For 15 years, the Yavapai College Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center has provided a range of benefits for participants.
A fundraiser March 11 made it apparent those benefits will continue.
Debbie McCasland, chair, Yavapai College Governing Board, said before the program began that the Family Enrichment Center is unique in Arizona: “No other institution I know of has a similar comprehensive program that benefits so many children, parents and students. The program was recently given a 5-Star rating and awarded accreditation by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education programs.”
During the fundraiser, Janelle Goligoski, president, Friends of the Family Enrichment Center, urged those attending to support the center through contributions or other assistance.
“Your help can provide support for the lab school and for students enrolled in an early education degree program. You can help provide tuition assistance and scholarships for qualified families. Most important, you can help us continue an atmosphere that underscores our community belief that children are the future.”
The Family Enrichment Center offers opportunities not available elsewhere.
Two local women said it would be impossible for them to hold jobs, attend college and have their children in an early childhood education program if not for the center’s program at Yavapai College’s Prescott campus.
Sarah Martin from Chino Valley and Karely Rodriguez Mata, who recently came from Phoenix but is now living in Prescott, said they were among dozens of parents benefitting from the program.
Now in its 15th year, the Family Enrichment Center provides a full week — 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. — of carefully supervised early education and professional childcare under exceptionally safe conditions.
Martin’s 17-month-old daughter Isabelle and Rodriguez Mata’s 3-year-old- daughter Orianna are cared for at the center. Both women had been granted scholarships, which gave them financial advantages and let them reduce debts, especially during the pandemic.
Center Director Jennine Skousen said the two women represent dozens who balance workloads, college enrollment in the education curriculum, and have a child in the centers program.
“We can have as many as 76 youngsters at the center. We have 23 students we use as support staff and 13 fulltime faculty and staff members. What most people don’t know — we have children ranging from 3 months old up to 5 years in this pre-school educational program,” Skousen said.
More information about the Family Enrichment Center is available at www.yc.edu.
(Photo by Ray Newton)
