Neighborhood House of Milwaukee selected to partner in $4.8 million early head start child care grant

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, an early education provider in Milwaukee’s central city for 70 years, has been selected by Next Door, a local leader in early education services, to partner in a major Federal Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant of $4.8 million.

The funds will be used to lead support programs and services designed to raise the quality of care for low-income families with infants and toddlers who are served by early education partners in ten locations in Milwaukee and Ozaukee Counties.

In addition to Neighborhood House, Next Door’s partners include: Child Development Center of St. Joseph’s; COA; Kindercare West Allis; Malaika Early Learning Center; and St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee County. In Ozaukee County, Stepping Stones Children’s Center will provide care for an underserved population of low-income families at its two sites.

At an education summit in Washington, President Obama announced $250 million in Preschool Development Grants and $500 million in Early Head Start Child Care Partnership awards. These grants and awards are intended to enhance and expand early education programs and to improve access to high-quality infant and toddler care in high-need communities. Only four agencies in Wisconsin were granted awards; Next Door received the largest sum.

“This year, Neighborhood House is celebrating 70 years of work in making families more successful, with a particular focus on infant to youth initiatives,” said Neighborhood House’s Executive Director Jeff Martinka. “We are thrilled to be part of this new Next Door-led effort. I am certain that the new Early Head Start partnership will be a boon to area families and that it will offer programming innovations that are adaptable across the region.”