Infant Welfare Society Of Evanston Inc

INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF EVANSTON, INC.'S MISSION IS TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND EDUCATION FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AND TO SUPPORT FAMILIES' EFFORTS TO BE EFFECTIVE PARENTS AND ADVOCATES IN THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

FULL-DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AT TWO LOCATIONS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD.BABY TODDLER NURSERY - FOUNDED IN 1971, BABY TODDLER NURSERY IS ILLINOIS' LONGEST-RUNNING INDEPENDENTLY LICENSED INFANT TODDLER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM, OFFERING SUBSIDIZED, FEE-BASED AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN FROM 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. BTN PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR UP TO 70 CHILDREN EACH DAY. OUR PRESCHOOL RECEIVES FUNDING THROUGH THE PRE-SCHOOL FOR ALL PROGRAM ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. FAMILIES MAY ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SUBSIDY THROUGH THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ADMINISTERED BY THE IL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH ALLOWS TUITION PAYMENTS TO BE MADE ON A SLIDING SCALE. BTN ALSO RECEIVES EARLY HEAD START FUNDING.TEEN BABY NURSERY - TEEN BABY NURSERY PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR UP TO 16 INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND SERVICES TO THEIR YOUNG PARENTS, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. TBN SUPPORTS YOUNG PARENTS AS THEY STRIVE TO GRADUATE AND SET THEIR LIVES ON A COURSE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SUCCESS. TBN ALSO INCLUDES EARLY HEAD START FUNDING.BOTH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WELCOME CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND MEDICAL CHALLENGES. AN EXCEPTIONAL TEACHER TO CHILD STAFFING RATIO (3 STAFF TO 8 CHILDREN PER CLASSROOM), THE RESEARCH-BASED CREATIVE CURRICULUM, AND INDIVIDUALIZED DEVELOPMENTAL PLANS ENABLE THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE TO GROW AND THRIVE.IWSE ALSO OFFERS AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM "THE FIRST 1,100 DAYS" PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS FOR EVERY CHILD IN ANY IWSE PROGRAM AND PROVISION OF NEEDED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ON SITE. IN THIS WAY, IWSE IS ABLE TO CATCH AND ADDRESS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, MOTOR AND LANGUAGE DELAYS BEFORE THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND DEVELOPMENT

EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN SIX WEEKS TO THREE YEARS OLD AT TWO LOCATIONS, SUBSIDIZED BY FEDERAL AWARDS. FAMILIES THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FUNDING OTHER THAN EARLY HEAD START ARE ENROLLED FOR 6 HOURS DAILY.

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND AT-RISK.FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM - SINCE 2005 THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS OFFERED INTENSIVE HOME VISITING SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE CHILDREN ARE MOST AT-RISK FOR ABUSE, NEGLECT AND ACADEMIC FAILURE. THROUGH OUR LONG TIME COMMUNITY COMMITMENT, IWSE LEARNS OF OFTEN UNSEEN AND EXTREMELY VULNERABLE, ISOLATED, AND HARD-TO-REACH FAMILIES NOT SERVED THROUGH CENTER-BASED PROGRAMS. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE EXTREMELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER FAMILIES, AND THUS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY LEARNING. IWSE'S FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM ADDRESSES THESE NEEDS BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES THAT INCLUDE WEEKLY HOME VISITS, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT FROM OUR TRAINED STAFF. PARENTS ALSO ATTEND MONTHLY SOCIALIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT PARENTING AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING WITH OTHER FAMILIES. IWSE USES THE RESEARCH-BASED BABY TALK CURRICULUM DURING OUR WORK WITH FAMILIES.