$48k grant will support educational program at TCC child development centers

The grant was one of seven awarded by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation during its second round of community grant funding for 2015.

“The YWCA South Hampton Roads is committed to quality and ensuring children a successful start to school,” said Leah E. Williams, interim chief development officer. “This funding will enable us to use a research-based, child-focused curriculum and assessment tool to prepare children socially, emotionally and academically for kindergarten.”

TCC partners with YWCA South Hampton Roads to provide full- and part-time care to children as young as 2½ who are potty trained. After-school and summer programs are offered for children through age 12. Care is provided from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays by qualified YWCA staff in a secure and fun environment. Fees are on an income-based sliding scale. (For information, visit www.tcc.edu/childcare.)

Improving support for TCC students who are also parents has been a priority for President Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani. “I know what it’s like to juggle family and school,” she said. “Our child development centers are one more example of how TCC supports its students by providing a valuable resource.

The partnership with YWCA also furthers TCC’s efforts to increase the quality of child care in the region by working with agencies to pursue the State’s Quality Rating Improvement System. The initiative is the outgrowth of Smart Beginnings of South Hampton Roads, now E3 – Elevate Early Education. TCC is in the second year of implementing a regional grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services to achieve this goal.