Brooklyn, NY – Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Yeled V’Yalda Early Childhood Center has been awarded a $1,700,356 Head Start grant. This funding will enable Yeled V’Yalda to enhance and expand its services to families in need. Yeled V’Yalda has served vulnerable and low-income families in Brooklyn and Staten Island since 1981, providing support programs for expectant mothers, families in need, and children with developmental disabilities. With this funding, Yeled V’Yalda will be able to expand its existing Head Start program to include home- and center-based programs for low-income families and provide more valuable services to children with chronic and serious diseases.

“Giving low-income children a chance to be prepared for kindergarten and future grades is a great thing and I applaud Yeled V’Yalda for its hard work and dedication to the children and families of Brooklyn and Staten Island,” Schumer said. “This Head Start grant will give this outstanding organization the funds they need to expand their Head Start program and give these kids an opportunity they might not otherwise have.”

Head Start, both center-based and home-based applications, and Early Head Start form the core of Yeled V’Yalda’s Early Learning Center. They serve more than 1,300 children. Both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs offer the core services associated with the program, including special needs screening and follow-ups, medical needs screening and tracking and other social service supports. The federally funded center based Head Start program is full day and part day. It services children three to five years old and is designed to give income-eligible children a quality preschool educational experience.

The curriculum is designed to nurture the development of the whole child in the social, emotional, linguistic, cognitive and physical domains in an environment which supports social and emotional development. Learning is child centered within the framework of teacher planning. Teachers work on language and literacy development, encouraging the ability to read and write fluently. Number concepts are taught at an age-appropriate level. Science, physical activity, social and emotional development, friendship and sharing, are all incorporated into the Head Start curriculum. Nutrition, health and safety are topics that are also integrated into the lesson plans as well as addressed directly.

The objective of the Head Start grant program is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children, including children on federally recognized reservations and children of migratory farm workers, through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social and other services; and to involve parents in their children’s learning and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start programs.

(YWN Desk – NYC)