ABSTRACT

The purpose of this grant proposal is to request funding assistance for the Little Sprouts Childcare facility to start-up and launch their Branch Out program that is intended to meet the challenging needs that immigrant and refugee families experience. Little Sprouts currently provides childcare services to lower income families. Through their existing program, it has been observed that a large portion of lower income families are immigrant and refugees that require diverse resources. To accomplish this, Little Sprouts has developed the Branch Out program to specifically address the cultural, linguistic, and economic challenges these displaced families experience. This program will branch out to families within this underserved population through income adjusted childcare, ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, and citizenship classes. To accomplish this, Little Sprouts will invest in facility upgrades, culturally sensitive curriculum, and staff training and development to meet the unique needs of these families. Through the Branch Out program, these families, who are often overlooked, will have greater access to resources and services that are essential to obtain social and economic stability. This social and economic stability is not only essential to these families, but for the entire community. The effects of Branch Out will impact the community through increased student test scores, increased employment, and lower crime rates.