Friends Of Crown Heights Educational Centers Inc

TO PROVIDE A SAFE, AFFORDABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, PARENTAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT, AS WELL AS ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAM.

IN 2021, NEW YORK CITY REORGANIZED ITS CONTRACTED EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS INTO A SINGLE, COMPREHENSIVE BIRTH-TO-FIVE SYSTEM MANAGED BY THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE). THE NEW SYSTEM COMBINED THE FORMERLY DOE-CONTRACTED 3-K FOR ALL AND PRE-K FOR ALL PROGRAMS SERVING UNIVERSALLY- ELIGIBLE CHILDREN, WITH THE FORMERLY CONTRACTED EARLYLEARN PROGRAMS SERVING CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES MEET INCOME AND OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ADMINISTERED BY THE NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES (ACS). THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ALL BEEN CONSOLIDATED INTO A SINGLE, BIRTH-TO-FIVE SYSTEM, ADMINISTERED BY THE DOE, SERVING ALL CHILDREN. ACCORDING TO THE DOE, "THIS SYSTEM SHIFT INCREASES ACCESS FOR FAMILIES, STREAMLINES THE CITY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVIDERS OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES AND ALLOWS FOR FURTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE FIVE BOROUGHS." THE FRIENDS OF CROWN HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL CENTERS, INC., IS CURRENTLY THE LARGEST NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDER OF CONTRACTED CHILD CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES UNDER THE NEW YORK CITY BIRTH-TO-FIVE PROGRAM. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE 21 FULLY FUNDED EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN AND STATEN ISLAND, SERVING A COMBINED ENROLLMENT OF 1,284 CHILDREN IN OUR PRE-SCHOOL AND INFANT/TODDLER PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND, CENTER-BASED SERVICE OF UP TO 10 HOURS PER DAY FOR CHILDREN AGED THREE MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS OLD. ALL PROGRAMS ARE LICENSED BY THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE (DOHMH), AND STAFFED BY STATE-CERTIFIED, MULTI-LINGUAL TEACHERS AND PROVIDERS IMPLEMENTING A MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM. ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE A HIGH- QUALITY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, FREE DAILY NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS PREPARED ON SITE, AND ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS FREE DENTAL AND MEDICAL SCREENINGS. OUR PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE A ROBUST FAMILY ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT THROUGH WHICH FAMILIES ARE EMPOWERED TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SURPASSED THE PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES SET BY OUR FUNDING AGENCIES AND EARNED THE WIDESPREAD COMMENDATION OF BOTH OUR FUNDERS AND FELLOW PROVIDERS IN THE CHILD CARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SECTOR.

A)COMPASS & SONYC AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FOCH CURRENTLY OPERATES A TOTAL OF FIVE ELEMENTARY (COMPASS) AND MIDDLE SCHOOL (SONYC) AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVING A COMBINED POPULATION OF 371 STUDENTS IN A MIXTURE OF BOTH SCHOOL-BASED AND CENTER-BASED SETTINGS. OF THESE, 226 ARE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS (5-12 YEARS OLD), AND 145 ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (12-13 YEARS OLD). AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND STRUCTURED RECREATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY; AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, THEY FUNCTION AS A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS BY OFFERING PARTICIPANTS A CHOICE IN HOW THEY SPEND THEIR TIME, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP THEIR INTERESTS IN SPORTS, ART, CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. OUR COMPASS AND SONYC AFTERSCHOOL CURRICULUM IS BASED ON THE STEAM CONCEPT, UNDER WHICH PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATH. AMONG THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED ARE ROBOTICS, VIOLIN LESSONS, CREATIVE WRITING, TABLE TENNIS, COMPUTER CODING, WEBSITE DESIGN AND VISUAL ART.

UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE FRIENDS OF CROWN HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL CENTERS, INC., OPERATES AN EXTENSIVE FAMILY CHILD CARE NETWORK (FCCN) SUPPORTING HIGH-QUALITY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 3 YEARS OLD IN 137 LICENSED PROVIDER HOMES THROUGHOUT THE BOROUGHS OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS. WITH A CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF MORE THAN 800 CHILDREN IN THESE AFFILIATED PROVIDER HOMES, OUR MIXED-AGE FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS ARE GROUNDED IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT ENSURES THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND COGNITIVE NEEDS OF EVERY CHILD ARE MET. AFFILIATED PROVIDERS ARE SUPPORTED WITH INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES, COACHING AND HANDS-ON PROGRAM MONITORING BY OUR EXPERT PROFESSIONAL STAFF. ALL FAMILY CHILD CARE NETWORK (FCCN) PROVIDERS ARE LICENSED BY THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS), AND REGULATED BY THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE (DOHMH).

THE FRIENDS OF CROWN HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL CENTERS, INC., IS A NEW YORK STATE-CONTRACTED SPONSORING AGENCY OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP), A NUTRITION EDUCATION AND MEAL REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM HELPING PROVIDERS SERVE NUTRITIOUS AND SAFELY PREPARED MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN IN LICENSED CHILD-CARE SETTINGS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE DIRECTLY SUPPORT A NETWORK OF 280 GROUP AND FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR WHOM WE ADMINISTER REIMBURSEMENTS AND DELIVER NUTRITIONAL TRAINING AND OTHER TECHNICAL SUPPORTS. THESE PROVIDERS TOGETHER SERVE A COMBINED POPULATION OF 3,054 CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. AS A CACFP SPONSORING AGENCY, THE ORGANIZAION ENSURES THAT ALL MEALS SERVED BY PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS MEET MINIMUM GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA). FOR EXAMPLE, BREAKFAST REQUIRES A SERVING OF MILK, FRUIT OR VEGETABLE AND BREAD OR A GRAIN PRODUCT. LUNCH AND DINNER MUST INCLUDE A SELECTION OF MILK, BREAD OR GRAIN PRODUCT, MEAT OR MEAT ALTERNATE, AND TWO DIFFERENT SERVINGS OF FRUITS AND/OR VEGETABLES. SNACKS INCLUDE SERVINGS FROM TWO OR THE FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS: MILK, FRUITS OR VEGETABLES, BREAD OR GRAIN PRODUCT, OR MEAT OR MEAT ALTERNATE. SERVING NUTRITIOUS MEALS HELPS IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE AND PRE-SCHOOL SETTINGS AND HELPS YOUNG CHILDREN DEVELOP GOOD EATING HABITS. THE ORGANIZATION DELIVERS THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT PROVIDERS IN THIS NETWORK MEET THE FEDERALLY MANDATED NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS OF THE PROGRAM AND OBTAIN APPROPRIATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED.