New for fall 2024, YWCA Columbus’ Safe & Sound childcare program will receive funding from the Columbus Early Start program, which allows qualifying families to access high-quality Pre-K programs for free or low-cost tuition.

This program aims to ensure that every child in Columbus is kindergarten-ready by providing high-quality learning environments and addressing adverse conditions that affect children's developmental outcomes.

The City of Columbus has outlined several strategies that assist children as they transition to kindergarten, focusing on the overall needs of the child and their families, including:

·         Screenings that identify developmental delays early, along with referrals and rehabilitative services are crucial in meeting educational goals.

·         Home-visitation or center-based education and advocacy programs provide important information to family members on the early developmental needs of their child.

·         Counseling services for children and families that have experienced trauma and toxic stresses, particularly in the mental and behavioral health spaces.

·         Meeting the basic needs of the family, such as having access to fresh fruits and vegetables, stable housing, employment, childcare, and transportation are important for the success of the entire family.

“One of our recent goals at Safe & Sound was offering families funding through the Early Start program and making these resources available for families at the YWCA Family Center,” said Tamika Pierce, program administrator at Safe & Sound. “We’re excited to get started and enroll children for the upcoming school year.”

Families residing within the Columbus City School District are eligible for funding through the City of Columbus’ Early Start Columbus (ESC) grant. Children must be four years old, and the family’s income must be no more than three hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).