| |
Carole Robertson Center for Learning Programs | ||
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| historysuccess stories locations volunteer opportunitiesemployment opportunitiesdonor information |
The Center currently operates 14 hours each day from three sites, offering a variety of programs and serving the Near West Side, North Lawndale, and Little Village communities of urban Chicago. To learn more about a program, select one of the links below. |
||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
Infant Toddler DevelopmentThe Infant Toddler Development Program provides high quality, developmentally appropriate care for children, ages 6 weeks to 3 years, in a center-based setting. The program focuses on providing a safe and stimulating environment for young children, which fosters their social, emotional, cognitive, and motor development. An emphasis is placed on child-centered activities, continuity of care, and strong relationships among children, parents, and staff. |
|
The Head Start Program provides comprehensive child development services to children, ages three to five years, and their families. To help children achieve their full potential, the Head Start program provides comprehensive health, nutritional, educational, social, and other services. In addition, the program provides for direct participation of parents through training, education, and volunteer service opportunities, which foster their active involvement. Enrollment opportunities are made available to children with disabilities and once enrolled, special education and related services are provided. |
|
The Early Childhood Education Program is a child development program serving 3 to 5 year old children. Activities focus on nurturing children in developmentally appropriate ways. Experiences include music, nutrition and cooking, outdoor play, language, literature, computers, science, and fine arts. Cultural performances and off-site excursions occur regularly. A mixture of creative programming helps children develop social skills, confidence, and self-esteem, as well as find an enjoyment in learning that is essential for future growth and success. |
|
The Family Child Care Home Networks provide quality home-based care for children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Licensed providers offer infant, toddler, and early childhood child care in a small group home setting. Curricula are developmentally appropriate and allow infants and young children to explore their environment in a stimulating, nurturing, and safe setting. Providers receive ongoing support, resources, networking, and guidance through the Carole Robertson Center's network. The School Age Program serves children, ages 6-12, and has developed into a national model of effective and comprehensive programming for children. Activities are age-appropriate with a wide array of choice time built into the day. Options include fine arts, literature, computers, science, games, and sports. Special treats include holiday parties, performances, social events, an annual awards ceremony, and a weeklong camping trip each August. Children are offered service learning opportunities to contribute as volunteers within their communities. The Tutor/Mentor Program serves community youth, ages 11 to 18. Based on the notion that everyone has a contribution to make, the program challenges youth to identify their strengths and apply them to the benefit of others. The program creates avenues for youth to develop talents, leadership skills, a sense of community ownership, and an ethic of service within a supportive, yet challenging, environment. The Tutor/Mentor Program includes service learning, academic support, personal development opportunities, leadership development, and youth employment opportunities. The Youth Alternatives Program (YAP) is an evening program for community youth, ages 9-18. YAP provides educational, personal development, mentoring, social, support, and recreational activities for youth. Its focus is preventive, yet proactive, keeping youth off the streets and engaged in a variety of constructive pursuits in a positive environment. Activities include organized sports, fine arts, field trips, homework assistance, leadership development, peer education, and support services. Teens also participate in community service projects. The Family Literacy Development Program spans all child and youth development programs, providing primary, daily access to developmentally appropriate literacy-building resources. It supports language development in infants, prepares young children for future success by nurturing them within a print-rich environment, and supports school age children and youth with tutoring and a variety of enriched learning experiences. The program links home and center with activities that encourage parents to be their children's primary partners in learning. The Family Literacy Development Program is fully bilingual, and includes computers and lending libraries. The Family Health Program supports children, parents, and staff by incorporating a range of health-related services into all programs. Activities include health education, screenings and assessments, referrals and linkages to local health care providers, and program planning with an emphasis on health and safety issues. Efforts promote preventive measures, healthy lifestyles, consistent relationships with health care providers, and good decision making in relation to health and safety. The Family Support Program evolved from needs identified on the part of parents for basic support, education, and recreation. Its purpose is to alleviate stress for families and provide support for parents. Programming focuses on supporting parents, facilitating family fun, and promoting positive parent-child relationships. Activities include parenting classes, discussion groups, advocacy education, family outings, sports, arts, and adult social events. The Intergenerational/Foster Grandparents Program seeks to build community by establishing relationships among neighborhood senior citizens and younger adults, teens, and children. The goal of the Intergenerational Program is to replace age segregation and individual isolation with opportunities for friendship across the generations. The program places Foster Grandparent volunteers in classrooms, linking community elders to new friends and younger people to their living neighborhood history. Community Social Services span all programs by providing classroom observation, short-term intervention/counseling, social service support, and special needs support for children, youth, and families. The Social Service Team performs assessments and makes referrals to social service agencies when appropriate. The Social Service Team helps families make linkages to community resources and special needs services. The Community Partners Program provides training and support to child care providers and parents in efforts to enhance the quality of child care services. As one of seven community partners of Action for Children and the Cook County Child Care Resource and Referral, the Carole Robertson Center's program serves targeted communities on the west and southwest sides of Chicago, as well as designated suburban communities in Cook County. The Center for Adult Learning provides comprehensive adult education and staff development to promote personal and professional development. Activities are designed to provide adults with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to participate and succeed in continuing education. Initiatives include basic adult literacy, GED and ESL classes, academic support, on-site college courses, a custom-designed Child Development Associate credential class, and staff training. Adults also can participate in financial, health, legal, and policy education seminars. Volunteers are welcomed in all facets of program and agency operations. Volunteers range in age from 8 to 85, and contribute more than 30,000 hours of service to the Carole Robertson Center each year. In addition to their enthusiasm and support, volunteers fulfill essential functions in the Center's programs and direct services to the community. Volunteers also provide the Carole Robertson Center with valuable resources at little to no cost. |
