Day Nursery Of Abilene

PROVIDE AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH-10 YEARS IS PROVIDED IN FOUR LICENSED FACILITIES SO THAT PARENTS CAN WORK, ATTEND SCHOOL AND/OR JOB TRAINING.

SINCE ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 1970S, THE MISSION OF THE DAY NURSERY OF ABILENE IS TO PROVIDEAFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. DAY NURSERY WELCOMED THE 2021 YEAR HOPING THINGS WOULD RETURN BACK TO NORMAL FOLLOWING THE 2020 YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC. SLOWLY DAY NURSERYS ENROLLMENT NUMBERS IN ALL OF ITS CENTERS BEGAN TO INCREASE TO 80-85% OF CAPACITY. STAFFING/WORKFORCE SHORTAGES HAD SOME RESIDUAL IMPACT TOO. THE DAY NURSERY OPERATED FOUR CENTERS IN 2021 ALL OF WHICH ARE STATE-LICENSED AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATES QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM, TEXAS RISING STAR (TRS) FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, A PROCESS WHICH REQUIRES PERIODIC REASSESSMENTS AND IN-DEPTH EVALUATION. THREE OF THE FOUR CENTERS HAD THEIR ASSESSMENT IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF 2021 ALL ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST RATING OF 4-STAR. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FOURTH CENTER WAS NOT SCHEDULED UNTIL EARLY 2022. THE AGENCY PARTICIPATES IN THE STATES CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM (CHILD CARE SERVICES) TO PROVIDE REDUCED FEE CHILD CARE PROGRAMMING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES. OTHER FUNDING INCLUDING THAT FROM THE UNITED WAY OF ABILENE PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES WHO DO NOT MEET STATE GUIDELINES. THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES A LEARNING CURRICULUM TO MEET THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING INFANTS. THE CENTERS PROVIDE A LEARNING PROGRAM, ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING FIELD TRIPS), MATERIALS, MEALS AND SNACKS (INCLUDING BABY FOOD AND FORMULA) FOR ALL ENROLLED CHILDREN TO ALSO ASSURE THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS ARE MET WHILE IN CARE AND ALL AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE FAMILY. IN ADDITION, IT PROVIDES SCHOOL READINESS/PREK PROGRAMMING FOR PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN TO ENSURE THEY ARE APPROPRIATELY PREPARED FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS AND BEYOND. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION FROM SCHOOL FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PARENTS WHO USE THE SERVICE. SUMMER CAMPS AND FULL DAY CHILD CARE PROGRAMMING ARE MADE AVAILABLE DURING SCHOOL BREAKS AND HOLIDAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WORKING PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN REQUIRE FULL DAY PROGRAMMING. THIS ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDES A FUN, SUPERVISED PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN.THE DAY NURSERY OF ABILENE CONTINUED TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC TO ASSURE THE CHILD CARE NEEDS OF WORKING PARENTS WERE MET. AS A RESULT, ADDITIONAL ENHANCED FUNDING WAS RECEIVED THROUGH JULY 2021 WHICH DAY NURSERY WAS ABLE TO USE ON STAFF SALARIES, RETENTION BONUSES, BENEFITS, AND OTHER APPROVED USES. THE AGENCY HELD ITS 3RD ANNUAL DUELING PIANOS EVENT IN APRIL WHICH WAS WELCOMED BY ATTENDEES AS NONPROFIT AGENCIES WERE ONCE AGAIN PLANNING AND HOSTING IN PERSON FUNDRAISING EVENTS. DAY NURSERY ALSO PARTICIPATED AGAIN FOR THE 5TH YEAR IN THE LOCAL ABILENE GIVES CAMPAIGN WHICH PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR DONORS TO SUPPORT THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM DURING A 24-HOUR GIVING PERIOD. DAY NURSERYS GOAL WAS ACHIEVED, AND MANY DONORS SUPPORTED THE CAMPAIGN. ALSO IN THE SPRING, PARENTS WERE FINALLY ALLOWED BACK INTO THE CENTERS. THEY HAD BEEN EXCLUDED BY REGULATION FOR NEARLY A YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. VOLUNTEERS WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THE CHILD CARE CENTERS IN THE FALL INCLUDING DAY NURSERYS FOSTER GRANDPARENTS, SENIOR VOLUNTEERS.THEY HAD NOT BEEN IN THE CENTERS FOR OVER A YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. IN SPITE OF THESE MANY CHALLENGES, THE 2021 YEAR PROVED TO BE A YEAR OF CONTINUED RECOVERY FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC WITH MANY CASES HITTING OUR CENTERS STARTING IN JULY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2021 DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE AND EVEN OFFER ONSITE VACCINATION CLINICS IN THE FALL OF 2021.