Full Steam Ahead Early Childhood Education Center

Our Teachers

Our Founder has over 20 years in the early education field having run a successful family childcare home, Precious Lamb Family, in Long Beach, 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 20 years of experience as a teacher, family childcare provider, and mental health practitioner for children and families.

For 18 years she has successfully run an in-home based California State-approved Quality Family Childcare Home in the Family Child Care Network Program (FCCN) through Children’s Home Society of Long Beach (CHS) and the STEPS to Excellence Program through the Los Angeles County Office of Education receiving semi-annual ratings according to the state-mandated Family Child Care Rating Scale that sets the standard for child care. 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 Cook also 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 is comprised of established early care educators and mental health professionals that have as a proven track record and in-depth experience in early childhood education, child development, mental health, curriculum development and business management.

Philosophy

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.

In our program we support and enrich individual development through several specific targeted goals for the children and families in our care:

• CHILDREN ARE SAFE & HEALTHY
• CHILDREN ARE SOCIALLY & EMOTIONALLY COMPETENT
• CHILDREN ARE EFFECTIVE ACTIVE LEARNERS
• CHILDREN SHOW PHYSICAL & MOTOR COMPETENCE
• FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED AS THEY SUPPORT & ENCOURAGE THEIR CHILDREN’S LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
• FAMILIES SHARE IN & ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHILD’S CARE & EDUCATION

Location

Conveniently located near the 605 and 91 freeways, Full Steam Ahead is uniquely situated in Lakewood just minutes away from Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Long Beach, Cerritos, Artesia and Los Alamitos.

About our program

We are here to help children regardless of race, background, or socio-economic status grow in a safe, nurturing environment that provides a balance of social, emotional, intellectual, and physical stimulation that is essential for the development of the whole child.

Full STEAM Ahead offers three comprehensive programs for children and families that strive to support:

• Children Socially and Emotionally by providing staff that are responsive to the individual child while encouraging self-care and independence;

• Children Intellectually by providing opportunities that reflect the child’s interest while exposing them to the world of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. These opportunities provide time for interactive exploration while also providing a unique and exciting learning experience. Furthermore, activities prepare children for future life experiences and

• Physical Development by providing a well-balanced diet, an outstanding outdoor play environment and a variety of physically stimulating activities.

Full STEAM Ahead staff and administration hold that each family is unique and special. We intend 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.

Full Steam Ahead provides an educational program designed to meet the needs of the whole child. This program is based on the knowledge that young children are active learners involved in a process that uses all their senses as they work and play with people and materials. Professionally trained staff plan and arrange stimulating learning environments which are appropriate for the different developmental stages of a child’s life. These environments include indoor and outdoor areas. All children will participate in activities in these areas.