Tarrant County YWCA adds Early Head Start classes

July 9,2015

BY DIANE SMITH
dianesmith@star-telegram.com

Children aren’t just having fun when they play with blocks.

When they carry blocks, stack them, and build “bridges and boats,” the little ones are also learning.

“They are using their creativity,” said Linda Winkelman, child development program director for the YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County. “There is built-in math.”

Three child development centers operated by the Tarrant County YWCA are creating more opportunities like these for society’s youngest and most vulnerable learners. The centers, which serve more than 600 children a year, are rolling out Early Head Start classes in downtown Fort Worth, the Polytechnic Heights neighborhood and Arlington.

The local YWCA was selected by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department’s Administration for Children and Families to expand high-quality learning programs for infants and toddlers through Early Head Start.

A $900,000 grant from Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships will pay for the programs. The five-year funding is part of a federal initiative to expand access to Early Head Start nationwide, said Carol Klocek, CEO of the YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County.

Klocek said the program will better prepare children for kindergarten by heading off learning gaps.

“Children who grow up in extreme poverty — that can have a lifelong impact on their physical and intellectual development,” Klocek said. “It’s vitally important that children not only have educational stimulation in those early years but also that we are able to mitigate the impact of the toxic stress of poverty.”

Early Head Start is a comprehensive learning program for youngsters up to age 3 whose families are struggling with poverty. Homelessness and household incomes will be among the criteria used to fill the 72 slots available through the YWCA.

With the grant, the YWCA will also get more training for teachers and hire advocates to help address family needs.

Klocek said a nurturing, one-on-one environment with educational experiences will help children develop their brains to their full potential while increasing their sense of safety.

Pamela Lozano, who has 2- and 3-year-old boys in the Arlington program, said she is excited about the focus on learning. Her 2-year-old, Noe, is eager to share his knowledge at home.

“He is very interested and excited when we come to day care — for him, it is school,” Lozano said. “They learn something new every day. They always come home with something great. I think it’s going to be a great program.”

Diane Smith, 817-390-7675

Twitter: @dianeasmith1

A CLOSER LOOK
▪ The YWCA Fort Worth & Tarrant County is rolling out Early Head Start for youngsters six weeks to 36 months through a partnership with the federal government. The program is aimed at helping children from homeless or low-income families. The Early Head Start classes will be added to the nonprofit’s child development centers.

▪ To find out more about the program, contact the YWCA child development centers:

▪ Rosie K. Mauk, 512 W. Fourth St., downtown Fort Worth: 817-484-1560

▪ Polytechnic Family Center, 3401 Ave. I, Fort Worth: 817-536-1731

▪ Arlington Child Development Center, 1120 UTA Blvd., Arlington: 817-262-5910

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article26683900.html#storylink=cpy