SERVICE
k r o w e m Fra r the Fo e r u t Fu
By Felicia Carter
I
magination is a constant theme throughout Christian Appalachian Project’s Child Development Centers. Hand-drawn pictures line the walls, and under the pictures are captions that depict what the drawing portrays. Most notable is a picture that is covered with warm-colored, abstract splotches, entitled, “A Lawn Mower.” Countless other pictures follow suit that capture the beautiful, imaginative mind of a child. Along with the students, teachers with the same level of enthusiasm flood the classrooms, constantly encouraging the learning environment that builds fine motor and communication skills to help create a strong future of students. Located in Park’s Lake, Ky., and Mt. Vernon, Ky., these facilities provide all-day programs for the students in their communities. Both centers provide extra activities to help the participants be even more involved with the program. The students get to go on field trips, they are assigned homework crafts where they get to work with their parents, and they have the opportunity to go to school dances where they wear their favorite dress clothes and dance the evening away. There is also an Infant and Toddler Program offered, where CAP home visitors travel to homes and work with the families to mutually enhance the home environment. The home visitor will support the parents by providing information on early childhood development and identify materials to be used for learning experiences at home. The goal of this program is to provide support and encouragement to family members as they learn to empower themselves as parents. Given the high level of interactions between the teachers and students, they have scores that reflect the personal care the programs provide. According to the Brigance
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Kindergarten Screener, a screening tool used statewide at kindergarten entry that assesses whether a child is ready to hit the ground running at the start of his or her education career, more than half of all students who go through a CAP Child Development Program are ready for kindergarten. The National Association for the Education of Young Children accredits Eagle Child and Family Development Center, and Mt. Vernon Child Development Center is not far from obtaining that title. This is all thanks to an excellent staff of volunteers and employees. Becky Kana is the manager of the Mt. Vernon Child Development Center and has been with CAP for 33 years. She has always worked in childcare, but it was not until about 10 years ago that she started working at the Family Life Child Development Center. She sings its praises wherever she goes. “This program is really important,” Becky explains. “When it began, it was kind of out of the norm. People started to realize that the time between birth and kindergarten are crucial learning periods, so the numbers in enrollment started to go up.”
According to the Brigance Kindergarten Screener, well over half of all students who go through a CAP Child Development Program are ready for kindergarten. Brinda Campbell manages the Eagle Child and Family Development Center located in Park’s Lake, Ky., and has
THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT | 50th Anniversary Commemorative Issue Volume 2
