ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY

ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY EARLY LEARNING CENTER HAS BEEN PROVIDING CARE FOR CHILDREN IN THE ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS AREA SINCE 1916. WE HAVE BEEN LICENSED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SINCE 1941. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS RECOGNIZED ON NOVEMBER 1, 1944 UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE 61104 ZIP CODE, IN WHICH THE CENTER IS LOCATED, ENCOMPASSES ONE OF THE MOST ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AND IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDING TO A MARKETING STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO OUR RELOCATION IN 2005. ORGANIZED AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION THE NURSERY IS GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CENTER AND ACTIVELY VOLUNTEERS IN THE AREAS OF ADMINISTRATION, PARENT EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT, BUILDING AND GROUNDS PROJECTS, AND SPECIAL SOCIAL EVENTS FOR OUR FAMILIES, SUCH AS PRESCHOOL GRADUATION AND OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY. BOARD MEMBERS SERVE 3 YEAR TERMS AND CAN SERVE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS IF THEY SO CHOOSE. APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF OUR BOARD TURNS EACH YEAR AND NEW MEMBERS ARE SOUGHT THROUGH REFERRALS FROM PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS, OUR CLIENTS, AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS. OUR MISSION HERE AT ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 WEEKS AND 12 YEARS, WHOSE PARENTS ARE EMPLOYED OR INVOLVED IN WORK RELATED TRAINING. WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN ENROLLMENT OF 66 CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE DAILY. OUR PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 12 CLASSROOMS THAT RANGE FROM INFANTS, TODDLERS, TWO'S AND THREES, PRESCHOOL, AND A SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM. WE UTILIZE THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM AS THE BASIS FOR OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD AS AN ASSESSMENT TOOL TO TRACK THE GROWTH OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE. ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY HAS OBTAINED A SILVER CIRCLE OF QUALITY THROUGH THE EXCELERATE ILLINOIS PROGRAM. THIS SILVER CIRCLE OF QUALITY ENSURES THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE RECEIVING THE QUALITY CARE THAT THEY DESERVE BY HOLDING OUR STAFF TO A HIGHER STANDARD. THROUGH THE EXCELERATE ILLINOIS PROGRAM THE CENTER IS AWARDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A GRANT WHERE THE YWCA OF NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS PROVIDES FUNDS TO EXPEND ON MATERIALS USED IN THE PROGRAM. THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN CANNOT BE FULLY SERVED WITHOUT ALSO BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE. ONE OF OUR MAIN FOCUSES ARE TO HELP PARENTS BECOME INDEPENDENT RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THROUGH WORK AND/OR TRAINING. TO HELP WITH THE COST OF CHILDCARE SERVICES ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY ACCEPTS PAYMENTS THROUGH THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (YWCA CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS) AND THE DCFS PROTECTIVE AND FOSTER CARE SERVICES. ANOTHER GREAT RESOURCE UTILIZED AT ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY IS THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM. IT IS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THAT WE ARE EDUCATED AND ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CHILDREN OF THE CENTER WITH NUTRITIONAL MEALS BY MEETING THE REQUIRED GUIDELINES FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE TRAINING PROVIDED THROUGH THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE BEST NUTRITION AVAILABLE AND ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT WITH THE CHILDREN AND EDUCATE THEM ON HEALTHY EATING HABITS. IT IS DURING THESE MEALTIMES THAT OPPORTUNITY ARISES FOR STRONG TEACHER-CHILD BONDS. DEONDRI MANALLI, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE CHILDCARE FIELD. DEONDRI HOLDS A BS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AWARDED FROM ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS BEING DIRECTOR CREDENTIALED THROUGH INCCRRA FOR THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. MS. MANALLI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CENTER, WHILE REPORTING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ALL OUR STAFF HERE AT ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY REPORT TO DEONDRI INCLUDING OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, COOK, COOK'S HELPER, AND CLEANING/MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. MS. MANALLI STRIVES TO PROVIDE AN INVITING AND GROWTH MOTIVATED ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF. IT IS THROUGH PEER-TO-PEER TRAINING, ADMINISTRATIVE MENTORING, AND GOAL DRIVEN MINDSETS THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO PROMOTE FROM WITHIN WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES AND KEEP STAFF TURNOVER AT A MINIMUM. HERE AT ROCKFORD DAY NURSERY WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYDAY KNOWING WE ARE PROVIDING QUALITY CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.