John Rex Endowment Invests Nearly $1.3 Million in Early Childhood Development

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 8, 2012) – Lucy Daniels Center, Wake County Human Services and Wake County SmartStart will receive early childhood development grants totaling nearly $1.3 million from the John Rex Endowment.

The Lucy Daniels Center will receive $926,479 for a project that will focus on improving the capacity of 90 child care facilities in Wake County to develop and sustain policies and practices that support healthy social and emotional childhood development. A second grant of $300,000 has been designated to partially support the expansion and enhancement of the Lucy Daniels Center’s on-site, outpatient mental health services for young children.

Wake County Human Services will receive $16,500 for implementation of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) for families involved with child welfare. PCIT incorporates live coaching to foster healthier relationships, improve parent-child interactions and prevent child maltreatment.

Wake County SmartStart will receive $53,587 for the development of community-supported goals and strategies for a sustainable integrated system of home-based services for young children in Wake County.

“The mental, social and emotional health and well-being of children in Wake County is a priority area of funding,” said Kevin Cain, president and CEO of the John Rex Endowment. “By improving organizational, community, or system capacity; effectiveness; and efficiency, nonprofits in our community can make a significant impact on the development of infants and young children.”

About the John Rex Endowment:
The John Rex Endowment invests in the development and support of activities, programs and organizations that improve the health of underserved children and youth in Wake County. To learn more, please visit http://www.rexendowment.org.

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