Head Start celebrated its relocation and playground renovation at the Blythe Center Support Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 26.
The Blythe Oldfield neighborhood celebrated the renovation of a playground at the Blythe Family Support Center and relocation of Head Start classrooms with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 26.
The ceremony included Mayor Tom Rowland, Councilman Bill Estes and Councilman Charlie McKenzie along with officials from the Family Resource Agency and Head Start plus other agencies at the center.
"We are celebrating the grand re-opening of our Early Head Start modulars that we moved from one end of the campus to the other," said James Andersen, with the Family Resource Agency.
"Also the playground is new. The fencing is new. This is just our way of letting the community know we are here serving the children."
"The city is proud to have been a partner in this project that means so much to so many in one of Cleveland's oldest neighborhoods," said Mayor Rowland.
"The Family Resource Agency is such an important community partner," said Councilman Estes. "It brings together key services for this neighborhood." The neighborhood playground and Head Start
are among many agencies that serve families and individuals from one location, the Blythe Family Support Center, he said.
"This place is an important resource in many ways to a lot of people," Councilman McKenzie said.
"We are able to continue to provide high quality child care for pregnant moms and children six weeks to age three," said Sherronda Thompson, Head Start/Early Head Start/ Pre-Kindergarten director. "It's no cost to the families. We provide free diapers, breakfast and lunch, as well as a curriculum we use and assessment tools. Those families transition into our Head Start and Pre-K. So at this site we serve children from birth to age five."
From other locations, Family Resource Agency provides Tennessee Head Start programs in Bradley, McMinn, Meigs and Polk counties.