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Thank you for your gift! 

Your gift provides high-quality early education to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers! This essential early education builds a firm foundation so children can be successful in school and break out of the systemic cycle of poverty.  The before and after school programs ensure children are safe, engaged and active while their parents work/attend school. 

Ages 6 weeks to 5 years: Why is early education important?

• A child’s first 2,000 days are the most critical time in the child’s development. The brain is the only organ not fully developed at birth and 90 of critical brain development happens in the first 5 years of life. That’s why it is so important to provide as much educational and environmental stimuli during this growing period.
• Children living in homes at or below the poverty level have less opportunity to be kindergarten ready which may destine them to a cycle of poverty, homelessness, hunger and low-paying jobs -  EARLY EDUCATION IS A PROVEN PATH OUT OF POVERTY.
• JRC’s Creative Curriculum also allows teachers to create lesson plans to target identified assessment needs. It offers suggested strategies for teachers to try with a child who may be struggling with a certain objective. Teachers work with parents to identify individual goals and develop an action plan to achieve goals. When necessary, teachers also follow up with additional screenings to ensure any child who may need additional services is referred prior to their first 90 days of enrollment. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled with each parent twice yearly to ensure they are receiving updates pertaining to their child’s development.

 Ages 6 to 12 years: Why are the before and after school and summer programs important?

• The JRC School Age Program encourages families to be involved in their child's education through the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) "Strengthening Families" program, which encourages family participation and provides parenting education through training and referrals for assistance. 

• As children are enrolled, teachers create lesson plans based on the individual interests of the children in his/her classroom. Those plans include goals parents have set for their child during orientation. Often, parents want to work on goals in the home. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled twice per year to discuss each child’s performance. JRC’s Creative Curriculum allows teachers to create lesson plans to target identified asset needs/interests. Through this, teachers can begin to understand the why and how of what a child is demonstrating and work with the parent/family to offer support.

• JRC's school-age children's program centers on nurturing the 40 Developmental Assets. Children receive homework assistance, access to technology, structured play, and culturally competent role models.  JRC’s "Healthy Habits for a Lifetime" program has reduced 90% of processed food served at the center, helping fight obesity and helping children make healthy life choices.  One lunch consisted of limeade chicken, rice with carrots, oranges, and milk.  Another day's afternoon snack was bananas and graham crackers.  To include family participation, a copy of every month's menu is available and encouraged for each family to take home. Physical activity is also incorporated into the curriculum.