Childrens Health Imagination Learning Development Ctr For E Lea

THE CHILD CENTER HAS THREE MAIN FOCUSES: 1)PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, LOW COST EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO FAMILIES LIVING IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOUTHWEST GAINESVILLE, FL (THE SWAG COMMUNITY);2) PROVIDING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE CHILDREN; 3) SERVING AS A MODEL DEMONSTRATION CENTER TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN THE AREA, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE AND DISSEMINATE VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUPPORTS TO 57 CHILDREN, AT MINIMAL OR NO COST TO THE FAMILIES SERVED. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH O2B KIDS TO OPERATE THE CENTER. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ALACHUA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADMINISTER THE HEAD START PROGRAM AT THE FACILITY BEGINNING AUGUST 2018 FOR APPROXIMATELY 37 CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION ACCEPTS SCHOOL READINESS VOUCHERS FROM THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION AND STATE OF FLORIDA VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARDEN PROGRAM.

MODEL DEMONSTRATION CENTER - THE ORGANIZATION HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ANITA ZUCKER CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (AZ) TO SERVE AS A MODEL DEMONSTRATION CENTER. AZ WILL PROVIDE COACHING AND OTHER TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON-SITE WHEN THE FACILITY IS CONSTRUCTED. THE CENTER WILL FUNCTION AS A "LEARNING LABORATORY" WHERE TEACHERS, RESEARCHERS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS ALACHUA COUNTY AND BEYOND CAN COME TO STUDY AND LEARN THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE BEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT- THE ORGANIZATION HAS ENGAGED FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN ATTENDING THE CHILD CENTER THROUGH A COMBINATION OF FORMAL PROGRAMMING AND INFORMAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE FAMILY BONDING AND PARENT EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHILDREN THAT ATTEND THE CENTER, THE CHILD CENTER HAS ALSO BEGUN TO HOST EVENTS OPEN TO ALL PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE SWAG COMMUNITIES TO HELP BRING ATTENTION TO ISSUES SURROUNDING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS PROVIDING CONCRETE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES THAT NEED THEM. THE CHILD CENTER ALSO ASSISTS FAMILIES WITH APPLYING FOR HEAD START, SCHOOL READINESS VOUCHERS THROUGH THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION AND VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN.