Jack And Jill Childrens Center Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY FOR CHILDREN OF HIGH NEED WORKING FAMILIES THROUGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS. OUR VISION IS FOR EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY TO HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AS A RESULT OF THE TREMENDOUS GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT FROM OUR FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THIS FISCAL YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH CONSIDERABLY AS WE MADE CONSIDERABLE STRIDES TOWARD ACHIEVING OUR MISSION AND VISION. OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OUR VISION IS FOR EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. CONSTRUCTION ON OUR BRAND-NEW, STATE-OF THE-ART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING, MADELAINE HALMOS ACADEMY WAS COMPLETED. OUR ELEMENTARY PROGRAM OPERATIONS MADE THE TRANSITION INTO THIS NEW BUILDING FULL-TIME FROM WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY HOUSED AT THE SALVATION ARMY. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING FEATURES CLASSROOMS FOR EACH GRADE IN ADDITION TO A MUSIC, MEDIA, AND MOVEMENT (MMM) ROOM, A SCIENCE AND ART LAB, A LARGE OPEN-AIR CLASSROOM CONNECTING THE OUTDOORS WITH A FLEXIBLE LEARNING SPACE, AND MORE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE EXPANDED OUR ELEMENTARY PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ONE ADDITIONAL GRADE-FIFTH GRADE. MADELAINE HALMOS ACADEMY IS A PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH). THE ACADEMY'S UNIQUE AND ROBUST PROGRAM NURTURES THE WHOLE CHILD BY COMBINING ACADEMIC, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, AND WELLNESS ELEMENTS TO ENSURE A HIGHLY-EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. PROGRAM ELEMENTS INCLUDE PROJECT-BASED CURRICULUM, TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATIONS, WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, ENGAGING EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, ON-SITE COUNSELING/ THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, AND INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS. THE ACADEMY DEVELOPS LIFELONG LEARNERS, LAUNCHING THEM INTO BRIGHT, PROSPEROUS FUTURES. THE OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAM AT MADELAINE HALMOS ACADEMY SUPPORTS SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE LEARNING BEYOND THE ACADEMIC DAY. THIS PROGRAM CONTINUED ITS THREE-YEAR STEAM PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY WHICH BEGAN IN THE 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTS STEAM-CENTERED PROJECTS AND FORGES NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS. THE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER, SERVING INFANTS THROUGH PRE-K4, WAS RE- ACCREDITED THIS YEAR BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES STANDARDS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INCLUDING A SAFE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT AND APPROPRIATELY CHALLENGING, DEVELOPMENTALLY SOUND CURRICULUM. COMPREHENSIVE AND RESEARCH- BASED, CREATIVE CURRICULUM IS UTILIZED TO PROMOTE EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY. CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE, AN EVIDENCE-BASED COMPREHENSIVE INITIATIVE, IS EMPLOYED TO MANIFEST OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, CONTINUITY OF CARE IS PRACTICED TO ENSURE CHILDREN REMAIN WITH THE SAME TEACHERS AND CAREGIVERS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, CREATING SECURE, STABLE ATTACHMENTS. THE COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY PROGRAM ENGAGES AND SUPPORTS FAMILIES BY PROVIDING INTENSIVE PARENT EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS, AND AN ARRAY OF OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COACHING, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, COUNSELING, ACCESS TO THE J&J BOUTIQUE (FOOD AND CLOTHING PANTRY) AND FAMILY RESOURCE ROOM/ COMPUTER LAB, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDS. FAMILY PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTS WITH RESUME WRITING, JOB SEARCHES, GOAL SETTING, AND FAMILY BUDGETING. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, FAMILIES GAIN THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED IN ORDER TO INCREASE SELF- SUFFICIENCY AND FOSTER THEIR CHILD'S HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THIS YEAR, THE HEALTH (HELPING EVERYONE ACHIEVE LONG TERM HEALTH) PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED, PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND FACULTY OF JACK & JILL CENTER. THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED USING THE CDC'S WHOLE SCHOOL, WHOLE COMMUNITY, WHOLE CHILD (WSCC) MODEL. THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS, PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES, PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, THIS PROGRAM HAS A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACT. ONE IMMEDIATE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE A FULL-TIME NURSE PRACTITIONER AS A TEAM MEMBER ON-SITE TO PROVIDE COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION AND ON-SITE TESTING FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND TEAM MEMBERS TO AID IN PREVENTION AND SPREAD OF COVID-19. OUR EARLY EDUCATION AND MADELAINE HALMOS ACADEMY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES NOT ONLY RECEIVE A TOP-NOTCH EDUCATION, BUT ACCESS TO OUR HEALTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS, AS WE BELIEVE IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD AND THEIR FAMILY. WE BELIEVE EVERY STUDENT IN BROWARD COUNTY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, NECESSARY THERAPIES, HEALTHY FOOD, AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING. AS A RESULT OF ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD, WE CAN REMOVE ROADBLOCKS TO LEARNING AND CHILDREN CAN FLOURISH; BY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF WHOLE FAMILIES, PARENTS GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR SKILLS WHILE THEIR CHILDREN PERFORM AND BEHAVE BETTER AT HOME AND IN THE CLASSROOM. ULTIMATELY, JACK & JILL CENTER WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP THEM REACH REACH THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL IN A SAFE, NURTURING, AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT.