San Jose Grail Family Services

PARTNERS WITH FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE CHILDREN'S SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING.

EXPANSION OF STATE-SUBSIDIZED CHILDCARE FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERSWE CONTINUE TO OEPRATE TWO, PART DAY STATE FUNDED PRESCHOOLS WITH CAPCITY FOR 96 CHILDREN. IN JULY 2022, WE RECEIVED STATE FUNDING TO LAUNCH A FULL-DAY, FULL-YEAR INFANT/TODDLER CHILDCARE PROGRAM. WE RECRUITED SIX LINCESE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND LAUNCHED OUR INFANT CARE PROGRAM. WE RENOVATED AND LICENSED A TODDLER CENTER AT OUR EXISTING LOCATION (18-35 MONTHS OLD) WHOSE PARENTS QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED CARE. THE RENOVATIONS INCLUDED FULLY EQUIPPED, AGE-APPROPRIATE BATHROOMS, A FOOD PREPARATION AREA, A SMALL OFFICE, AND AN OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE, ALONG WITH A CLASSROOM FOR TEACHER TRAINING. WE ALSO PLACE AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT INFANTS WITH PROVIDERS IN OUR NETWORK OF LICENSED FAMILY CHILDCARE HOMES. THESE CHILDREN WILL EVENTUALLY TRANSITION TO THE TODDLER CENTER AND THEN TO OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS, GIVING FAMILIES A STABLE AND SMOOTH TRANSITION AS THEY NAVIGATE THE CONTINUUM OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES.

GRADUATED A SECOND COHORT OF THE JOBS TO GROW UPWARD MOBILITY INITIATIVEAS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION FOR THE SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE'S JOBS TO GROW INITIATIVE, WE GRADUATED A SECOND COHORT OF THIS THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM FUNDED BY MOBILITY LABS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING/COACHING, GOAL-SETTING, BUSINESS SKILLS TRAINING, AND MINI-GRANTS TO HELP EASTSIDE RESIDENTS START OR EXPAND A FORMAL OR INFORMAL CHILDCARE BUSINESS. THIS INNOVATIVE PILOT WILL HELP JUMP START THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF LOW-INCOME ENTREPRENEURS WHO FACE EVEN GREATER CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS SUCCESS AFTER THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF COVID. BY HELPING CREATE, STABILIZE, OR EXPAND FAMILY CHILDCARE BUSINESSES, GFS IS ADDRESSING THE URGENT DEMAND FOR QUALITY CHILDCARE OUTSIDE THE HOME AS PARENTS RETURN TO WORK.

EXPANDED OUR FAMILY MATH PROJECT TO ADDITIONAL SITESGFS IS ENGAGED WITH EARLY MATH RESEARCHERS FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY, BOSTON COLLEGE, AND NYU IN A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP AND TEST TOOLS THAT IMPROVE PRE-K TEACHERS' UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO USE FAMILY STRENGTHS TO IMPROVE MATH LEARNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. THIS IS PART OF A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE HOME-SCHOOL CONNECTION AROUND EARLY MATH WITH TEACHERS AND PARENTS AS TRUE COLLABORATORS. LAST YEAR THE PROGRAM WAS PILOTED IN OUR STATE-FUNDED PRESCHOOLS. IN 2022, WE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO ADDITIONAL SITES IN EAST SAN JOSE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN JUAN BAUTISTA (SJB) CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.