SAL Community Services has received over $13 million in grants to enhance child care and community services in Moline. This funding will support existing programs and allow new initiatives, including a home visiting program and a pilot early childhood education apprenticeship. The grants aim to meet the growing needs for accessible child care and community support across the Quad Cities and Central Illinois.
“The demand for accessible child care, workforce development, and essential services like food has significantly increased in our area,” said Marcy Mendenhall, president and CEO of SAL Community Services. “Our ongoing operations depend on state funding, grants, and the generosity of our donors. This renewed funding will allow us to continue our current programs and address new areas where support is needed most.”
“This funding reflects the trust our community and state leaders have placed in us,” said Mendenhall. “We are committed to honoring that trust by continuing to improve and expand our services. Our team works tirelessly to bring innovative solutions and government support to the region, improving care options and opportunities for working families.”
According to a press release from SAL Community Services, The $13 million in state and federal grants support SAL’s wide array of programs, including the Home Child Care Network, Prevention Initiative, Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, Home Visiting Expansion Program, Illinois Smart Start Apprenticeship Pilot Program, and the Welcoming Center. These programs are crucial to SAL’s mission of serving families and childcare professionals, including immigrants and refugees. Additionally, SAL operates four Skip-a-Long Childhood Centers in the Quad Cities, providing high-quality care and education to young children in the region.
SAL was also awarded a grant renewal for its Home Child Care Network (HCCN) program this year, which supports licensed family child care providers, as well as funding to expand offices into the Galesburg area. SAL now operates offices in Moline, Galesburg, and Peoria. In addition, SAL will be participating in a three-year pilot program designed to increase access to child care during non-traditional hours, including evenings, overnight shifts, holidays, and weekends, through its network of home-based providers.
SAL’s mission is to build thriving communities; a key part of that mission is workforce development. SAL has been selected as one of only four care centers to pilot Illinois’ Smart Start Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, a hands-on training initiative to help individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed for careers in early childhood education while earning nationally recognized credentials. It combines classroom learning with on-the-job experience, allowing participants to earn while they learn, guided by mentors in the field. The program improves care and outcomes for local families and elevates early childhood education careers by professionalizing the field and increases wages based on education.
