THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER INC

DAY CARE - THE CHILD CARE PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE INFANT-TODDLER, PRE-SCHOOL, AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE. AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WE TRULY OFFER MUCH MORE THAN JUST OUTSTANDING CHILD CARE- WE OFFER MEMORIES, HOPE, SKILLS, AND BECOME A PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO GIVE CHILDREN THE SOLID FOUNDATION SO CRITICAL IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD. IN KEEPING WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL -SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY WE HAVE INTRODUCED THE "CREATIVE CURRICULUM" THEREBY ENHANCING AND ENRICHING THE ACADEMIC, SOCIALIZATION, AND RECREATIONAL COMPONENTS IN OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE INCORPORATED A SPECIALIZED APPROACH CALLED "RHYME TIME" THAT INTEGRATES READING, MUSIC, STORYTELLING, SONG AND DANCE ACTIVITIES TO ENRICH AND STIMULATE READING AND LANGUAGE SKILLS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IN USING THESE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND CUTTING EDGE MODELS CHILDREN WILL BE BETTER PREPARED AND MORE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. IN 2023 OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM SERVED 489 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE DAY CARE REGISTRATION PROGRAM REGISTERS ADULTS THROUGHOUT ONEIDA COUNTY WHO WISH TO PROVIDE CARE TO SMALL GROUPS OF CHILDREN IN A HOME SETTING. THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT THE HOME SETTINGS CONTINUE TO MEET STATE STANDARDS BY MONITORING THE PROGRAMS YEARLY. IN TOTAL FOR 2023, THERE WERE 70 FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES THROUGHOUT ONEIDA COUNTY.

GROUP WORK - AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN OUR ARSENAL OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS THE GROUP WORK DEPARTMENT. GROUP WORK IS A COLLECTION OF PROGRAMS INCLUDING TRANSITIONAL LIFE SKILLS, PROJECT AIM, OUTREACH AND PREVENTION, PINS REDUCTION & ELIMINATION, UTICA/ROME CHILDREN'S CENTERS, AND OPERATION SUNSHINE. COLLECTIVELY THESE PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN 2023. GROUP WORK CAN BE APTLY DESCRIBED AS THE "SAFETY NET' PROGRAM OF OUR AGENCY IN THAT IT IS A GENERAL "HELPING" SERVICE THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN THE VARIOUS AND INDIVIDUALIZED STRUGGLES THAT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. GROUP WORK IS NOT CONSTRAINED BY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, INCOME ELIGIBILITIES, OR AGE REQUIREMENTS.