HumanKind’s Early Head Start Program gets major boost from Liberty University

A recent donation from Liberty University is helping to meet the childcare needs of low-income families in Lynchburg, Va.

Liberty has donated $75,000 to HumanKind in support of the local nonprofit’s newly established Early Head Start Program, a free program that promotes physical, cognitive, social, and emotional developments for infants and toddlers ages 3 and under. The funds will also go toward a new facility under construction.

HumanKind has been serving families in need from the Lynchburg community through care, counseling, and education for over 100 years. Earlier this year, the organization launched the Early Head Start Program in response to a lack of affordable, accessible childcare options in the Lynchburg area that prevented many low-income families from moving out of poverty and into the workforce. Since the program began in Lynchburg, 75 children and their families have received free childcare and family support services; 10 percent of these children have disabilities.

A new Early Head Start facility is underway on Fenwick Drive. The location was based on areas determined to have the highest concentration of poverty in Lynchburg.

The federal office of Head Start has pledged to quadruple all private gifts and grants up to $1.6 million each year for five years to facilitate the Lynchburg program.

“At Liberty University we care for our neighbors and our surrounding community,” Liberty President Jerry Prevo said. “I believe children are a blessing from the Lord. Lynchburg parents and guardians need to be confident that their children are well cared for while at work. This childcare program can help facilitate many of those needs.”

Ashley Graham, HumanKind’s Director of Family & Children’s Services, explained that while the organization has offered resources for many other stages of life for families and individuals, caring for younger children was one piece missing until now.

“Year after year, one of the remaining barriers to families in meeting their goals has been safe, reliable, and affordable childcare, and parents can’t work without that,” Graham said. “It’s not just a program for the children, it’s for the whole family. When the children are enrolled into the program, they’re assigned to a teacher, and the parents are also assigned to their own support person who they can turn to any time they need. It’s rare that you find services that focus on the whole family, and that’s why I think Early Head Start is so powerful.”

“When you invest in children at the earliest age and give them a good start, their chances of going into kindergarten and school ready to learn increases their chance to be effective by eighth grade, which we know is a good indicator of getting to (high school) graduation and college opportunities,” HumanKind President & CEO Bob Dendy said. “This investment is critical and greatly appreciated and demonstrates Liberty’s commitment to early recruitment within our community, not only for themselves but for the entire community.”

Dendy said Early Head Start Programs nationwide are a proven approach to the issues of affordability and access for communities that are sometimes unable to access such services.

“This is really an investment into the diversity of this community and the underserved people here,” he said. “The kids that we plan to care for come from families that otherwise would not have the opportunity for high-quality childcare like this.”

“Having access to affordable childcare is crucial to the financial wellness of low-income families,” said Shon Muldrow, LU’s Executive Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. “Liberty University’s contribution to HumanKind helps local families invest in their future.”

Liberty has partnered with Humankind for many years. Through LU Serve, nearly 300 students have volunteered with the organization. Over 160 students have served in The Motherhood Collective Program as interns, volunteer leadership team members, childcare providers, and event staff. In 2019, Liberty students donated over 300 first-night bags to HumanKind’s Treatment Foster Care program, and the Liberty Debate team participated in a “Ways to Work” fundraiser and donated Christmas Angel Tree gifts. Eight student volunteers recently worked with HumanKind’s development team to hold a Turkey Trot event on Thanksgiving morning.

Out of 154 HumanKind employees, 41 are Liberty alumni.

“We’ve seen the full progression of Liberty students here, from the time they come here during their undergraduate studies as volunteers to them graduating and advancing their careers with us,” Graham said. “The impact and value that they’ve had for the organization in the community is immeasurable, quite honestly. The passion and commitment to the work they do in the community is incredible.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the opportunities for student volunteers in the past year, but HumanKind plans to safely provide more internships in its Early Head Start Program soon, in areas such as early childhood education, special education, family and child development, human services, psychology, social work, and public health, as well as provide part-time and volunteer opportunities.

“We have been very blessed over the years (by Liberty) to have interns, residents, students, and opportunities to engage in significant ways with larger groups who have chosen to volunteer here,” Dendy said. “There are a lot of connections throughout the community, and we value the opportunity to be a part of that education and a part of the learning community.”