EPISCOPAL HOME CARE & SERVICES

KINDER VILLAGE:THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD CARE AS AN INTERGENERATIONAL CHILD CARE PROGRAM. THE CARE PROGRAM WAS STRUCTURED UNDER THE NAME KINDER VILLAGE. KINDER VILLAGE IS A PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: -SCIENCE & MATH CURRICULUM -MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTAL MOVEMENT -LANGUAGE AND LITERACY -LARGE AND SMALL MOTOR SKILLS -COOKING PROJECTS -ARTS AND CRAFTS WITH GRANDFRIENDS -STORY TIME WITH GRANDFRIENDS -GAMES WITH GRANDFRIENDSTHE BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE TWO-FOLD PRIMARILY. FIRST, THE CENTER OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELDER RESIDENTS TO INTERACT WITH CHILDREN IN WAYS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THIS SETTING. RESIDENTS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO READ, PLAY, HOLD OR JUST SPEND TIME WITH CHILDREN. IT GIVES THE RESIDENTS A BURST OF ENERGY SEEING ACTIVE LITTLE PEOPLE. THE RESIDENTS GET OUT AND SOCIALIZE, IT HELPS REDUCE LONELINESS AND FEELING ISOLATED, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS WITH ANOTHER GENERATION. SECONDLY, THE KIDS BENEFIT FROM SEEING THEIR GRAND FRIENDS. MANY KIDS DON'T GET TO SEE EXTENDED FAMILY VERY OFTEN SO THE RESIDENTS BECOME A PART OF THEIR FAMILY. THE KIDS SEE THAT WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, AND CANES ARE NOTHING TO FEAR. CHILDREN ARE ACCEPTING OF PEOPLE NO MATTER THEIR AGE. THE ACCESSIBLE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM MEANS THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT TRANSPORTED IN FOR SHORT PERIODS NOR ARE ELDER REQUIRED TO TRAVEL OFF CAMPUS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES. KINDER VILLAGE IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MOSTLY UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING THE EPISCOPAL HOMES CAMPUS. KINDER VILLAGE IS PRICED BELOW MARKET TO HELP PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL FAMILIES. THERE ARE DISCOUNTS AND SUBSIDIES OFFERED FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY AFFORDING CHILDCARE. OUR PREFERENCE THOUGH IS TO KEEP RATES LOW TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE THAN SINGLE LARGER SUBSIDIES WOULD PROVIDE.