|
Royal Castle Child Care Back In Business |  |
||
Royal Castle Child Development Center celebrated its Grand Re-Opening on February 15th, and also recognized the need for re-establishing New Orleans Child Care post-Katrina. Royal Castle is one of Success By 6’s pilot sites for the High Quality Child Care Project, a three-year study focused on what child care providers need to achieve National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. Many New Orleans businesses and organizations have recognized the need for child care in New Orleans and generously contributed to this cause. Pearlie Harris, Royal Castle’s Director, thanked those who have helped her such as United Way’s Success By 6 and Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), Entergy and The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation among others. |
||||
|
“Our ultimate goal is to make Royal Castle a 5 star, NAEYC accredited child care center; these kids deserve the absolute very best,” said Harris, “This would not be possible without the contributions we’ve received from these businesses and organizations.” Through United Way's Success By 6 program, Royal Castle has received two grants for $25,000 to rebuild from The Patrick F. Taylor Foundation for a total of $50,000, a grant of $25,000 from Entergy, and a $3,000 grant for training, fax machines, Whirlpool appliances, and developmentally appropriate books from the WLI. |
|||
Post-Katrina, only 80 out of 270 licensed child-care centers are open in Orleans Parish. A 2002 study developed for Entergy Corporation showed that for every $1 invested in quality child care, $9 is returned by less need for remedial classes, tax revenues from higher adult earnings, and less of a burden on the criminal justice system. Additionally, without dependable child care, employees are unable to return to work. Prior to the 2005 Hurricane Season, child care was the third largest employer in the state, consisting of more than 12,700 small businesses and employing 22,000 people. Child care adds $650 million per year to Louisiana’s economy. United Way’s Success By 6
|
||||
|
United
Way for the Greater New Orleans Area * 2515 Canal Street * New Orleans
* Louisiana * 70119 |