Your kids’ toddler days are magical times;  but finding day-care for children under a certain age is often next to impossible.

Now, the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Development has awarded eight infant and toddler expansion grants totaling $160,599.  The grants, provided through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), are to increase the number of infant and toddler child care spaces in regulated family child care homes and licensed child care centers in the State.

While more than 150,000 infants and toddlers are cared for in regulated child care in Maryland, the demand for infant and toddler child care exceeds the current supply of spaces available to families, especially for those families with limited incomes.

In FY 2011, the four child care centers and four family child care homes that received the grants will provide professional development and staff training, minor facility construction and renovation, recruitment of additional staff, supplies, equipment, and materials for additional infants and toddlers.

“We are very excited to offer support to child care providers who wish to serve additional infants and toddlers in their programs, said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick.  “By ensuring these additional child care spaces are in programs meeting established quality standards, the youngest children will receive care and education to enhance their development and learning.”

 The grantees are:

• Infant Garden Bilingual Daycare, Takoma Park;
• Kiddie Academy of Elkton;
• Little Foot Enrichment Learning Center, Accokeek;
• Lighthouse Child Care Center, LLC, Springdale;
• Bullfrogs and Butterflies Child Care Center, Denton;
• Simply the Best Day Care Center, Landover;
• Carmella’s Kids Learning Center, Berlin; and,
• Light Health and Wellness Comprehensive Services, Inc., Baltimore.
 

Click Here for more information on the Maryland State Department of Education’s Early Childhood.

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(source: MSDE / images: Microsoft)