The need is great.
If you could improve the future chances of a child to graduate from high school, or to hold a well-paying job, or to be mentally and physically healthy, which would you choose?
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What if you could choose all three?
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Investing in high-quality early education impacts the entirety of a child’s life, improving outcomes in physical health, education, social-emotional health, and employment.1
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Unfortunately, high-quality childcare is not accessible to all. In the state of Florida, it costs more to enroll an infant in childcare than to enroll a student in college.2 Not all childcare is considered to be high-quality, either. Fewer than 300 childcare centers in Florida, roughly 7%, are accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which promotes best practices in early education.3
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Between the high cost and low availability, it is unsurprising that up to 55% of children from economically challenged families do not attend a pre-kindergarten program.4 Children from these families often enter kindergarten up to one full year behind their peers.5
The challenge is ours.
Childcare Resources works for families, subsidizing the cost of high-quality care for children in Indian River County. Care is provided at the Childcare Resources School and at four privately-owned childcare centers. All five schools are nationally accredited through NAEYC.
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Program parents are required to work or be enrolled in school, to be engaged in their child’s education, and to pay a small percentage of their child’s tuition. Program families also have access to a wide range of support services including educational opportunities, mental health referrals, and physical, speech, and occupational therapies.
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Childcare Resources works for educators, too. Local early childhood professionals are able to attend one-day workshops highlighting best practices, obtain a Florida Child Care Professional Credential or Director’s Credential, work with a coach on a one-on-one basis, and participate in networking and training opportunities.
85¢
of every dollar contributed supports programming
160
children provided with high-quality care in 2020-2021
216
number of local early educators that participated in outreach programs in 2020-2021
2,351
number of children potentially impacted by Childcare Resources programs in 2020-2021
We have one chance to get this right.
In the first five years, a child’s brain develops rapidly, connecting as many as 1,000,000 neurons every second.7 This period of growth is a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop social-emotional and academic skills that can last the rest of a child’s life.
"My daughter
is going to
be amazing because
of the system Childcare Resources
has in place"
-Program Parent, 2018
Your support of Childcare Resources helps build a community engaged in early childhood education; Where parents are able to pursue professional and educational opportunities; Where educators are well-trained and highly valued; Where the workforce is stable; And where all children, regardless of income or adversity, have the opportunity to thrive.
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You have the ability to improve a child’s future by investing today. Childcare Resources handles all contributions with integrity, ensuring that each gift is used as designated in a cost-effective manner to create the greatest impact.
References
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“Research Summary: The Lifecycle Benefits of an Influential Early Childhood Program.” The Heckman Equation, 8 Feb. 2017, https://heckmanequation.org/resource/research-summary-lifecycle-benefits-influential-early-childhood-program
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“In 23 States, It Costs More to Send Your Child to Daycare than College.” Business Insider, 11 Apr. 2016, www.businessinsider.com/daycare-more-expensive-than-college-2016-4
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“Early Childhood Education Fact Sheet: Florida.” America For Early Ed, NAEYC, americaforearlyed.org/resources/state-fact-sheets
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“How Much Is Too Much? The Influence of Preschool Centers on Children’s Social and Cognitive Development.” National Bureau of Economic Research, 2005.
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“The Current State of Knowledge on Pre-Kindergarten Effects.” Brookings, Duke Center for Child and Family Policy, 2017.
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“The Time Is Now: Investing Early in Our Children’s Future.” Joan Ganz Cooney Center, joanganzcooneycenter.org/2018/11/26/the-time-is-now-investing-early-in-our-childrens-future
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“Brain Architecture.” Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/