Using just over $200,000 in grant funding from a Community Development Block Grant, Sneedville and Hancock County now have access to before and after-school childcare for children ranging from 6 weeks to 12 years of age.
The project, led by Jennifer Greene, originated from the community's needs and her vision. After purchasing a former Frontier Health facility in Sneedville, Greene has worked tirelessly to launch A Step Ahead Childcare & Learning Academy. The Academy will eventually serve 24 children, with five full-time employees.
All of Greene's employees are enrolled in the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance or TECA program, which trains workers and counts towards an associate degree in child development. Each chooses either a business or education track. To date, half the staff have enrolled, and are now working with Walter State Community College towards credit hours. After six months, employees can also be enrolled in the WAGE$ program, which provides education-based salary supplements to offset the cost. A Step Ahead has also utilized Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds to offset the wages of three employees for up to 400 hours.
A Step Ahead is also working with Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) personnel to serve toddlers on-site with developmental delays. The TEIS personnel currently provide weekly services for two students enrolled in the program. Another creative partnership with the Hancock County High School Career and Technical Education program offers volunteer hours for students in dual enrollment courses.
The Academy has developed a partnership with Frontier Health to fully support families. Using Frontier's mental health and substance use grant funds, qualifying parents who enroll a child in the Academy receive one year of free services. In conjunction with childcare, this program creates a plan for counseling and job placement, which is changing lives in Hancock County.
This project is a demonstration of the creative and broad array of services that are being deployed across the region by a variety of stakeholders to address childcare. It is also emblematic of the Development District's commitment in serving communities as they work to address this region-wide economic development issue.
For questions about CDBG-CV grants or the resources you might need to launch a similar project, please contact Geneva King, gking@ftdd.org.
For questions about this or other District News, contact Mark Stevans, mstevans@ftdd.org.
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