Full STEAM Ahead Early Childhood Education Center is a California State approved Quality Childcare Center that seeks to provide quality childcare and early education with a balance of social, emotional, intellectual and physical stimulation which is essential for the development of the whole child while specializing in working with at-risk children with developmental, behavioral, and social/emotional needs.

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WHO WE SERVE

Full STEAM Ahead staff and administration hold that each individual family is unique and special. It is our intention to nurture each child and their family with a specific focus on assisting at-risk and underprivileged populations and children with early developmental and mental health needs. We welcome all families regardless of race, religion, ability, sexual identity and/or family structure. Admission is based on a family's place on our interest list. We do give priority to siblings and siblings of alumni.

ABOUT FULL STEAM AHEAD

Full STEAM Ahead Early Childhood Education Center is a for-profit organization and program in association and within In Mom’s Arms 501(c)3 foundation. Our role at Full STEAM Ahead ECE Center is to guide children through their active cultural learning adventures and experiences. While it may look like ‘play’, it is our philosophy that experimentation, exploration and questioning are the natural mode of learning for the young child and it is our desire to provide a balance of intellectual stimulation, emotional support and physical nurturance.

Amber Cook & Team

CEO/FOUNDER

Our Founder has over 20 years experience in the early education field having run a successful family childcare home, Precious Lamb Family Childcare, in Long Beach, CA, and has now sought to expand her reach to provide quality care services to more children and families.

Amber possesses a BA in Psychology and a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC) and has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, family childcare provider, and mental health practitioner working with children and families.

For 20 years she has successfully run an in-home based California State-approved Quality Family Childcare Home in the Family Child Care Home Education Network Program (FCCHEN) through Children’s Home Society of Long Beach (CHS) and participated in the STEPS to Excellence Program through the Los Angeles County Office of Education establishing standards for quality care and early childhood education. Amber was also nationally recognized by KCET's A Place of Our Own as “Provider of the Week”.

In addition to her child care business, Amber worked as a Mental Health Therapist for over 5 years conducting mental health assessments and providing mental health services and interventions for at-risk children and youth in Long Beach Schools.

The management team will be comprised of established early care educators and mental health professionals that have a proven track record and in-depth experience in early childhood education, child development, mental health, curriculum development and business management.