Before (above) and after (below) images from Uni-Pres Kindercottage.
IFF’s Quality Facilities for All Initiative (QFA) recently wrapped up the second cohort of its Grant Program, renovating center-based early childhood education (ECE) facilities in East St. Louis, IL. Across the East St. Louis metro area, QFA granted seven ECE providers approximately $50,000 each for projects enhancing infant and toddler facilities, including repainting, replacing flooring and windows, and renovating outdoor play spaces. This cohort’s completion represents the initiative’s second major milestone, following the completion of the QFA Grant Program’s first cohort in Chicago this past fall.
QFA’s work with these seven grantees impacted nearly 80% of East St. Louis’ children aged five and under, enhancing facilities for 774 children out of a total population of 987. As of late-May 2024, the initiative renovated: three outdoor play areas; eight bathrooms; two lobbies; seven classrooms; and one entryway to add a ramp and improve that facility’s accessibility for children and families with physical disabilities.
QFA was launched in the late 2010s as a Technical Assistance Program, assisting Illinois ECE providers with limited grant writing experience to apply for state funding for facility renovations. When the COVID-19 pandemic paused state funding in 2020, IFF’s program team pivoted and began developing QFA’s Grant Program to increase access to high-quality infant and toddler programs in communities of color that have experienced long-term disinvestment. Based on data from the Community Data Insights team’s 2019 report Access and Quality for Illinois Children, East St. Louis was identified as one of seven key locales in the state.
In early spring 2022, the program team began outreach to communities in East St. Louis to encourage applications to the program. IFF’s Real Estate Solutions (RES) team began working with grantees in late fall 2022 to initiate budgeting and Facility Assessment work. Construction proceeded throughout 2023, with the RES team guiding grantees through the renovation process and coordinating between grantees and contractors. The team also provided consulting and funding to support universal access work for one of the grantees, helping construct a ramp to improve access to the facility’s front doors from its parking lot.
The QFA team is grateful for everyone who contributed to the program across IFF’s departments and markets.
Before and After Stories of Success
- Kids of Hope
- Uni-Pres Kindercottage
- Hamilton's Learning Center
For Hope Johnson, director and owner of Kids of Hope Child Development Center, the changes from QFA were immediately apparent. “Even walking in, it’s a different feel. When people come in off the street they are amazed; they say how nice it is. The floors and dimming lights are cozy. The overall feel is 100% better than it was before. The light is shining through the room; the kids are happier. It’s a better environment.” The repainted center brought a new, more tranquil energy to her space for the children. “I had bright colors; now it’s calm. The kids aren’t as hyper. It’s more laid back. The paint, flooring, dimming — its all calm. The kids are so much happier, and the parents love it. People come for a tour, and I am really proud.”
“The teachers took great pride in the updated space,” reflects Aimee Hart, executive director of Uni-Pres Kindercottage. “When we give tours to families, which are really important, we talk about the lights and windows. We see the impact in prospective parents.” Among other work, the center had its walls repainted and its lighting re-done, with impact on both staff and children. “For the staff, resetting the lights, clean floor, soft colors — it made a big difference. We aren’t learning off the walls; we are learning from books and the teachers’ instructions. The pictures are more noticeable on the wall too. It all makes a difference for the teachers, being comfortable in a cozy space, and feeling comfortable in our own environment.” One particular corner, with new furnishings, has provided Uni-Pres’s infants endless entertainment. “My babies love the window. We brought these two stuffed logs that they can sit on, and they sit and watch the window. They love to watch the rain especially. They are learning. We talk about the cars, birds, squirrels, whatever they see.”
Debra Hamilton Tidwell, director and owner of Hamilton’s Learning Center, saw an immediate difference in the way her center’s infants were able to interact with the outside world through the center’s new outdoor play area. “Well, the babies love it! It is so funny how they get down. The surface is so soft; it’s like they are in the indoors.” The new play area has opened up a new space for growth. “It allowed them to explore. There’s a lot of things that they can do inside that they can do better outside. The new play area has enhanced their experience tremendously. It’s great to see little people climb, and you don’t have to worry about them falling. And the music stand — they light up! At first, they were afraid of the music, and now they love to do it themselves. It’s amazing to see them excited about something new.”
Tags: : Early Childhood Education, Programs, Real Estate Solutions