Enrollment for next year ongoing at Early Childhood Connections

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Early Childhood Connections director Donna Hudson-Hamilton shares information about enrollment.

 

Transcript:

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James Bell 

Enrollment for next year for the Early Childhood connections is underway. Director Donna Hudson-Hamilton stops by to tell us a little bit about that. And more on this episode of the Post Podcast.

 

 

Early Childhood connections we are located out across from Hayes Hi 2501 easterton Street. And we serve families prenatal to age five, we have a variety of programs in our prenatal to three age range, we have parents as teachers, which is a home visitation program that is open to anybody that would like those services. And then we also have an early headstart program. And within that program, we have a home visitation, we partner with some family childcare partners to provide services children to children. And then we also have a center based program there where children come every day. And then in our three to five program, we have our preschool out there, we offer full day sessions out there. So we're serving children, um, you know, at 330. And then we also have a home based option. We also do provide services in outlying counties. So not only do we serve Ellis County, we serve rush, Russell and rooks county as well. Very cool,

 

James Bell 

very cool. So you know, if you're a parent out there, and you're kind of like, again, like me, and you're thinking, Oh, my goodness, what am I gonna do with my kiddos next year? What's the process to start that either enrollment or getting more information from you guys? Well, we

 

 

have just launched a new online enrollment process. So if you are interested, you can go to the USD 49 website, and then click on the schools and click on early childhood connections. And right there, you're going to see a green button that says enrollment information. And you can start your enrollment right from that, right there online, we've really tried to make it a lot easier for families to get enrolled. So we've moved to this online process. Another piece that has really changed for us is that especially in our three to five suit, children that are aged three to five, is now we're going to be able to serve more children age three. And so if you're looking at enroll, enrolling in that program, the guidelines have now changed so that we can serve children. Three and four year olds that have are either eligible through a single parent, a teen when the child was born, if either parent is lacking a high school diploma, if the family is eligible for free lunches, if the child does not speak English, or if they're migrant status, so that has opened up for us this year. So I really encourage families to they're not sure if they would be eligible to give us a call, and we can kind of walk them through that.

 

James Bell 

Sure. Oh, no. Is that the only or I can't think of the word qualifications maybe for the kiddos or is there others as well? Well,

 

 

that is that is the requirements for eligibility. Now also housed in that building is the USD 49 for PE preschool, and that is open to anyone. And so that is an option that's also available out there. The other option is at no charge to families.

 

James Bell 

Very cool. And you know, and I do believe, correct me if I'm wrong, but there are some spots open in the paid version of the preschool because we I was on the phone with him the other day, like it? Yes, but not very many. There's only a handful

 

 

of spots. I sometimes think oh, I'll wait to August to get my children enrolled in I just wanted to put it out there. Now is the time now's the time to be thinking about getting getting everything set for August now.

 

James Bell 

Absolutely. You know, and I am curious, we've heard a lot in the recent months about the lack of daycare here. Yeah. I mean, does that extend to early childhood connections as well?

 

 

Well, where where it impacts us is is that we do especially for our program for prenatal to age three. We'd like to partner with some family childcare partners. And that has been difficult for us just because of the decrease in the number of family childcare partners. I'm on the childcare task force that we're trying to encourage more individually It was to look at that as a profession and help support them. Because we have had a significant decrease in child care in our area.

 

James Bell 

Absolutely. And you know, it is great that I love to hear that you're on that committee as well. It's it's been one of those things that I've seen kind of grow and expand and, and really being being tackled head on by some of the interested parties here in the community.

 

 

Yes, it is a need for this area. And and we are working hard at trying to find resources, not only to start a childcare, but also workforce to make sure that we have the people to work in that and that they can make a livable wage and doing that. Absolutely.

 

James Bell 

Now, before we run out of time, Donna, we got to talk about this too. What about those kiddos that are starting to age out of your services or similar services here in the areas?

 

 

Well, I just I know that children or parents get a little nervous as their children start to enter kindergarten. So I just wanted to let them know that on our website, we do have a section for families for children that are transitioning to kindergarten, and on that you're going to find say you're going to Lincoln our Roosevelt Elementary you will find a little notebook on there that has the pictures of of the staff there the playground, the lunch room, anything you might want to look over with your child. We also have activities on there how to help your child prepare for kindergarten, we have books on there that you can audiobooks that you can read to your child so we just have a lot of resources as your child moves into kindergarten if if I just want people don't know just check it out. There's there's things there for them.