Prepared March 2010
STATISTICS and TRENDS
2009 Statistics
1,299 children were enrolled in the following six child care centers (934 families):
n The Cornerstone, 345 N. Broadway *
n Arlene B. Walter, 338 Hartung Street *
n Bellin Center, 2589 S. Webster Avenue
n The Rosebush, 1275 University Avenue *
n De Pere Center, 2000 Lawrence Dr., De Pere *
n Carol B. Bush Center, 500 Pine Street
(* Sliding fee available through United Way and Encompass Early Education and Care funding)
- Increased diversity is recognized throughout the agency. On any given day, approximately 33% of the children cared for at these 6 centers are not white, Caucasian. (2009 actual: American Indian - 52, Asian - 24,
black- 155, Hispanic - 150, Hawaiian - 1)
- 49% of children served were from single parent families.
- 104 of these children had identifiable special needs.
- 39 additional children were referred for Early Childhood Special Education Services.
- 466 children or 36% qualified for free meals through USDA and 111 or 9% qualified for reduced meals.
- 236 families grossed less than $25,000.
- Added to these figures, 110 families received food stamps.
- 15 teen parents received care for their children.
- 39 homeless children received care at Encompass during 2009.
- In addition to the above, 176 children attended the Encompass nursery school program, Children's Day Out.
Employee Statistics:
- 174 staff are employed at Encompass Early Education & Care, Inc. 127 of these are teachers.
- 3 employees have their Master's Degree, 68 Bachelor's Degree and 20
Associate's Degree.
Current Trends:
- Six of the Encompass centers are Nationally Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
- Encompass partners with the Green Bay Area Public Schools at The Cornerstone and The Rosebush centers and the School District of West De Pere at the De Pere center to provide 4 Year Old Kindergarten. Encompass also has two private 4K programs at the Carol Bush and Bellin Centers.
- Through funding from Schreiber Foods, Inc. and in collaboration with NEW Community Clinic and Bellin Health, Encompass provides children access to a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at two of the Encompass locations.
- Wisconsin Shares, the federal and state program that helps subsidize the cost of child care for low-income families, is facing severe deficits. Policy changes have significantly impacted families trying to afford quality care for their children.
- The state of Wisconsin recently announced that it is proposing a five-star quality rating and imporvement scale for child care providers called "YoungStar"l Children who participate in quality early childhood programs get a strong start in education and development. This may be linked to WI Shares funding.
- Due to on-going research, national attention is increasingly being drawn to the importance of the early years. A national movement to recognize the importance of early brain development and the impact of the first five years on future academic success
- Parents are working different shifts and piecing together other care arrangements to minimize the cost for child care. Families require more flexible child care arrangements.
- More children are exhibiting behaviors which indicate a need for referrals, special programs, small group sizes, medical care plans, etc.
- Middle-income families cannot afford the cost of quality care and often need to choose sub-standard care options.
- Need for under age 2 care continues to increase but is the most costly care to provide and many parents cannot afford it.
- Encompass has seen more families who are transient in nature.
- Employers increasingly recognize the need for family friendly workplace policies. However, few employers are committed to subsidizing the cost of child care for their employees.
- Child care centers are being looked at nationally as an ideal place to offer support to parents through the "Strengthening Families" Program.
A United Way Member Agency |
Prepared March 2010
