RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., --Local communities will soon have more child care and services available for infants and toddlers and their parents. Child Development, Inc. was recently informed by the Region VI office of the Administration for Children and Families that the agency had been funded for 76 additional slots for Early Head Start.

"CDI has served children and parents in Early Head Start since the program began in 1995," said Jana Bays, Early Head Start Direct or/Assistant Head Start Director. The additional slots will be located within existing Head Start centers at Clarksville, Coal Hill, Dover, England, Hatfield, Mena, Morrilton, Russellville and Waldron.

"The funding will mean that we can increase our services to families in areas where we have a lengthy waiting list for infant and toddler care while also bringing needed jobs to the area," Bays continued.

After staff are hired and trained, services for the children and families should begin on March 1, 2010. Applications can be picked up at the local Head Start center.

In 1995, the Early Head Start program was established to serve children from birth to three years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter a great deal to children's growth and development.

Early Head Start helps the youngest children as they take the initial steps in the life-long journey of learning by helping them develop a strong sense of self and begin to learn the necessary skills for later school success. The program provides free child care to children ages 6 weeks to 3 years; and health, education and social services to pregnant mothers. Parents qualify using the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which can be accessed at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml.

All children receive periodic well-baby checkups in accordance with the recommended schedule, must be current on all immunizations, and are assessed through an effort between teachers and parents in an ongoing process of observation and analysis.

All pregnant mothers receive comprehensive health and mental health services before, during and after pregnancy as well as pre- and postnatal parenting and nutrition education. All pregnant mothers receive dental health services and are assisted in receiving Medicaid.

Child Development Inc. is a nonprofit agency whose goal is to provide strong, effective, outcome-oriented programs for young children and their families in Arkansas. CDI serves more than 2,000 children and their families in preschool programs across the state. CDI is a partner agency with United Way.

 The centers are now taking applications for enrollment in Head Start and Early Head Start. At least 10 percent of enrollment opportunities are reserved for children with disabilities, including severe disabilities.