Storyteller Childrens Center Inc

STORYTELLER CHILDRENS CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS AND AT RISK CHILDREN, AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THESE FAMILIES FALL WELL BELOW THE POVERTY GUIDELINES AND ARE LIVING IN SHELTERS, CARS OR IN MULTIPLE FAMILY ENVIRONMENTS, AND NEARLY HALF OF STORYTELLER CHILDREN HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS DUE TO THEIR TRAUMATIC EARLY LIFE EXPERIENCES. STORYTELLERS THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO SCHOOL READINESS INVOLVES THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS AND THE CHILD. OUR GOALS ARE FOR CHILDREN TO BE PREPARED TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN, THEIR FAMILIES ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDS LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE TRAINED AS BEST IN CLASS AND ABLE TO BE EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC EDUCATORS. OUR SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF ALL DAY SERVICES INCLUDES EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING, 2.5 HEALTHY MEALS A DAY, AND MEDICAL SCREENINGS FOR OUR CHILDREN; PARENT EDUCATIONS CLASSES, HOME VISIT

STORYTELLERS CA STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM: STORYTELLER RECEIVES FUNDING FOR 20 CHILDREN TO ATTEND A FULL-DAY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AT STORYTELLER CHILDRENS CENTER. THE MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN MUST BE 4 YEARS OF AGE BEFORE THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS ON JULY 1. A MINORITY NUMBER OF 3 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED. THE FUNDING RECEIVED FROM CSPP COVERS APPROXIMATELY 2/3 OF STORYTELLERS COST TO PROVIDE THE PROGRAM, AND THE BALANCE IS COVERED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN IN THE CSPP CLASSROOM FALL BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, HOWEVER CSPP ALLOWS FAMILIES TO PAY A SMALL PRORATED FAMILY FEE TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM IF THEY EARN ABOVE POVERTY WAGES. CHILDREN IN THE CSPP RECEIVE ALL THE THERAPEUTIC AND PROGRAM BENEFITS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE O OF THIS DOCUMENT.

STORYTELLERS HEAD START PROGRAM: STORYTELLER RECEIVES HEAD START FUNDING THROUGH CAC FOR 20 CHILDREN TO ATTEND A FULL-DAY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AT STORYTELLER CHILDRENS CENTER. THE MAJORITY OF THE CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM ARE 4-TURNING- 5 YEARS OLD, WITH SOME 3 YEAR OLDS PERMITTED TO ATTEND. THE FUNDING RECEIVED FROM HEAD START COVERS APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF STORYTELLERS COST TO PROVIDE THE PROGRAM, AND THE BALANCE IS COVERED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN IN THE HEAD START CLASSROOM FALL BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. CHILDREN IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM RECEIVE ALL THE THERAPEUTIC AND PROGRAM BENEFITS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE O OF THIS DOCUMENT.

THE STORYTELLER STEPS AND TODDLER PROGRAMS: STORYTELLER HAS TWO ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. CHILDREN CAN START AT STORYTELLER AS YOUNG AS 18 MONTHS AND ENTER THE TODDLER ROOM WHERE THEY RECEIVE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS TO SUIT EACH CHILDS NEEDS WITH A TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO OF 1:6. WHEN A CHILD TURNS 3 YEARS OLD IN THE TODDLER PROGRAM, HE/SHE IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO BE IN THE SAME CLASSROOM OR PLAY SPACE AS THE YOUNGER CHILDREN AND IS PROMOTED TO THE STORYTELLER STEPS PROGRAM OR TO HEAD START OR CSPP. CHILDREN STAY IN THE STORYTELLER STEPS PROGRAM FOR UP TO A YEAR OR TWO AND ARE MOVED TO A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM WHEN THEY QUALIFY BY AGE. STORYTELLER SERVES 16 CHILDREN IN THESE PROGRAMS. THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES OF THE CHILDREN IN THE TODDLER AND STEPS PROGRAMS FALL BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, HOWEVER STORYTELLER ASKS FAMILIES TO PAY A SMALL PRORATED FAMILY FEE TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM IF THEY EARN ABOVE POVERTY WAGES. STORYTELLER RELIES ON PRIVATE DONATIONS TO COVER THE COST OF THESE PROGRAMS. CHILDREN IN THESE PROGRAMS RECEIVE ALL THE THERAPEUTIC AND PROGRAM BENEFITS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE O OF THIS DOCUMENT.