From the press release:
Champaign County Regional Planning Commission to Host Open House at New Urbana Head Start Facility
Increased number of classrooms and kitchen are just two of the improvements helping new center meet the needs of at-risk children and families in the community
URBANA, IL (March 9, 2017) The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission will host an open house at their new Head Start facility in Urbana, Illinois, on Thursday, March 16, 2017. The open house will run from 4pm to 7pm at the facility located at 1603 E. Mumford Drive in Urbana.
Housed in the former Happi House Learning Center, Head Start staff spent several weeks preparing the new location for its official opening to children and teachers on February 27. It provides year-round services to children from six-weeks-old to five years of age. “The importance of this new center cannot be overstated,” says Brandi Granse, director of Champaign County Head Start/Early Head Start. “Not only have we expanded educational hours from three-and-a-half to six, at no cost to families, there is also a 10-hour option available for families eligible for the Child Care Resource Service.”
The new facility includes nine classrooms, of which seven are for preschool-age children and two for infants and toddlers. It also features a kitchen, a multipurpose room for gross motor activities, a library and space for a counseling or developmental therapy room, all elements the previous Urbana Head Start location did not have. Granse adds that the property offers easier and safer access to playgrounds and that there are Champaign-Urbana MTD stops nearby.
Champaign County Head Start/Early Head Start serves nearly 600 children and families in Champaign County. They have been working for more than 50 years to provide a comprehensive early learning experience for at-risk children and families. Expanded federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start has provided the resources necessary to advance early childhood education, social and health service, and parental involvement critical to promoting a love of learning and future academic success. “Continued funding of Head Start/Early Head Start will help us meet the evolving needs of the most vulnerable children and families in our community,” Granse stresses.
WHAT
Urbana Head Start Center open house
WHERE
1603 E. Mumford Drive
Urbana, IL 61802
WHEN
Thursday, March 16, 2017
4pm to 7pm
CONTACT
Maurey Williamson
Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator
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About Champaign County Head Start/Early Head Start
Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages five and under from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. The program promotes family strengths for children’s long-term benefit. The mission of Champaign County Head Start/Early Head Start is to support the diverse children and families of the community in reaching their fullest potential by providing comprehensive services and developing partnerships that enhance child and family development, health and education.
About the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission
The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission is an intergovernmental membership organization that provides and administers a variety of planning, community and economic development, early childhood education and community services for Champaign and surrounding counties. As a multi-purpose agency, the commission delivers 100 programs and services with an annual operating budget of about $25 million and a staff of 230 employees. For more information, visit ccrpc.org.
