Children's Home and Aid, a Bloomington-based social service education agency for young, at-risk children, is getting more $577,000 from the Illinois Board of Education to add and expand services.
CHA Regional Vice President Lisa Pieper says the funds will allow her to add as many as 11 full time equivalent teachers and social workers, since enrollment in both pre school and early childhood will increase by 79 kids.
"We'll be able to serve a lot more families with young children, and a lot more families with children who are ready to come to a pre-K program, and have that sort of experience," said Pieper.
CHA's early start program will shift its 40 kids to full-day care and add 20 more. The pre-school program will grow from 16 to 75 children. Pieper says she's overjoyed by the expansion, especially since the state has forced program reductions and some staffing changes due to recent budget cuts.
"To get some good news for a change, that actually equates to really good things for children and their families, happy doesn't even begin to describe how I feel," she added.
The funding breaks down to $277,150 for the early start program, which includes children from birth to three years old. The pre-school for all section will receive $300,184.
