CHILDCAREGROUP

Child Care Assistance (CCA): ChildCareGroup manages three Child Care Services contracts across Texas, funded through the federal Child Care Development Block Grant. The program has two primary components: 1. Providing financial scholarships directly to families. 2. Supporting local early learning programs through the Texas Rising Star initiative, which raises the quality of care to prepare children for school success. Our service area includes Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas (Dallas County), Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas (Jefferson, Hardin, Orange Counties), and Workforce Solutions Heart of Texas (McLennan, Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, and Limestone Counties). In 2024, 33,914 children received scholarships covering 12 months of care. Within three months, 71% of parents found employment, and all three regions saw increases in parents' average quarterly wages.

Head Start (HS) Early Childhood Programs (ECP) Our Early Childhood Program (ECP) provides comprehensive education and support for children from six weeks to five years old and serves pregnant women through our Head Start grant. Using the Head Start model, we promote cognitive, emotional, language, physical, and social development, offering this program free of charge to eligible families. ECP also includes parent education and family engagement through our Home Visiting program, along with family resource support via our Family Navigation program and the Help Me Grow North Texas resource website. Serving families across Dallas, Kaufman, and Navarro counties, ECP creates a lasting impact on children and their communities. Texas ranks 43rd out of 50 states in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2024 Kids Count Data Book, which takes into account economic security, education, health, and family and community data. In fact, 18.4 percent of Texas children are living in poverty, compared to the national average of 16 percent. In Dallas County, the child poverty rate is even higher - at 19.8 percent [U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS), 2023 putting their development and future success at risk. ChildCareGroup addresses this challenge with a proven two-generation approach that supports both children and parents, strengthening families and the community. Our early education programs focus on healthy development, kindergarten readiness, and long-term family stability. Children benefit from individualized lesson plans, health and wellness screenings, and social-emotional support, while parents partner with family advocates to set goals and build pathways to self-sufficiency. We operate six early education centers across North Texas and collaborate with local school districts to deliver high-quality Head Start and public Pre-K programs. Each year, more than 1,000 volunteers contribute time and expertise, helping us expand our impact and deepen community connections. ChildCareGroup is funded through a mix of public and private support, including the Office of Head Start, United Way, foundations, corporate partners, and individual donors.