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Research indicates that a child's most productive learning years are from birth to five years of age. This underscores the importance of quality childcare to life long social, emotional, and moral development.
IMH supports quality childcare through our Child Care Mini-Grants of up to $15,000. These grants are especially focused on helping to re-open childcare centers that were flooded or damaged by the recent hurricanes and can be used in the following ways.
 Fund the purchase of needed materials, equipment, furniture, toys, books, etc. .Grants of up to $10,000 are available, depending upon size of the childcare center and upon damage sustained from the hurricanes. All centers, whether damaged or undamaged, are eligible for grants. Only centers providing subsidized child care to 30% or more of their children prior to the storm are eligible to receive these grants.
Increase the knowledge of your staff - You may apply to train your staff to better address a particular problem you are experiencing at your center. The trainer you propose must be qualified to teach about young children, they must have education and experience specific to your children. You may also request funds to send staff to conferences on early childhood. (You may not use this funding for training that is available through the Pathways Program.)
Purchase and/or add to a curriculum (and training to help staff implement the training).
Work with the families of the children attending your center. You may apply to do some special programming with your children and their families, i.e. apply to do a family literacy program to get parents to read more to their children. Or provide sessions on helping children cope with death and trauma, including Katrina related losses, general parenting, reading with your child, the importance of talking to children, etc.
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