We have selected Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas – St. Benedict’s Early Education Program as our Community Grant award recipient for the 2012/2013 League year. We heard a wonderful presentation of this program at the General Membership meeting in March. Listed below are the ways in which the St. Benedict’s Early Education Program meets our Safety focus area.
The services provided by St. Benedict’s Early Education Center have an intentional focus on the safety of participating children. From the moment children walk into the door, hand washing for germ elimination is prioritized—parents and children must wash hands before entering classrooms. Hand washing is facilitated by low sinks and bi-lingual signs. At a recent Family Fun Night, the school administrator utilized a black light during a hand washing demonstration to show how easily dirt and germs can be missed. In the recent Kansas Quality Rating Improvement System evaluation, the center received a perfect score on hand washing.
The facility prioritizes safety in its equipment. Playground equipment has recently been replaced, eliminating wood structures and utilizing fall-friendly rubber mulch. Internally, classroom equipment is being replaced with items from Community Playthings, a leader in all-natural, low-particle emission equipment.
St. Benedict’s administrator is an anti-gang advocate, galvanizing the community through gang-awareness initiatives for law enforcement and the public.
Finally, St. Benedict’s provides a safe alternative to uncertified childcare centers. Arath, the boy in the attached picture, was taken to an uncertified center last year on a day St. Benedict’s was closed due to snow. His parents had to work and had no alternative care for him. While in the uncertified home environment, Arath was burnt on his torso by hot liquid that boiled over from a pot on the stove. Rushed to Children’s Mercy Hospital, Arath received multiple skin grafts and will need to continue to do so as he grows. In the attached photo the blue body suit that he wears to protect his vulnerable skin is visible. This terrible reality presents in sharp contrast the safety and comfort children at St. Benedict’s receive in comparison to other forms of uncertified community care.
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