primary offerings. Through our Touro partnership, college classes for early childhood education and after-school staff that make attendance convenient and quality instruction accessible are provided.

Touro College was chartered by New York State in 1970, as an independent institution of higher and professional education. The College now enrolls over 10,000 students in its major divisions undergraduate and graduate courses.

Beyond Staff Development

Link is also invested in parents of young children and other adult family member actively engaging in their own adult education development. Therefore, Link associates are actively designing “links” to ESL (English as a Second Language), GED (General Equivalency Diploma), career education, and college programs for these potential adult learners.

Our On-going Commitment

Strong leadership, management, qualified, diverse, and experienced staff, in addition to sound financial/business systems have positioned Link to be a pace-setter in education and adult development. Today, it is the task of Link to continue providing their quality services to early childhood and other education staff as well as other adult learners and advance their progress thus impacting lasting change in the national education environment. It is also our task to design and implement other programs that further impact children’s development, learning, and functioning.

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