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Last week's presentation was by Amber Wood from SAL Community Services. SAL Community Services is a nonprofit organization based in Moline, IL. The agency was founded in 1970 as Skip-a-Long Daycare by a group called the "Concerned Citizens," who saw a need to establish quality care for children of families who could not afford the full cost of high quality early care and education programs in the Quad Cities. Skip-a-Long became one of the first centers to offer care for infants in the region, and partnered with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to offer care on a sliding fee scale so high quality care was accessible and affordable for all families, regardless of financial needs. 
SAL Community Services (SAL) believes that when all children have the chance to learn and grow with high quality early care and education, we all benefit. When people have the support and resources needed to weather life's storms, our community is stronger. We know well-being is built throughout a lifetime, much like a house is built and maintained over many years. SAL establishes strong foundations for lifelong development with high quality early care and education, while training and support for early education professionals provides the materials needed to strengthen well-being at all stages of life. Emergency funds and connections to community partners make sure everyone has support in times of crisis. They work with children ages six weeks to 12 years old in five separate early care and education centers, they support families and adults by providing for immediate needs at their two crisis assistance centers, and they consult with and train child care professionals in centers and homes throughout the region to ensure our communities remain vibrant places for all who live here. Their Programs: - Skip-a-Long Childhood Centers are dedicated to making sure every child is prepared for success in school and in life. Five campuses in Davenport, IA, Milan, IL, Moline, IL and Rock Island, IL serve nearly 800 children ages six weeks to 12 years old every day.
- The Home Child Care Network (HCCN) was started in 1996 to support families needing non-traditional hours of child care (1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts, weekends, holidays). HCCN works with licensed family child care providers to offer free support, supplies, and training resources so children in a home setting receive the same high quality care as children in center-based programs.
- Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships (EHS CCP) is a new program to SAL as of 2021. This federally funded grant program provides comprehensive services to low-income children and families.
- Open Door, a crisis assistance program founded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in 2009, works to stabilize individuals and families experiencing crises. The program has an office located next door to the Rock Island, IL Skip-a-Long center which serves Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties, and an office inside Friendly House in Davenport, IA that specializes in working with victims and witnesses of crime.
- SAL Child Care Connection (SALCCC) and Child Care Resource and Referral of Midwestern Illinois (CCRR) are "sister programs" funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services to support families needing quality, affordable child care and to assist licensed and license-exempt child care centers and homes in Illinois with meeting quality standards.
Amber provided a lot of good information. Thank you, Amber! Please visit their website by clicking here to learn more, to get involved, or to donate. |
During each month, Rotarians can earn tickets that go into a jar. One ticket for every time you participate in a club service project, two tickets for each guest, five tickets if you sponsor a new member. During the last meeting of the month, we pull a name and give the card.
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