Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or you’re involved in the childcare industry, you’re going to want to read this.
Episcopal Children’s Services is a group that helps underserved children in Northeast and Central Florida build a strong foundation for educational success.
Spokeswoman Altoria White came on “River City Live” to talk about how ECS can help many people in the community.
Watch the video, just above, to hear from White in full -- and here are five things to know in the interim.
1. Episcopal Children’s Services is the contracted service provider for the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida for School Readiness, VPK, and Child Care Resource and Referral.
So if you want to enroll a child in VPK, you need referrals, or anything else, Episcopal Children’s Services is the group you want to contact. (More on this below!)
ECS’s service area covers Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.
2. Child Care Resource and Referral is a free service that ECS offers.
ECS professional specialists are available to provide parents and guardians information on what to look for in high-quality care.
ECS can generate a detailed child care listing that will match parents’ and guardians’ needs.
This is the front door to services, and can also provide families with other resources local to their area.
3. The School Readiness Program can assist qualifying families with financial assistance to help pay for child care.
Here’s list of qualification requirements.
If you have additional questions, a Family Services Specialist would be happy to help, ECS said.
“We have a local office in each county and those numbers are located on our website.”
4. Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten or VPK, is a free program for all 4-year-old residents of the state of Florida.
The program helps children get ready for kindergarten.
If you have a 4-year-old and you live in Florida, your child qualifies.
Get more information about VPK.
5. If you are a child care provider and not contracted with the ELC of North Florida or you are interested in opening a child care business in the service area of Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau, Putnam or St. Johns Counties, please reach out to Provider Services at 904-674-6226 or email ccrrhotline@ecs4kids.org.
ECS will be glad to answer any questions that you might have and provide you with a packet of information to help you start a new child care business.