New Regulations Leave Catholic Charities Searching for Cribs

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet operates six Head Start sites throughout Will County and helps over 850 children and their families.  Head Start is more than just a pre-school program preparing kids for kindergarten and a successful school experience. Staff provides support for families, help with basic needs, and ensure that the physical and dental health needs of each child enrolled are addressed. While the program receives approximately 7 million dollars in funding from the federal government, Catholic Charities provides over one million dollars in funds to help the program best meet the needs of low-income families.

There are currently 145 infants and toddlers benefiting from the childcare component of the Head Start program.  Recent changes to federal childcare regulations require all day care centers to meet higher safety standards.  Catholic Charities welcomes these changes, but is now scrambling to find the funds to purchase 13 new cribs that will best provide the safest environment for the children.

“We have until December 1, 2012, to comply with the new regulations, but we don’t want one more day to pass without providing the best and safest environment for the children entrusted to our care,” said Beth Heldmann, Education Services Coordinator from Head Start. Heldmann also indicated the commercial grade cribs will be ordered directly from a manufacturer specializing in cribs for daycare centers.

“We need to raise $3,000 to cover the cost of the new cribs, so we are desperately reaching out to everyone we know asking for their help in raising the money,” Heldmann added. “These little angels are worth it.  We would never put their safety in jeopardy.” Monetary donations to purchase the specialty cribs can be made online at www.cc-doj.org or sent to: Catholic Charities – Head Start Cribs, 203 N. Ottawa Street, Joliet IL 60432.  Catholic Charities provides help and creates hope for over 73,000 persons of all faiths.