Listed below are the Programs and services provided by Starting Points and its partners.
Children
Daycare: Starting Points is the leading provider of quality learning for children 6 months to 5 years old in Nicholas, Fayette and Webster Counties. The award winning program offers half-day or full-day supervision provided by certified, professionally trained staff with a full curriculum of academics and activities planned throughout the school year.
Baby Pantry is located at the Richwood Pantry and is stocked through donations and contributions for local families in need of baby food, formula, diapers, children’s clothes, and bed linens. Please call the Richwood Pantry at 304-846-4343 for more information. Pantry operating hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday, unless otherwise posted.
Bonding with Books distributes books each month to children in the Starting Points playgroup, area childcare centers, the Richwood Public Library, and the Richwood Pantry. More than 150 books are distributed each month. Each month, children in these programs receive a packet containing a new book and other items such as Highlights magazines, book marks, coloring sheets, and more. Information is included for parents about community events, parenting, reading tips, and library information.
Bonding with Sprouts is an environmental learning experience. It takes place at the Starting Points Daycare Center, and starts children on a path of growing and eating their own food and being more observant of nature at an earlier age. Using the strong collaboration built through our early childhood literacy project, “Bonding with Sprouts” uses the Eat/Play/Grow curriculum as a base for education and activities. A literacy-based approach is used to translate complex health concepts to diverse audiences. The overall goal is to help children stay at a healthy weight by improving food choices and increasing physical activity.
Playgroup is designed for children from birth to five years of age in the company of their parent or guardian. Playgroup is held in the Starting Points Daycare Center and offers an opportunity for peer mentoring and support, information sharing, and a setting to build social connections. Guest speakers address developmental stages and health, nutrition, and wellness issues. Families receive resource materials and information on upcoming events and activities in the community. Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is April. Please (click here) for more information about this issue that affect all families in the United States.
Families
Parents as Teachers serves as a voice for early childhood education and champions the critical role of parental involvement and early intervention in the education process. Our trained staff of educators and counselors assists parents gain the tools needed to prepare their children in both school and in life.
Budgeting and Financial Literacy is aimed at creating healthy financial practices. Families meet with their individual case manager at our Starting Points Daycare facility or at the Richwood Pantry to review their financial situation, establish family financial goals, and review family income and expenses. They explore how their income and expenses relate to their established goals. Further work involves adjusting expenses, planning bill payment schedules, working to obtain a relationship with a bank, and learning to follow their budget within a determined time frame. Fully understanding what is needed as opposed to what is wanted often involves changes in lifestyle and behaviors.
Family Mentoring can help break the cycle of poverty and frustration for a family struggling to be self-sufficient and successful. Mentors help families define and achieve goals, connect with community resources, and recognize their own strengths. Again, these meetings are with the family’s case manager and are held at either the Starting Point Daycare Center or the Richwood Pantry.
Family Partnership was created to empower families to break the cycle of dependence, move toward a higher degree of self-sufficiency, and foster strong family units. The program provides an integrated case management approach for families.
Partners in Prevention is a statewide collaboration. It offers community awareness activities and parent workshops to reduce the potential for child abuse and neglect.
Food and Nutrition
Backpacks is a collaborative effort between Starting Points, the Nicholas County Board of Education, community volunteers, and donors that provides food to school children. Prepackaged and canned food is assembled by volunteers on Thursdays and sent home on Fridays with school children who struggle with food resources on weekends. More than 300 children receive these meals each week.
Cheap Eats teaches families how to create nutritious meals on a budget with limited grocery and fresh produce resources. The program targets eastern Nicholas County.
Mealtime Community Kitchen is facilitated by volunteers from many different groups drawn from the faith community, local businesses, and residents. Meals are served at either the Richwood Pantry or the Starting Points Daycare Center at no charge, although donations are welcomed. More than 23,000 meals are served each year. During the school year, meals are served between 11:00am and 1:00pm. During the summer months, meals are served between 4:00pm and 5:30pm.
For more information about our services please call us at 304-846-4479. Our office hours are 7:00am to 6:30pm, Monday through Friday.