1966
A group of low-income mothers in Jefferson City, living in Parkview Housing Project, formed a Tenants Club with the purpose of improving their community. It was felt by their group that the most pressing need was day care for pre-school children so the mothers could work. After many meetings, rummage sales, card parties, etc., these women realized that the scope of the project was too large for their small group to handle. The Tenants Club asked United Church Women of Jefferson City if they would help. This support was given, and the two sponsering groups formed a not-for-profit corporation: Jefferson City Day Care Centers, Inc. The corporations' Board of Directors consisted of five women from the Tenants Club and five women from United Church Women. <Quoted: Letter dated November 7, 1966 from Mrs. Walter B. Price, President, United Church Women of Jefferson City (possibly Lois Price from JCDCC Board)>
Marge Lytle, Chairman of the Board; Annabelle Tolson; Helen Erhart; Donna Coffelt; Mercedes Duncan Smith; Ruth Marshall; Lois Price; Faye Krider; Annabelle Barehorst, and Margie Monis.
The Board decided the best way to serve the community would be to operate through a state licensed Day Care facility, they submitted a proposal to the federal government, Office of Equal Opportunity, to start a day care center for low-income children so that mothers on welfare and other low-income families could work and have reliable child care with a child development educational base at no cost. <Quoted: Telephone call with Ms. Annabelle Tolson to Program Director, R. Mark Robbins, September 28, 2006>
Their goal was to allow the families served to work so they could become independent of public assistance and the children would have a better chance of success in school.
1967
The Center received a grant from OEO from Project Head Start funds for the amount of $49, 437. OEO funds were matched with in-kind labor and monies in excess of 20%. <Quoted: Letter dated June 28, 1968 from Mrs. Russell Lytle, Chairman, Jefferson City Day Care Center, Inc.>
Church Women United, several parents in the projects, and many Volunteers donated hundreds of hours making quilts, sheets for cots, toys, special items, and handling organizational details such as hiring staff, etc. "It was truly, a Community Project," stated Ms. Tolson, "One of our parents, Ms. Erhart thought we should have a free building for the day care, so she wrote a letter to Lady Bird Johnson asking for a free building, and Housing Authority of Jefferson City renovated a building with two apartments, built a playground, and we had our Center." In June, the Center opened its doors in the Housing Authority supplied building and had a full complement (30) of children enrolled by the fall. <Quoted: Telephone call with Ms. Annabelle Tolson to Program Director, R. Mark Robbins, September 28, 2006>
<Head Start was started as part of President Lyndon Johnson 's War on Poverty . A key part of the Great Society domestic agenda, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 authorized programs to help meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children. A panel of child development experts drew up this program at the request of the Federal Government, and the program became what became Project Head Start. The Office of Economic Opportunity launched Project Head Start as an eight-week summer program in 1965. The project was designed to help end poverty by providing preschool children from low-income families with a program that would meet emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs.>
1968
The Office of Equal Opportunity Nine County Board in Kansas City decided the money going to full day programs could be used to serve many more children in mid-Missouri if it were used for a half-day Head Start. The communities were informed they would have to convert their day care programs to half-day programs. The Jefferson City Day Care Center Board, made up of 50% low-income parents, appealed to Senator Symington and Representative Richard Ichord and the conclusion was that Jefferson City Day Care Center could receive their share of the money and use this in conjunction with any community funds they could raise. Church Women United the Director of the Center, staff, and a large cadre of volunteers reorganized the Center, solicited community funds, recruited volunteer teachers and specialists from the community, and stretched the Office of Equal Opportunity money to last. The parents voted to pitch in by paying $15.00 per month and agreed to handle the laundry, do repairs and general maintenance. A special government project paid for a cleaning man, and the United States Department of Agriculture Special food program started that year so it and its commodities helped to cover the food costs.
1969
The Office of Equal Opportunity Head Start funds were renewed with the same conditions, but by then there was a sufficient base because of community support. In addition, the State of Missouri had started paying for welfare children's care at a $3.00 per day rate, which gave a stable base so there was not the sense of instability there had been the year before. The children at the Center were also benefiting greatly from the program, which was a model for that era because of the educational component, which emphasized communication and thinking skills, (Several of the children from that period did very well in school and some even went on to college). In addition, both of the original aides were able to take college courses in child development and psychology through Head Start and this was a benefit to them and to the program.
1970
The Board decided to get United Way funds in lieu of the Head Start funds. A sliding fee scale was adopted for parent fees. Then, as funds were no longer needed for the Center, Jefferson City was eligible for a half-day Head Start program and consideration was given to the Center for being the umbrella for the new program. However, due to the interest of the parents who had children in the Center who were going to kindergarten and had no child care for after school, the board decided not to handle Head Start, but rather start a part-day program for these and other children as a branch. The United Church of Christ on Washington St. agreed to donate space and one of the lead teachers agreed to be the lead teacher of that program.
1971
Plans began for the Center to move to a new building, which was built by Housing and Urban Development specifically to be a day care center for the housing project.
1972
The Center moved into the new building on Myrtle Avenue , using the upper level for thirty children. Head Start used the lower level.
1978
The Center's license was changed to allow after school care and enrollment was supplemented with part-time children, usually those who had been at the Center as preschoolers.
1980
The State of Missouri stop subsidies for child care and other funding was found. More community volunteer support was solicited and JCDCC added staff by partnering with Green Thumb (A Federal program now called Experience Works) and other programs, and maintenance help from other various Departments of Corrections work programs.
1982
JCDCC's enrollment was at capacity with an increasingly larger waiting list as parents learned that the Center provided a quality child care program with a good educational component. There was a need for care of two year olds, and arrangements were made with the Housing Authority and the United Way to expand the enrollment of the Center to 60 children, which included two year olds and the Center, was able to expand because Head Start had relocated to a new building on Cherry Street . The younger children were grouped together on the lower level and the older ones and part time kindergarten were upstairs. The staff gradually expanded so there was a lead teacher for both groups, plus an aide for each group, and a part time Assistant Director to assist with the administrative duties.
1987
Due to community support, play areas for both age groups of children were completely refurbished and equipped.
1992
A Federal loan was obtained and an addition was added to the Center's building. The new infant-toddler section was opened and the Center petitioned to change their licensing to 99 children, it was approved.
1994
Our Executive Director Rosalie Little retires and the Board has hired Donna Scheidt the new Executive Director.
2001
Jefferson City Day Care Center collaborated with Parents as Teachers and two staff members were trained as Parent Educators. The Rosie O'Donnell Foundation donated $15,000 to the education of the Teachers who then earned their CDA Certificates. Jefferson City Day Care Center's enrollment reached over 50% in families receiving childcare assistance from Division of Family Services. All of the families had parents who are working, or in school and many times both working and in school.
2002
Housing Authority of Jefferson City spends $125,000 to upgrade all three playgrounds and some of the children's rooms. The Center enrollment reached a high of 62% in families receiving childcare assistance from Division of Family Services.
2003
Jefferson City Day Care received the Missouri Preschool Project 3-year Professional Development Grant and the Center continues to educate their Teachers.
2005
The Center has 94% of their full-time staff with some college education, and 81% of the full-time staff have their CDA Certificate or better.
2006
Jefferson City Day Care celebrates its 40th year in business! Center receives Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Excellence in Education. Foster Grandmother, Doris Hickman, receives the President's Volunteer of the Year Award from President George W. Bush.
2007-2008
