Area pre-schoolers get a boost

Despite an economy still in recovery, preschool education will be extended to many families in need thanks to an additional allocation of funds from the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board.

The board, a state agency, oversees the First Things First initiative passed by voters in November 2006 that set aside funds for programs for children from birth to five years old, according to Gary Arnold, regional manager of the Yuma Regional Partnership Council. The funds are supported solely by an additional tax on tobacco products so there is no burden on taxpayers, Arnold said.

"The importance of the message we want to get out is child care scholarships will continue because the council recognizes that the economy hasn't improved markedly and working families are still in need of support."

First Things First recently allocated an additional $500,000 that will provide child care scholarships at licensed group and in-home day-care centers in Yuma for another 215 children covering their expenses through June, Arnold said.

Original funds of $936,276 allocated to First Things First last spring are expected to run out in January, Arnold explained. Those funds already have supported 450 scholarships for preschool, which was to compensate for the cuts to subsidies provided by the state, Arnold said.

"So these were emergency scholarships intended to assist families who were no longer receiving support from the Department of Economic Security."

There have been several cuts to DES in the last six months, Arnold noted. The initial $900,000 was to improve the financial gap left by the DES changing the formula that determines who is eligible for child care.

The formula is calculated based on an individual's income and other criteria. The scholarships are targeted for families at or slightly above the federal poverty level, which is $22,000 for a family of four, Arnold said.

"Scholarships are intended for families truly struggling at the end of the economic ladder."

Rosalie Ramirez, First Things First regional coordinator, said the Regional Council is concerned with the overall welfare of families receiving services.

"If a family can't afford preschool, many parents may have to quit their jobs to stay at home with their kids and then they no longer provide that needed extra household income."

At a recent Regional Council meeting, a child care center director also pointed out that without additional support for scholarships, many families may be forced back on a waiting list to get their children into preschool, said Ramirez.

Their major concern is the safety of the children, Arnold stressed.

"Where would they go? We're concerned that children aren't in quality environments with organized activities supervised by certified early childhood professionals."

Melissa Martinez, a single mother of a 5-year-old son who attends a Yuma preschool, said she was "one of the lucky ones" whose child got a scholarship. Martinez said because of the scholarship, she was able to save her house which was going into foreclosure. Instead having to pay for preschool she was able to get her finances back on track and keep her home.

Since each of the state's 31 councils gets an allocation of funds,  they plan strategies that meet the needs of local communities. Arnold said. The Regional Council is comprised of 11 volunteers including health professionals, early childhood educators, parents, theologians, school administrators, a philanthropist, businessmen, and a tribal government leader.

In addition, each Regional Council also receives substantial funding annually from the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board to expand pre-school access based on a formula calculated from tobacco tax revenue and a community's population.

Recently, the Regional Council provided another 80 slots for preschool at four public school districts including Yuma Elementary School District 1, Crane, Somerton and Harvest Preparatory School in San Luis. Without this support, parents must pay for it out-of-pocket because Arizona does not mandate preschool education, Arnold noted.

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.