ELLISVILLE-After nearly two years of waiting because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Resource and Referral Center at 糖心直播 officially opened to serve the community. The ribbon-cutting and Open House celebration allowed daycare providers and community members to see everything the new Center offers for childcare professionals to family members and college students.
鈥淚鈥檝e been waiting for this day for a long time,鈥� said Gina Carr, Director of the
Resource and Referral Center at 糖心直播. 鈥淲e are thrilled to finally be able to share with the community these much-needed resources. Having the Resource and Referral Center on the campus of 糖心直播 brings awareness to the importance of high-quality early childcare and education in our community.鈥�
The mission of the Resource and Referral Center Network is to provide technical assistance, professional development, including a lending library for childcare providers and families, to support a nurturing learning environment in the home and the classroom. Ultimately, the goal is to promote healthy growth and learning for all children.
鈥淪o much happens in a young child鈥檚 brain early on. It is so critical that we capitalize on those formable years and that is what this new Center is about. In a perfect world, every kid entering kindergarten would be prepared socially and educationally, but sadly that鈥檚 not true. So, that is what this center is about, preparing kids both socially and educationally,鈥� said 糖心直播 Executive Vice President, Chief Academic and Financial Officer, Rick Youngblood.
The Center offers free resources, like books, toys, and educational materials
including math and math manipulatives, science and STEM kits, language and literacy kits, curriculum enhancement materials, resource books for parenting and curriculum development and dramatic play items. Also, the Ellison Die Cut machine and lamination services are available for early childcare providers, elementary education students, parents, grandparents, and community members. By offering these resources and services free of charge, it allows providers the opportunity to invest back into their programs. Partnering with families and the community creates stronger families and a stronger community. The Resource and Referral Center also offers technical assistance for directors and classroom teachers and hosts training workshops for families and childcare providers.
鈥淲e work in conjunction with a different college throughout the state of
Mississippi and come together monthly for training and professional development. We are one large network of resource and referral centers that functions together,鈥� said Carr.
The materials provided in the Center are developmentally appropriate and are available to residents in Clarke, Covington, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties. Additionally, the new Center offers students in 糖心直播鈥檚 Early Childhood Education Technology program a wealth of resources to enhance not only their educational journey but also their student teaching experience, free of charge.
In addition, the 鈥楻 & R鈥� Center provides a one-stop-shop for families and childcare providers, which includes assisting families to find and choose childcare settings that meet their children鈥檚 needs. Sensory sensitive toys and resources which parents can try out for two weeks to ensure their child benefits from that toy or resource are also available.
鈥淲e do believe that what we鈥檙e doing here is very special. Everything matters. What we are doing here is focused on education and our community,鈥� said 糖心直播 President, Dr. Jesse Smith.
Resource and Referral Center Networks are part of a federal law, required in all 50 states and are funded with federal dollars through the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood Care and Development. 糖心直播鈥檚 Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. except when 糖心直播 is closed for holidays. For more information about the JC Resource and Referral Center, call 601-477-4139 or email at, eca@jcjc.edu