INVEST IN YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE TODAY WITH A STRONG START

 BY JESSICA ZIMMER

Children who attend a quality preschool have a great start to healthy brain development. Preschool provides the strong, necessary foundation for the development of language, math, and social skills. These are required for academic and socialemotional success in kindergarten and beyond. Yet for many, the price of early education programs can seem out of reach. Get your child started on the road to an excellent future by enrolling them in a Children Achieve Maximum Potential (CAMP) preschool with the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) of San Joaquin County. The CAPC has been providing early education programs since 1978. Today, the organization serves over 900 children a day through free and subsidized Head Start and state-funded programs. Here’s how to enroll:

1. DETERMINE WHETHER YOU’RE INCOME ELIGIBLE. Families with an annual income at or below the U.S. federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the programs offered in CAMP preschools. Children in foster care, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children from families who receive Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible as well. Families may call a CAMP enrollment specialist to determine eligibility.

2. ENROLL YOUR CHILD IN A CAMP PRESCHOOL. CAMP preschools are open to children ages 0 through 5 years old. There are multiple school sites throughout San Joaquin County. Home-based programs are available to support families who want to be their child’s first teachers.

3. SET UP A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR YOUR THREE-YEAR-OLD. Through a partnership with the educational nonprofit San Joaquin A+, CAMP preschool will start a $750 savings account for each three-year-old enrolled in its program. The money will grow over time. Funds can be used to pay for college or vocational training when the child graduates from high school.

CAMP preschool focuses on whole family wellness and CAMP preschool teachers work closely with each family to identify unique needs. They ensure families are connected to the necessary programs and supports. Families also have direct access to over 20 family strengthening programs that CAPC offers. Learn more by calling a staff member or visiting the CAMP preschool website.

Camp-Preschool.com