$7 million in stimulus will help build babies' brains

DURHAM -- Business leaders are paying attention to a new effort to help infants and toddlers, even if hiring them is at least 15 years away.

Two local agencies will receive more than $7 million in federal money to begin Early Head Start programs in Wake, Durham and Chatham counties.

The money, doled out over two years, will provide health, medical and nutrition services, parenting workshops and other help at home and in child-care centers to poor families to better prepare children, from newborns to 3 year olds, for school.

Telamon, a nonprofit group with offices in Raleigh, will receive just over $4.5 million to start the program in Wake and Chatham counties and continue services in Caswell County. The funds will serve 198 children.

A long time coming

Durham's Partnership for Children will receive $3.3 million to help 120 children. About 23 percent of Durham children up to 3 years old live in poverty, according to the partnership. The 120 children represent 3 percent of those children.

Families that meet income guidelines can participate in the program on a first-come, first-served basis.

At least 10 counties are getting a total of $24 million to start Early Head Start programs.

The money comes from stimulus dollars earmarked for the federal program. North Carolina had Early Head Start sites in 29 counties, serving 1,400 children, before the new federal money was available.

Money for new sites has not been available for 10 years, said Marsha Basloe, the Durham partnership's executive director. Durham applied for Early Head Start funds in 1998 but was denied.

How a community handles early childhood development can influence a business's decision to relocate or expand, said Casey Steinbacher, president and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce.

Why businesses care

"Child care has become a big issue in business because it is an issue of their workers and their talents," she said. "You have to look at talent as a resource commodity for business.

"The things that make talent productive are what businesses are concerned about, so being able to have a work force that lives in a sound community that provides good child care, good transportation, [is] now important to the business community."

Current spending on education and child development initiatives will save taxpayers money, said Rep. David Price, whose district includes Durham County.

"The dollars you're saving [are] in future education costs, criminal justice expenses, welfare expenses," he said. "Investing in early childhood nurturing and education is a wise investment."

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