For families raising young children with special needs, everyday life can require extra planning. A trip to the grocery store, a visit to the library or getting out the door in the morning may not feel simple when a child needs more time, preparation or support to move through the day. Jessica Bone, Senior Director […]

ECS4Kids is proud to partner with FLAEYC to host October’s Pre-Conference session for leaders, featuring our President & CEO Dr. Bannister Roby! Register now to support our presenting leadership team including Child Wellness (Disabilities & Behavioral Health), Education, and Professional Development, and pick up practical behavior management strategies! 

Books are taking a walk on the wild side this October. ECS4Kids is bringing families, stories and some familiar Jacksonville faces together for Wild Reading Safari, a morning of reading and family fun at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Saturday, October 17. From 10 a.m. to noon, families can enjoy stories read by local celebrity […]

For the past 60 years, ECS4Kids has walked hand-in-hand with the community we serve as we strive to provide quality early learning as a means to create multi-generational impact for our families. And this would not be possible with the dedicated support of volunteers like Jennifer Parker! She took a quick break from reading to […]

ECS4Kids grew by 108 tiny feet following the recent ribbon cutting for our Good Shepherd center! What made this ribbon cutting especially meaningful was that it wasn’t ECS4Kids introducing a new partnership. It was a reunion with an old friend. Good Shepherd has served ECS4Kids families in the past, and we’re excited to welcome the […]

Understanding Special Needs and Early Intervention When a child is young, every milestone matters. A first word. A reach. A crawl. A first step.  Each of these moments helps build the foundation for what comes next. When a child is delayed in reaching a developmental milestone, it does not mean something is wrong with them. […]

You recently moved to the area. How has having free early learning and meals through ECS helped you and your daughter as you’ve gotten settled? Having ECS has honestly been such a big help for us during this transition. Moving to a new area comes with so many changes and expenses, so knowing my daughter […]

Once again, TNT Impact, the Gainesville Hub of Operation Impact, has extended its philanthropic reach to support the mission of ECS4Kids. Over the past two years, they have donated classroom supplies as well as holiday gifts to children and staff across Gainesville. This time, they adopted our Highlands Center and donated classroom supplies to help […]

For Enrika, ECS4Kids became more than a place where her children could learn and grow. By having her children’s early learning needs met, she gained the time and stability to pursue her own dreams, launch businesses, and create new opportunities for her family. Her story shows what can happen when we invest in the whole […]

Special Needs, Strong Futures: One Family’s Story of Support and Success When Angela Callahan’s youngest son was a toddler, she knew something was different. Her older son was 10 years old when her second child was born, and Angela thought she knew what to expect. But her younger son was not developing on the same […]