Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Children's Friend, a multi-faceted social service agency that focuses on early childhood development, has won a $7 million federal grant to run the Head Start program for about 1,100 children from low-income families in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln and Cumberland.

The federal government suspended funding to the former Providence Head Start nearly 19 months ago and sent in a Denver-based agency to provide interim services in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls until a new local provider could be selected.

David Caprio, executive director of Children's Friend, said that the addition of the Head Start program for children age 3-5, will enable the agency to extend the comprehensive services it already provides to pregnant parents and families of children from birth to 3 through its Early Head Start program in Providence and Central Falls.

Head Start will provide a classroom-based preschool for children that promotes social and emotional development as well as literacy and math skills, access to workforce development opportunities for the children's parents, and additional family supports and resources through "Centers of Excellence" in neighborhoods throughout Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls, according to Caprio.

The comprehensive services include health, dental, mental health and nutrition services to the children served by the agency.Head Start classroom teachers and nurses will make home visits, he said.

 Tags  Central Falls Cumberland Head Start Lincoln RI Pawtucket Providence RI

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