$35 Million Awarded to Early Head Start Child Care Partnership in Detroit
DETROIT, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Matrix Human Services (Matrix), a 109-year-old nonprofit organization in Detroit, has been awarded $35 Million over the next five years from the Federal Government (Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families) to expand Early Head Start funding and services to Detroit children under the age of four. This new and innovative program will integrate the financial and program support of two Federal programs, Early Head Start (DHS-ACF) and Office of Child Care (DHS-ACF) to improve the quality of infant and toddler child care for children in low income families.
Matrix is leading the Detroit Early Head Start Child Partnership (Detroit Partnership) with valued partners that include New St. Paul Tabernacle Head Start, Northeast Guidance Center, Children's Aid Society, First Children's Finance and more than 25 Detroit day care centers/family homes.
Responding to the community's need for increased quality child care capacity, the Detroit Partnership will provide year-round Early Head Start (EHS) services for 360 children and their families in five regions of Detroit: Southwest, Central-Downtown, West, Northeast and East Detroit. Key components include family engagement and a standard of care, Transition To Success™ that treats poverty with a comprehensive approach to care; individualized planning for children and parents and rigorous training, evaluation and data-driven quality assurance.
"The most important lifelong gift we can give to our children is to provide the support their parents need to move out of poverty. What differentiates Matrix Head Start and all Matrix programs is our Transition to Success™ platform designed to coordinate all services across our community to improve health and economic self-sufficiency outcomes for children and their families," said Dr. Marcella Wilson, President and CEO of Matrix Human Services.
Transition to Success™ coordinates care for basic needs, literacy, getting an education (including GED and higher education for parents), financial literacy and volunteerism, all key components for self-sufficiency. The Head Start grant supports our innovative program that includes individualized instruction, multicultural environment, bilingual classrooms (English, Spanish and Arabic), services to children with special needs and events that connect families to resources including food, education and health services throughout the community.
"The best way to improve health and educational outcomes for our children is to improve the health and economic self-sufficiency of their parents. We provide children and families with shelter, nutrition, education and a comprehensive support system that maximizes all services available across the community," Wilson continues.
"Matrix securing this grant is essential to continuing and expanding the services all of the community partners in this initiative provide with the goal of strengthening early childhood education in Detroit's underserved communities. The early childhood programs positively impact children's behavior through enhancing social and literacy skills that promote enhanced nodal developmental behaviors and family enrichment. These preventive measures help head off more severe mental health needs and behavioral problems. Mental wellness early intervention educational programs provide a framework for children to become better learners in their early childhood years," stated Sherry McRill, President and CEO of Northeast Guidance Center, a Matrix community partner. "We are thrilled to play a significant role in the Matrix program early childhood grant to ensure that all children, no matter the economic or social background, will have access to these life-enhancing services," McRill concludes.
This award requires that fundraising efforts begin immediately to raise substantial private funds and in-kind donations totaling $10 Million over the next five years.
About Matrix Human Services
Matrix Human Services is a Detroit-based nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3, social service organization offering a range of programs devoted to maintaining and supporting the family unit and improving the quality of life for individuals of all ages. Serving the community for 109 years, our mission is to fight generational poverty. Matrix offers positive life experiences, assistance with basic needs, education and supportive services that defuses crisis, treat individual & family problems, prevent abuse and neglect or criminal activities. All programs are rooted in the Transition to Success Model™ (TTS™) providing a system of care designed to empower families and individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Matrix is currently seeking professionals to add to their dynamic team. Visit www.matrixhumanservices.org to learn more.
About Matrix Head Start
Matrix Head Start (MHS) currently provides services across Detroit and is the largest Head Start provider in the city. Operating from multiple program sites, Matrix Head Start provides high-quality, comprehensive services. In 2014-2015 enrollment will increase to 1,927 with 28 Early Head Start and Head Start Centers to serve children birth to five.
SOURCE Matrix Human Services
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