EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACT

Building Brighter Futures

Every child deserves a Head Start. Our Early Childhood Impact program provides high-quality child care and early learning for low-income families. Through our full-day, full-year programs serving children up to five years old, we ensure all of our kids enter kindergarten with the tools and support they need to thrive.

Highlights

• Launched a training webinar for Early Childhood Impact staff on “How to talk to families about the COVID-19 Vaccine” by inviting guest speaker Dr. Bechara Choucair, SVP & Chief Health Officer of Kaiser Permanente and former White House National Vaccine Coordinator

• $232.5K grant from Tipping Point Community to provide support for Early Childhood Workforce Development and web design

• $300K grant from Kaiser Permanente to implement a trauma-informed system and offer mental health education and training for early learning childcare staff and parents

BY

The Numbers

Helping Children Thrive

1.2K+ Children served through our Early Learning Centers

100% Families served to receive free childcare $34.9K Average cost per child 16+ Early Learning Centers throughout the East Bay

In May 2022, the YMCA of the East Bay distributed more than 834 laptops to children up to five years old in our Early Childhood Impact programs in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties through a Federal Communications Commission Emergency Connectivity Fund grant.

“By supporting families, we’re doing our part to help close the homework gap for families that lack internet or equipment access. This will ensure equitable access by providing every child with technology and connectivity access,” said Dr. Nailah Thompson, Board of Director Chair, YMCA of the East Bay.

Over 50 Early Educator Apprentices Graduate From The Y

In an effort to recruit and retain highly qualified staff, the YMCA Early Educator Apprentice program trains parents and community members to become early childhood teachers. The program also supports AA and BA acquisition for current employees The program features small cohorts for classes, tutoring, mental health consultation, soft skills training, and job placement to ensure a positive outcome.

The program receives funding from Alameda County First 5 and Social Services Agency (CalWORKs), Tipping Point Community, Sunlight Giving, and Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation.

Cherryland Early Learning Center Construction Completed

The construction of a new Early Learning Center in Cherryland, an unincorporated community in Alameda County located next to Hayward, opened to children and families late 2022. Cherryland has one of the highest needs and lowest services per capita in Alameda County, with limited community services and childcare offerings.

Through support from government grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, the California Department of Education, the Alameda County, William G. Irwin Charity Foundation, Sunlight Giving, Skip Battle, and the Ellebie Mathis Fund, the Y completed construction of Cherryland Early Learning Center that can serve up to 100 children up to five years old and their families, with 10 percent reserved slots for children with disabilities.