| Community support makes tuition assistance possible |
Several studies show that children who participate in out-
of-school time programs like Kids Co. are more engaged
in learning and achieve higher academic performance in
school. We also know that participation in high-quality
afterschool programs with caring adult supervision keeps
kids safe and provides healthy alternatives to risky
behavior.
At Kids Co., we believe all families should have access
to high-quality care for their children during the 80% of
the time they are not in school. That is why we provide
tuition assistance to 40% of the 400 children we serve
each year.
Here are two recent examples of how your donated
dollars are making a difference in the lives of parents and
children.
- A single, working mother of two was in need of child
care for the very first time. Her husband, who retired
from work with a disability, was home for his children
each day after school. Sadly, he recently passed
away, leaving a gaping hole in the family and a serious
financial crunch.
Her income is just high enough to make her ineligible
for a DSHS child care subsidy. And while eligible for
assistance from the City of Seattle, sheÕll be on a
waiting list for at least one year.
Fortunately, Kids Co. is able to help during this time
of great transition and need. Both of her children will
attend one of our centers at no charge for the month of
July. Then, through December 2006 she will only have
to pay 25% of our regular tuition. Her kids will have
the stability provided by our caring staff and enriching
programming, while sheÕll be able to work, knowing
they are in a safe, enriching environment.
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- A husband and wife have three children, one of whom
recently began attending full-day preschool at one of
our centers. This little tykeÕs first three years of life
have included open-heart surgery, as well as other
ongoing medical issues.
Mom had quit her full-time job to stay home and
provide care, until now, as mom and dad want their
child to be able to interact with other children, develop
social skills and build a foundation for success in
school.
As you could imagine, medical bills have really taken
their toll, with only one parent working for three
years. While mom is now working part-time, she
is seeking better full-time employment. We have
arranged for the family to pay 25% of the regular cost
of full-day preschool for three months. Then in three-
month intervals, they will gradually pay more, until
March 2007, when they will pay 85% of our standard
preschool rate. We hope that by then, the family will
be on stronger financial footing.
Requests for Kids Co. "special-case subsidies" are
considered on a case-by-case basis. At the end of the
agreed-upon subsidy period, we have an evaluation
process to determine if assistance is still needed. We
also ask that during the subsidy period, parents keep us
informed of any changes that may impact their situation.
The ongoing support weÕve received from the community
makes this possible. Thank you so much!
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