J R COLEMAN FAMILY SERVICES CORP

CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLJRC LEARNING CENTER IS AN EARLY EDUCATION CENTER WHERE PRIMARILY LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME CHILDREN FROM AGE 6 WEEKS TO 13 YEARS OLD ARE INTELLECTUALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY AND COGNITIVELY PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT IN A MODERN, KID-FRIENDLY AND FAMILY ORIENTED FACILITY VIEWED AS A SAFE HAVEN BY OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY NEIGHBORS.JRC LEARNING CENTER HAS PROVIDED QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE SINCE 1980. THE CENTER IS LOCATED AT 2213 14TH STREET NE IN THE HEART OF NORTHEAST CANTON, OHIO. DEMOGRAPHICALLY, THE CENTER PROVIDES SERVICES FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES WHERE PARENTS AND CARETAKERS ARE EITHER WORKING OR ATTENDING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THE CHILDREN COME FROM VERY DIVERSE FAMILY STRUCTURES. THE MAJORITY OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE HEADED BY YOUNG PARENTS HOLDING ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS WHO ARE SEEKING A WAY OUT OF POVERTY. GRANDPARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVES HAVE ALSO TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF PARENTING.IT IS PROVEN THAT INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT GREATLY IMPACTS SUCCESS IN LIFE. THE BRAIN IS THE ONLY ORGAN NOT FULLY DEVELOPED AT BIRTH. NINETY PERCENT OF CRITICAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE. THIS IS THE CRUCIAL TIME WHEN THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LEARNING OCCUR. JRC PROVIDES THE QUALITY, FLEXIBLE EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE NEEDED AS A VITAL SUPPORT TO ENABLE A CHILD'S AND A FAMILY'S PROGRESS TOWARD ECONOMIC STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IT IS WITHIN 2000 DAYS FROM THE TIME A BABY IS BORN TO THE TIME HE/SHE ENTERS KINDERGARTEN THE MOST IMPACT CAN BE MADE TO SET HIM/HER UP FOR THEIR FUTURE.THE JRC LEARNING CENTER IS A GOLD STAR QUALITY RATED CENTER ACCORDING TO STATE OF OHIO STEP UP TO QUALITY STANDARDS. STEP UP TO QUALITY IS A VOLUNTARY QUALITY RATING SYSTEM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF OHIO. STEP UP TO QUALITY RECOGNIZES AND PROMOTES PROGRAMS THAT MEET QUALITY BENCHMARKS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE.PROMOTING SUCCESSFUL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN HAS BEEN A STATED GOAL OF JRC FOR MANY YEARS. JRC TEACHERS EMPLOY CURRICULUM THAT ALIGNS WITH OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EARLY LEARNING CONTENT STANDARDS. OUR INITIAL OUTCOME IS THAT CHILDREN WILL ENGAGE IN DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT REFLECT BEST PRACTICES IN EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE IN A HIGH QUALITY ENVIRONMENT. OUR PRIMARY LONG-TERM OUTCOME IS THAT CHILDREN WHO CONSISTENTLY RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND CARE WILL INCREASINGLY DISPLAY HIGH LEVELS OF SCHOOL READINESS. IN CURRENT YEAR, INFANTS, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS PARTICIPATED IN THESE EARLY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.THE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND SUMMER OF EXCELLENCE PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN OFFERS ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT AND TEACH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, TEACH AND MODEL PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, EXPOSE CHILDREN TO A VARIETY OF INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCES AND KEEP KIDS SAFE DURING PEAK RISKY BEHAVIOR HOURS AFTER SCHOOL AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.JRC LEARNING CENTER IMPLEMENTS HEALTHY HABITS FOR A LIFETIME TO CARE FOR THE WHOLE CHILD. ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD OBESITY WHICH IS MORE PREVALENT IN LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM LESSENS THE AMOUNT OF PROCESSED FOODS FROM THE MONTHLY MENU. CHILDREN ARE SERVED FAMILY STYLE AND LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "SOMETIME" FOODS AND "ANYTIME" FOODS.THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES 60 MINUTES OF FITNESS ACTIVITIES PER DAY AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM. TRAINING MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED FOR TEACHERS IN ORDER TO LEAD THEIR STUDENTS IN FITNESS ACTIVITIES. JRC LEARNING CENTER HAS CONVERTED TWO (2) PLAYGROUNDS INTO NATURAL PLAYSCAPES. THESE ARE PLAYGROUNDS WITH AS LITTLE MAN-MADE COMPONENTS AS POSSIBLE, ENCOURAGING OPEN-ENDED PLAY OPTIONS ALLOWING CHILDREN TO BE CREATIVE AND USE THEIR IMAGINATION. IN ADDITION, THE CHILDREN ARE INTRODUCED TO FINANCIAL LITERACY, INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND ART ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES.JRC LEARNING CENTER IS A UNITED WAY AGENCY AND A BBB ACCREDITED CHARITY.SCHOOL FREE AND REDUCED MEAL PROGRAMTHE JRC LEARNING CENTER SERVES NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO CHILDREN FROM 6 WEEKS TO 12 YEARS OLD. SOME CHILDREN STAYED AT THE CENTER LONG ENOUGH TO RECEIVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS. CHILDREN IN LOW INCOME FAMILIES QUALIFY FOR FREE MEALS REIMBURSED IN PART BY THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S CHILD AND ADULT FOOD PROGRAM. THE JRC LEARNING CENTER AN EARLY HEAD START PROVIDER PROVIDING EARLY EDUCATION AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN (BIRTH - FIVE YEARS OLD) AND FAMILIES.