Drew Child Development Corporation Inc

PREPARING THE CHILDREN OF WATTS-WILLOWBROOK, COMPTON, AND SOUTH LOS ANGELES TO SUCCEED AND THEREBY STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE

SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE: TO PREVENT INCOME FROM BEING A BARRIER TO QUALITY CHILD CARE, DREW CDC PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN SERVICE PLANNING AREA 6 THROUGH THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO CHILD CARE FOR WORKING PARENTS OR PARENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO GAIN EMPLOYABLE SKILLS BEFORE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE. PARENTS OFTEN FACE PROLONGED CYCLICAL CHALLENGES, AND THROUGH THE SUBSIDY CHILD CARE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREAK THE CYCLE AND ENSURE THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ON A TRAJECTORY TOWARDS POSITIVE OUTCOMES. THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED IN STAGES AS PARENTS' FINANCIAL STABILITY AND CHILD CARE NEEDS CHANGE OVER TIME. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12, AND UP TO AGE 21 FOR CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS OR SEVERE DISABILITIES. PARENTS SELECT THEIR CHILD CARE PROVIDER FROM A LIST OF QUALIFIED HIGH-QUALITY LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, UNLICENSED FAMILY CARE-TAKERS WHO CLEARED BACKGROUND CHECKS.THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY WORKFORCE, ALLOWING FAMILIES TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT WHILE PROVIDING STABLE CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES. THE SUBSIDY FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM CREATES A DUAL BENEFIT: IT PROVIDES A PROTECTIVE BUFFER FOR PARENTS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED, AND IT CONTRIBUTES FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO IN-HOME AND LOCAL FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THESE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED APPROXIMATELY $2.3M IN MONTHLY PROVIDER PAYMENTS TO OVER 1,787 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.COMBINED, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 4,743 CHILDREN AND 2,407 FAMILIES.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) PROGRAMS: PRESCHOOL, EARLY HEAD START, AND EARLY INTERVENTION: DREW CDC'S SIX EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS ARE STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE CHILDREN'S COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN 18 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS OLD. DREW CDC'S PRESCHOOL, EARLY HEAD START, AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES WORK CONGRUENTLY TO PROVIDE THE OPTIMAL RESOURCES TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT ONLY KINDERGARTEN READY, BUT ALSO EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY FOUNDATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM UTILIZES A RESEARCH-BASED MODEL CALLED CREATIVE CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM IS BUILT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVE INTERACTION AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE, CONSTRUCTIVE-PURPOSEFUL PLAY, A PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS QUALITY LEARNING INTERACTION, AND TEACHER-FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INTEGRATED WITH STEM LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES IN AN INDOOR-OUTDOOR CLASSROOM SETTING. BY ENGAGING THESE PRINCIPLES, THE PROGRAM TEACHES CRITICAL THINKING IN A NURTURING AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHILE ALSO PROMOTING CULTURAL DIVERSITY. INCORPORATING STEM LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES IN OUR EARLY EDUCATION CURRICULUM HELPS CHILDREN TO ANALYZE INFORMATION AND PROBLEM SOLVE, WHICH ARE CRITICAL SKILLS THAT WILL BE USEFUL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 545 CHILDREN IN FY 20-21.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WRAPAROUND: DREW CDC'S MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM ENSURES THAT CHILDREN'S AND FAMILIES' MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE MET. DREW CDC BASES ITS WORK ON THE NOTION THAT "IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD AND THEREFORE LOOKS AT EACH FAMILY'S GREATER CONTEXT AND ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE A PART OF THAT CHILD'S LIFE. DREW CDC DOES NOT LIMIT SERVICES BY SOLELY PROVIDING OUTPATIENT THERAPEUTIC SERVICES IN THE OFFICE; SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN THE HOME, SCHOOL, AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. GEOGRAPHICALLY, DREW CDC IS INCREASING ITS REACH TO SERVE LYNWOOD USD AND LAUSD THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES. IN ADDITION, DREW CDC HAS EXPANDED ITS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGE 0 TO 5, ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS. DREW CDC UTILIZES AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH BY INCORPORATING PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM. BY FOCUSING ON PROACTIVE OUTREACH RATHER THAN REACTIVE SERVICES, THE STAFF HELP FAMILIES RECEIVE PREVENTIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES BEFORE THERE IS AN URGENT MENTAL HEALTH NEED. LOOKING AT THE SPECTRUM OF SERVICES RANGING FROM PREVENTION TO INTERVENTION, DREW CDC ALSO OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH OUR WRAPAROUND SERVICES, WHICH PROVIDE INTENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN ACUTE NEED. THE WRAPAROUND PROGRAM PROVIDES STRENGTH-BASED, FAMILY CENTERED CARE TO HIGH NEEDS CHILDREN/YOUTH WITH MULTIPLE AND COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. WORKING IN A TEAM MODEL, THE WRAPAROUND PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THAT IT IS NOT ONLY THE CHILD THAT IS IN NEED OF SUPPORT, BUT ALSO THE PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT THE FAMILY BRINGS IN ARE ESSENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. THE WRAP TEAMS ENGAGE IN A "WHATEVER IT TAKES" APPROACH, WHILE ENSURING THAT FAMILY VOICE GUIDES THE SELECTION OF SERVICES BEST SUITED FOR EACH SITUATION. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 698 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN FY 20-21.

BRIDGE TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING & COACHING SERVICES: THE TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES TRAIN TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE ADVISORS (TIC ADVISORS) ACROSS ALL LOS ANGELES COUNTY RESOURCE OF REFERRAL AGENCIES. TIC ADVISORS WORK WITH ECE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA. DREW CDC PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 126 TRAINING AND COACHING SESSIONS TO TIC ADVISORS IN LA COUNTY, WHO SUPPORTED THE FIELD OF OVER 1,711 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THROUGH DIRECT TIC SERVICES. AS A RESULT, A MAJORITY OF THE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE TIC TRAINING FULLY ADOPTED MULTIPLE NEW PROVIDER PRACTICES TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICES.FAMILY PRESERVATION EARLY INTERVENTIONEARLY HEAD START CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM