Did you know...
In SD, 20% of children live in households at or below the federal poverty level.
Low family income can impede children’s cognitive development and their ability to learn, as well as contribute to behavioral, social, emotional, and health problems.
In SD, 73% of children under age 6 live in households where both parents work.
Research shows that moms in a chemical treatment program who can keep their children with them stay in the program longer and have a better chance at recovery.
9% of SD births are to teenagers according to 2008 Kids Count data.
Locally, there are approximately 350 children on the waiting list for Head Start.
Your Gift in Action...
Early Head Start through InterLakes Community Action Partnership serves children ages pre-birth to three and their families. 120 children were enrolled last year and 109 of the participating families either worked or attended school.
United Day Care provided quality care for 146 children ages 2-10 last year. 97% of age appropriate children were ready to enter kindergarten and 291 parents were able to work or attend school.
Little Blessings Childcare Center through Volunteers of America,Dakotas is a new center that focuses on providing care for children of New Start participants, a chemical treatment program for mothers. This new program projects to serve 42 children each year.
Volunteers of America, Dakotas’ Child Care and Family Literacy Center provides quality care for children 4 weeks through 10 years of age. Last year they served 277 children and 100% who attended for at least 90 days were able to perform at age-appropriate levels.
Circle of Hope, a child care center through Volunteers of America, Dakotas served 107 children last year. 96% of children who attended the center for at least 90 days were able to perform at age-appropriate levels.
The Teen Parent Program of Volunteers of America, Dakotas provided quality care to 37 children of young parents who are enrolled in the Sioux Falls School District last year.
Volunteers of America, Dakotas’ Parent Child Learning Center provided quality care for 154 children from 4 weeks to 5 years old last year. 99% of the families utilize scholarships and/or childcare assistance.
YWCA Sioux Falls’ Childcare program serves children ages 4 weeks to 5 years. Last year 306 children attended the center and 100% of the age-appropriate children passed the kindergarten readiness screening.
The Early Childhood Enrichment program of Youth Enrichment Services, through Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, provides developmentally appropriate pre-k programs. 195 children participated last year and 100% of age-appropriate children entered kindergarten at or above target levels.
The Infant & Toddler program of Youth Enrichment Services, through Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, provided 114 children with developmentally appropriate care last year.
The Childcare HELP!Line provided 2,503 referrals to parents seeking information about available childcare services last year. 48% of parents served found care through the services provided and 75% of parents were able to verbalize at least 3 characteristics of quality child care.
Starting Strong, administered through Sioux Falls School District provided a high quality pre-kindergarten experience for 120 children whose families have socio-economic challenges last year. Children who entered the program in 09/10 were delayed in developmental skills by 6.5 to 12 months. At end of school year the children showed an average gain of 8.4 months