The US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families has granted the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph $850,000 as part of the Early Head Start Childcare Partnership Grant.

This grant will fund a partnership between the organization’s Early Head Start program and local childcare providers, La Petite Academy and the YWCA, to serve 48 additional children in St. Joseph, MO.

This will be the first time the Early Head Start program is able to offer full day and full week services for low income families in this area.

To be eligible for the free service parents will be required to be in school or working at 20 hours a week. Given the limited options for childcare assistance to low-income families this partnership is immensely needed in the community.

“No parents should have to choose between going to work or ensuring their child is cared for,” Whitney Lanning, Director of Early Childhood Programs for the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph said.

Lanning also said this grant will be beneficial to the entire community by elevating the quality of care in both partnering centers.

“Dividing these paid slots at both partner centers will improve their quality of care from a funding standpoint along with them following Early Head Start standards to monitor the health, mental health, nutrition and development of each child there,” she said.