On Thursday, Aug. 22, Geminus Head Start, a member of the Regional Care Group, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Geminus Head Start Porter County Early Learning Academy.
The event included a tour of the new facility, an introduction to the programs that will be offered, and marked the beginning of a new chapter in early childhood education and community support.
Dr. Karen Carradine, vice president of early childhood services at Geminus, and Bill Trowbridge, CEO of Regional Care Group, were the featured speakers.
“This has been a long journey that began in 2018 when I wrote a grant application to bring child care services to Porter County, specifically our Head Start program,” Carradine said. “We applied for our first grant in 2018 to try to meet that need. We were approved in 2019, and then, of course, the pandemic happened.”
Despite the obstacles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Carradine remained committed to launching the facility to serve the community.
“When the pandemic hit, we knew we needed more space to accommodate social distancing,” Carradine said. “Our original plan included four kindergarten classrooms for Head Start children ages 3-5. Given the circumstances, we quickly realized that prenatal and birth-to-5 services would likely continue, which would require more space. So we reworked our plan, applied for another grant, and decided to include Early Head Start families. We received funding from the federal government through Head Start's Pandemic Relief Fund, allowing us to expand the space we needed to expand our promise to our community. Our approved expansion has transformed our original blueprint into a dream come true by filling a need to increase access to quality child care opportunities in Porter County.”
Trowbridge supported Carradine's vision and wanted to assist her in any way possible.
“My role is to support her vision and dedication to making this project a reality,” Trowbridge said. “She took the job six years ago and was focused on the opportunity to expand our presence in Porter County. We're pleased to now have our first freestanding facility in Porter County. Overall, this will be a vital addition to the community. This area really needs a Head Start program and this facility will solidify our commitment to Porter County and South Haven.”
This space is crucial because it provides an environment for children to thrive. The facility not only cares for children, but also supports adults by offering prenatal classes and resources for parents.
“We are thrilled to be standing in front of this building, which not only serves children from birth to age five, but also offers prenatal care to mothers seeking support and guidance during pregnancy,” says Carradine. “Our prenatal life coaches are doula-certified, so they can help mothers who want a natural birth and guide them throughout the birthing process. We create an environment where children can learn, grow and thrive, and we also provide support and resources to help families achieve and maintain independence.”
Head Start has been a key focus for Trowbridge because it gives students a better chance at success.
“When it comes to Head Start programs, there's a strong focus on early learning,” Trowbridge says. “It's not just day care like you'd find in a traditional facility. It's a true learning center designed to give kids a 'head start' as they transition into the traditional school system, like kindergarten. We give kids the tools they need to be successful.”
Carradine also expressed her gratitude to the many people who assisted her throughout the building construction process, especially Head Start Program Specialist Carol Morrison and Indiana Head Start Association Executive Director Rhett Cecil.
“I'm extremely grateful to everyone who made this happen – the Head Start office, community leaders, educators and families who supported this initiative from the beginning,” Carradine said. “I appreciate your determination and dedication that has led us to this day. I'm also grateful to the Regional Care Group Board of Directors, who supported this initiative from the beginning and never wavered when I advocated for an expansion in the size and capacity of our facility. They approved every resource request and their support allowed us to see this project through to completion.”
Trowbridge is excited about the opening day of the facility and looks forward to seeing what it produces.
“We're happy that it's finally happening,” Trowbridge said. “It's been six years in the making, with many stops and starts due to COVID-19, funding issues and so on, but today is a really fantastic day to finally see all that hard work come to fruition.”
For more information, visit geminus.care/child-care/family-aid/education/head-start.