Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County
- Location
- Ann Arbor, MI
Organization Details
About
Description of Our Work:
Established in 1934, Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County is the oldest, continuously running childcare center in the state of Michigan. As a charitable non-profit organization, we are community caregivers and the only area childcare center providing equitable opportunity and support that goes above and beyond the work of government programs to meet the needs of historically marginalized communities.
We are nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) and have the highest quality rating (5 stars/Demonstrating Quality) through the Great Start to Quality system with the state of Michigan.
Our Community:
Over 95% of our families come from lower-income households. We prioritize our enrollment on families living in areas of low opportunity and those who have experienced systematic racism and oppression, as well as those facing hardships for the first time, who need a safe place to entrust the care of their children while they care for themselves (which can include working, attending school, seeking outside services, etc.) We firmly believe that all children deserve high-quality care and education to ensure they have the opportunity to begin kindergarten with the necessary readiness skills.
Many children entering our care come with prior ongoing developmental and/or traumatic experiences. Foundations Preschool provides a safe place with support and referral opportunities for children and families.
Our Mission: Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County provides equitable access to high-quality care and education; prepares children for future academic and social success; and strengthens families through opportunities for professional, personal, and parental growth.
Our Values: Fairness, Compassion, Understanding, Generosity, Diversity, Acceptance, Trust, Inclusiveness, Cooperation, Kindness, and Respect.
Our Vision: To partner with the community in helping to remove systematic barriers impeding educational, social, and emotional growth for Washtenaw Countys Children.
Our Statement of Equity:
Foundations Preschool of Washtenaw County respects and values the diversity and life challenges of our families and staff. We firmly believe in the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and work to create an environment that is equitable and inclusive for all. At Foundations Preschool, diversity, equity, and inclusion have been at the core of who we are since 1934 and DEI is reflected in our mission to ensure equitable access to high-quality education.
Mission Statement
Foundations Preschool is the only preschool to prioritize total enrollment based on lowest income first, provide generous subsidized in-house tuition rates while assisting families find additional outside funding sources, provide emergency and support services, and run our educational programs on an extended day, M-F, year-round basis so that parents can afford to work and/or attend school. We serve children ages 6 months through 7 years (including our summer camp).
We are located just 700 feet from the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor border and enroll over 160 children each year.
Have a talent? Put it to good use!
Sit on our board of directors, join a committee, help out in the classroom, garden, or paint Whatever you can do whether its a long-standing commitment or a one-time deal WE CAN USE YOUR HELP.
*If you plan to work with the children, strong bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are also a huge plus.
