Crittenton Center has received a $5,000 Fund for Siouxland grant to support safety improvements at the new home of its East Early Learning Child Development Center in Sioux City.
The funding will support the purchase and installation of 125 linear feet of six-foot safety fencing and two emergency exit gates around the playground at 4212 Gordon Drive. The improvements are intended to provide a secure outdoor learning environment and meet Iowa Department of Health and Human Services licensing requirements before children begin receiving care at the new location.
“We are grateful to the Fund for Siouxland for investing in the safety of the children and families we serve,” said Christina Eggink-Postma, Vice President of Community Engagement & Development at Crittenton Center. “This project will create a secure outdoor space where children can learn, play, and explore while giving parents peace of mind.”
New Home for Existing Program
The Gordon Drive facility will become the permanent home of Crittenton Center’s existing East Child Development Center. The move will also bring the organization’s child care and administrative operations together under one roof.
The renovated center will include four therapeutic classrooms, a family space for the Family Resource Center and an Arts and Media Center. Once completed, the facility is expected to provide space to care for 80 children, helping address the continuing shortage of child care in Woodbury County.
Crittenton Center says the outdoor learning area will support children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development by providing opportunities for active play, problem-solving and interaction with peers and caregivers.
Serving Siouxland Families
Crittenton Center has provided child care services in Sioux City since 1992. It currently operates six licensed child care centers across Sioux City, Le Mars and Orange City, serving children from birth through age 12.
The organization has served Iowa since 1895. Its services include child care, preschool and Family Resource Center programming, along with emergency shelter, foster care programming and homelessness outreach.
