Our Mission
The mission of Effingham Child Development Center (ECDC) is to create a stimulating and nurturing environment where children of all abilities, regardless of socio-economic or cultural background, can grow and learn together in acceptance of one another. This mission is carried out daily by highly trained staff, low teacher/child ratios, specialized curriculum, and contracted therapy services. At ECDC, we value the importance of character, commitment to the family, commitment to the community, respect for the individual, and celebrating our differences.
Mission Impact
Interpersonal Skills
Self-confidence
Acceptance
Empathy
Communication
ECDC’s philosophy is based on a belief that children of all abilities benefit from an inclusive environment, emphasizing acceptance of individual differences and ability levels. For children with special needs, inclusion facilitates developmental progress by exposure to role modeling of social, language, and physical skills through interactions with typically developing peers. We also believe that the typically developing children gain solid interpersonal skills, including self-confidence, acceptance, empathy, and communication. Inclusion allows all children to relate and interact with peers in play and daily routines, engaging in experiences that promote the development of self-help skills, self-control, and the understanding that others have different backgrounds and perspectives than themselves.
Community Collaborations:
ECDC continues to be a job mentoring site working with CEFS Workforce Investment Act (W.I.A.), Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education (E.I.A.S.E.) and Secondary Transition Experience Program (S.T.E.P.). High School Seniors and young adults that qualify for CEFS and EIASE services are provided hands-on job training in the Early Childhood Education field. There are specific goals set to encourage good quality work ethic skills and responsibility. We encourage higher education and work around their school schedule. These are closely monitored programs and give young adults a chance to experience the child care field and decide if it is the right profession for them, while protecting the children enrolled.
ECDC hosts staff developments that are open to other child care facilities and home daycares. These trainings include CPR and advanced First Aid, USDA food program training, Civil Rights and more. We want to be a service to all other centers and home daycares which in turn will bless the children.
ECDC encourages parents to participate in the Birth to Three Program screenings, Early Head Start evaluations, and Unit 40 Special Education Preschool screenings. Several Birth to Three therapists come to our Center to work with the infants and toddlers. Early Head Start and Unit 40 Special Education Preschool offer busing to and from our Center. We promote these programs by handing out fliers and making referrals. We want all children to have the best care and therapies that can be offered to them.
ECDC works with Catholic Charities and Shumway Food Pantry to provide food and clothing pantries to those in need. We promote the event dates through fliers, handouts and referrals. Our goal is to make sure all the families have enough food to feed their children. Good nutrition is a must for healthy development both physically and mentally.
ECDC works with all the area agencies to help our families in need. For example; referrals to FISH have helped with car repairs and utility bills, Salvation Army for gas cards, SAFE for body safety training & anti-bullying counseling, the Health Department for immunizations, vision & hearing tests, Shiners’ Hospital for orthopedic needs, physicians for medical treatments, Public Library for early literacy programs and many, many more. We appreciate all that the Effingham community has to offer.
ECDC
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