Head Start in Alton to receive $460,197 federal grant - Breaking news - Belleville News-Democrat

Quoted from http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/840770.html:

Head Start in Alton to receive $460,197 federal grant - Breaking news - Belleville News-Democrat

 

Yes, the state budget affects RHSFS.

Many friends of Riverbend Head Start & Family Services have been wondering if our programs are affected by the proposed state budget. Because our Head Start program is federally funded, it is not affected by the state budget, but Head Start is only one of our three programs. The other two, Family Foundations and Transitions Counseling both face new challenges in regard to the budget.

We just gave fifteen Family Foundations case managers thirty-days notice that their program might not continue and the 200 high risk infants and toddlers they work with may lose our early intervention services. Family Foundations is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education's Early Childhood Education Block Grant with a goal to reduce factors such as abuse and neglect that cause academic failure. This program is voluntary. Parents choose to participate because they want to improve their families' lives.

We also just told our mental health therapists that the Department of Children and Family services cancelled our counseling contract for over fifty low-income children and adults. These are children and their foster parents, many of whom have been physically or sexually abused.

For more information about the state budget, visit www.il.gov.

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is only one of countless agencies and programs that will be affected by the budget cuts. If you disagree with balancing the budget on the backs of underserved children and adults, please contact your legislators. Find out who they are at http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1.

Viva los Ryries! A Fiesta to Care About

View Pictures of the Event

Sombreros and festive music welcomed friends, family and local community members during the Riverbend Head Start & Family Services 2009 Circle of Care award dinner in honor of Ed and Nancy Ryrie May 21.

Their dedication to community service was celebrated during the event.The RHSFS award honors those who have exemplified the spirit of caring in the community through their profession, volunteerism or philanthropy.

The Ryries and the theme, Viva los Ryries! A Fiesta to Care About, which reflected the couples’ outgoing demeanor, brought 270 people to the event. Guests mingled with the honorees before and during the Mexican-style dinner.

The couple was roasted by loved ones who shared stories that unveiled inside jokes and even embarrassing moments. Ed’s sisters revealed some wardrobe choices they forced upon him at a young age while Nancy’s children mocked her fanny pack days.

Riverbend Head Start and Family Services is a non-profit on a mission to enable children and families to discover positive solutions to life’s challenges. Circle of Care, an event in its 16th year, is an annual benefit for the agency. The money raised is used for the agency's programs which teach children, strengthen families and enhance communities.

The Ryries thanked participants who planned the event and made it a success. They were thankful for the community’s involvement and extremely pleased with the outcome, which benefited Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, an agency the couple has devoted countless hours to, over many years.

My Daddy

Is there anything more powerful that a father-figure? Erica, Lord Tyriq, Brandon Jr. and Seth - the Head Start preschoolers in these pictures - don't think so. Their dads came to their preschool today for Men's Day.

Sherman and Erica carefully selected colors with which to draw. Lord Tyriq and Loren pored over a puzzle with a little help from Melissa Morgan, the Teacher Assistant. Brandon was intent on teaching Brandon Jr. how to use his scissors and cut precisely – and safely – along the lines; and Seth and Greg were thrilled to assemble a model race car. The dads pictured here are special people. They took time out for their kids and worked right along-side them to create something – in kid-sized chairs no less!

"Seth wants me to come to school everyday now," said Greg, “I wish I could.” The boys took great care not to get the blue paint everywhere. Fortunately, it was washable paint!

The teachers at the Essic Robinson Head Start center in Alton, Illinois try hard to recognize dads and other father figures who are actively involved in a child's life. They try even harder to make sure that men know what a crucial impact they can have on their child's development into a wonderful person.

Like many others, these dads see a better future through their children. They want what every parent wants, children who can make a positive difference in the world. They also know that education is the way to make that happen. That's why they came to Men's Day and showed their children that they value education. And that's why Erica, Lord Tyriq, Brandon Jr. and Seth were the luckiest kids in the world today.

Head Start is the nation's longest-running school readiness program for qualifying families and is enrolling for fall right now. It emphasizes parent involvement as much as early childhood education and health care in order to prepare little kids to succeed in kindergarten.

Call 618/463-5947 to see if your family qualifies for FREE preschool at Head Start.

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services is one of 2,500 Head Start programs in the country strengthening families and reducing the effects of factors that put children at-risk of starting Kindergarten behind their peers.

http://www.riverbendfamilies.org/headstart.shtm

You Light Up Many Lives

Thank you for visiting Rock Springs Park in Alton, Illinois during the 2008 holiday season. The spectacular light display is an annual tradition for thousands of families and reaps rewards greater than you can imagine.

Your donation to Christmas Wonderland, Inc., made after you drove into the forested park, over the illuminated bridge tunnel and up to the volunteer at the entrance, translated into achieving our mission.

We are on a mission to enable children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges. One way is through solution-focused therapy at our Transitions Counseling program, a quiet professional service for families in our community who face challenges in life.

Christmas Wonderland, Inc. just gave Transitions Counseling a $500 donation. That donation came directly from yours. Thank you so much!

Brett Stawar, board member of Christmas Wonderland, Inc. and President/CEO of the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau said, "We wanted to donate much of the proceeds to local charities this year. The board approved the recommendations a couple of weeks ago...and Transitions was on the list!"

Donations like yours and grants from the United Way of Greater St. Louis and Alton Woman’s Home Association enable us to subsidize the counseling fees of nearly 500 low-income clients each year. By helping them develop skills to meet life’s challenges, we join you and Christmas Wonderland, Inc. in serving our community. Youth stay in school, adults continue to work and raise healthy families and our community maintains its vibrancy.

Thanks again for supporting Christmas Wonderland. We hope next year's lights shine even brighter for you.

Are you in there?

The good work of our staff, board, volunteers, community partners and, especially, our clients is in our latest issue of Riverbend Families, a community newsletter.

Are you in it?

If you aren't, someone you know probably is. Read it now.