One of our community partners, Chambliss Center for Children, recently received partial funding for the Children’s Academy, formerly known as the East 5th Street Child Care Center through our Community Investment process. The Children’s Academy is located in the Highland Park community and provides quality early childhood academic programming, early childhood literacy development and parental engagement opportunities for local families. The Children’s Academy is just one of many programs funded by United Way at agencies contracted by Chambliss Center for Children. While Chambliss Center for Children acts as the operational “hub” for these centers, they each have their own Board of Directors.
The goal of this program is to make early childhood education and childcare accessible for low-income, working families to children up to kindergarten age. Parents or guardians of children in care at any of Chambliss Center for Children’s agencies pay only a fraction of what traditional childcare costs at other facilities. Rates are based on a sliding scale according to the family’s income with an average weekly rate of $75, and transportation for children to designated area schools is provided. The children participate in developmentally appropriate activities each day.
Chambliss Center for Children, established in 1872, will celebrate its 150th year caring for the children of Greater Chattanooga in 2022. Through the Children’s Academy and many other programs, Chambliss Center for Children cares for over 750 children.
To read more success stories and learn about the impact made in the Greater Chattanooga community, see our impact report.