2020 ANNUAL REPORT Dear Friends and Supporters, There’s something special about Episcopal Children’s Services. We are an organization that rises to challenges and creates impact for thousands of children and families every year.

This year has been even more challenging, as COVID-19 has brought more demands for services and new needs. The harsh reality is that the children we serve are facing extreme challenges – poverty, trauma, disabilities, homelessness, and more. What makes our work even more important is that the stress of these challenges actually alters the brain architecture of these babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, making learning even more difficult.

Without intervention, the negative effects of these challenges will last a lifetime. That’s why our Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2023 intentionally embraces bold goals because our work makes a difference – young children are making tremendous learning gains, parents are engaged in their child’s education, and families are improving their financial stability.

We are proud to present this report showcasing the incredible impact of our work. We are so grateful for every friend, supporter, employee, and part of Episcopal Children’s Services. It is only with your help and commitment that we can change the lives of thousands of children every year.

Connie Stophel Vicki Adams Chief Executive Officer Board President

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2020-2023

STRATEGIC PLAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES An agency overview of our goals, strategy and roadmap. Vicki Adams TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY SO THAT THE CHILDREN Board President WE SERVE CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. MISSION Clay County Sheriff’s Office BUILD THE WHO WE ARE Thabata Ford Increase awareness of ECS brand in our BRAND Vice President local communities. Wolfson Children’s Hospital

Strengthen the awareness of ECS services and programs to The Reverend support the needs of the community. Canon B. Wiley Ammons Secretary Episcopal Diocese of Florida QUALITY ENHANCEMENT STRIVE FOR Destinee Disher Achieve CDA Gold Standard Status. EXCELLENCE Treasurer Implement Trauma-Informed System of Care. Grant Thornton Become a National Head Start Program of Excellence. Malachi Beyah Ensure quality of all services meet the highest standards. Head Start Policy Council Liaison M & M Maintenance Plus, Inc.

Yared Alula PROGRAM EXPANSION EXTEND THE PGA Tour, Inc. Continue to pursue agency growth and REACH geographic expansion opportunities. The Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard Expanding services to meet people where Bishop of Florida they are and address community needs. Bob Ohrablo Jacksonville Icemen DEVELOPMENT INCREASE Increase non-federal match dollars. FUNDING Sara Leutzinger Pomposo Grow existing fundraising streams and Jacksonville Business Journal identify new appeals to support ECS at all levels. Christine Smith Strengthen and cultivate relationships and partnerships in Baptist Health new and existing grant areas. Karen Estella Smith TECHNOLOGY ENHANCE Karen Estella Strategy & Enhance tools and systems to improve SYSTEMS Communications efficiency internally. Susan Wildes Florida Blue Foundation

ECS WILL BE A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND A 501(C)(3) Christian Winterbottom, Ph.D. WITH A STRONG ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT USES RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES TO VISION HELP FAMILIES ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL READY TO LEARN. University of North Florida COVID-19

The pandemic created a host of challenges, but the Episcopal Children’s Services team sprang into action with creative approaches to support our children and families. Our teaching staff quickly created virtual educational environments so our young learners would continue to grow and develop. Our mental health team proactively reached out to families, offering comfort, support, and care for emotional health needs.

As our centers were forced to close for a few months until we could safely re-open, our low-income families needed immediate assistance with diapers and wipes, which are both essential and expensive. Our community partners, including United Way, First Coast Relief Fund, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, rallied with generosity with funding to provide these needed supplies for our families in need. Our staff organized drive- up plans at our centers to safely distribute diapers for our children.

The Office of Head Start also responded with new funding so that we could offer summer Of course, we could not do this work without learning for our children who were entering the support of amazing community volunteers. kindergarten for additional learning support. Despite not being able to host volunteers in our center, our team creatively responded with Once we were able to open our centers, our staff virtual volunteer opportunities. One of our most quickly adapted to our new environment, with popular volunteer opportunities was ECS Reads strict observance of health and safety protocols. where volunteers read books for our children.

Pictured Left: Tennikka Hughes from Action News Jax on Reading Wednesday

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The Children’s Champion Award was established in 2006 by Episcopal Children’s Services to recognize individuals and organizations who work passionately on behalf of children to elevate their welfare to the highest priority in our community.

Our 2020 Children’s Champions

Martha Frye Baker Peggy Bryan Julia “JuJu” Taylor

Despite COVID-19, forcing us to quickly shift from an in-person event to a virtual event, our 2020 Children’s Champion was our most successful ever, raising over $170,000 in net proceeds! This success was a direct reflection of our community’s pride in our 2020 honorees as well as a recognition of the incredible impact of Episcopal Children’s Services.

PAST HONOREES Michael Aubin, FACHE Connie Hodges John D. Baker, II Helen Lane Black Knight Betsy Ross Lovett The Boselli Foundation Melissa W. Nelson J.F. Bryan, IV Mr. & Mrs. Russell B. Newton, Jr. Edward E. Burr Davalu Parrish, DPA Gary Chartrand Pamela Y. Paul The Hon. John A. Delaney The Hon. John Peyton Florida Blue Dr. Richard G. Skinner, Jr. The Jessie Ball duPont Fund Delores Barr Weaver Dr. Nathaniel Glover Dr. H. Warner Webb Deborah Gianoulis Heald Wells Fargo EARLY LEARNING SERVICES

In partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida, we provide 13,851 families with needed financial assistance, so 13,851 their children can learn in quality care through the following: FAMILIES FINANCIALLY • Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten: Episcopal Children’s Services ASSISTED provides four-year-olds with free, high quality educational program using professional curriculum and staff to prepare our young learners for success in kindergarten.

• School Readiness: We help low-income families pay for childcare so their parents can earn income with the assurance that their children are thriving in high-quality care. 14,335 PARENTS & In addition, our Early Learning Services Program operates the CAREGIVERS Child Care Resource and Referral Program, where 14,335 parents PROVIDED WITH FREE CHILDCARE and caregivers are provided with free information on local childcare REFERRALS providers to meet their family’s specific needs.

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COACHJAX!

By leveraging our expertise in early learning, we provide over 76 childcare centers with coaching to improve their quality of care to improve the outcomes for the 2,900 children they serve. To provide the best education for all the children in our communities, teachers must be equipped with tools and knowledge to nurture child development. Ongoing coaching ensures that educators are provided with ongoing feedback on the quality of their work.

In partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Duval and the Kids Hope Alliance, teams of certified coaches and technical staff work directly with childcare facilities in Duval County to improve children’s outcomes. Our comprehensive approach includes environmental quality, teach effectiveness and use of quality curricula to help centers improve their quality and educational outcomes.

EARLY LEARNING CENTER AT GOOD SHEPHERD

With small class sizes and individual plans for each child, we are fostering childhood development in the Riverside area of Jacksonville. Because research has clearly identified the impact of early activities on brain development for young children, our center is equipped with environments that encourage exploration and playthings that engage young imaginations.

We believe that the potential for learning is greatest during the early years of a child’s life, so we strive to provide children with learning opportunities at the earliest possible age. Our learning experiences support children’s continuous physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth and development. We encourage parent involvement because parents are the first and primary educators of their children. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START

Our Head Start/Early head Start program provides comprehensive education, health, and nutrition for our community’s most vulnerable infants, toddlers, preschoolers, pregnant women, and their families. Early education makes sense for our community. When children enter school armed with skills and knowledge, they are more likely to graduate high school and attend college, be employed with a livable income, engage in healthy behaviors, and contribute to their community.

Our students are diverse in race and ethnicity, and speak many languages. 2,392 Race/Ethnicity 3,216 FAMILIES SERVED CHILDREN SERVED

African-American 52%

Homeless White 20% 6% ELIGIBILITY Other Hispanic 18% 4%

Public Biracial/Multiracial 7% Assistance Below 11% Poverty Level All Other 3% Foster 77% Care 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 2%

Middle DUAL LANGUAGE Other LEARNERS Eastern 3% 0% Other 15% Spanish Caribbean 11% 1% English 85%

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Our parent engagement approach is designed to support family well-being and promote children’s learning and development. By creating respectful and responsive partnerships between parents and staff, parent and family engagement promotes parents’ role as their children’s lifelong educators. We are committed to an inclusive environment for parents and caregivers that includes parent participation, leadership opportunities, support in their children’s health and development, enhancement of parent-child relationship, opportunities for employment, and paths to improve financial well-being.

Parents Parents Completing Volunteering Parent With Their Child’s Education Education 87% 80%

Staff Who Are Head Start Alumnae 22% HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START

EDUCATION CREDENTIALS Bachelor’s or TEACHING AND Advanced Degree 113 PROFESSIONAL STAFF Associates Early education is implemented by a Degree 77 strong team of professionals with extensive experience and credentials because of the Child Development Associate importance of quality education. 261

We want every child to enter school can create stimulating and effective learning ready to learn. We utilize a framework of experiences so that children progress across child development that is grounded in each key area of learning. We regularly assess comprehensive research about what children our students to demonstrate our impact on should know and be able to do to succeed learning gains, and the graph highlights the in school. Each learning domain has specific improvements made by our four-year-old benchmarks for each age, so that teachers students in this program year.

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Gains by Learning Domain 100 90 5% 1% 4% 7% 80 77% 75% 70 60 5% 52% 50% 51% 50 44% Beginning of Year 40 34% 30 End of Year 20 10 0 Social- Physical Language Cognitive Literacy Mathematics Emotional

Social Emotional Development gives children Cognition provides the basis for problem- the capacity to connect to others and learn solving, mathematical thinking and scientific about their world. reasoning.

Physical Development encompasses more Literacy builds skills to recognize letters, than height and weight – children develop phonetic sounds, and understand how perception, motor skills, and complex printed words convey meaning. coordination. Mathematics builds the foundation for Language allows us to communicate, and algebraic thinking and geometry through children need words and skills to express their counting, recognizing patterns, and thoughts and feelings. understanding shapes.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Physical and Dental Health

Children must be healthy in order to learn, making health an integral focus of our Head Start/Early Head Start program.

Preventive care is crucial for our children’s success and our Health team prioritizes ensuring our children have health insurance as well as ongoing accessible health and dental care. 96% 93% 61% Children Children with Children with with Health Medical Homes Dental Homes Insurance RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE

Region IV Head Start Association Winners These two individuals received the highest possible recognition for their successful accomplishments. After winning both the local and statewide awards, they advanced to the regional competition, where they have been honored for their work.

The Humanitarian of the Year Award The Achievement Award celebrates celebrates an individual who utilizes their exceptional performance in the delivery resources and leadership to achieve positive of services to children with disabilities and outcomes in their community and help Head supporting parents in their role as advocates Start/Early Head Start children and their for their children. Renee Santillo, Child families. Dr. Rebecca Marcon, most recently Development Manager for our HS/EHS of the University of North Florida, has made program, is passionate in her work, creative numerous contributions as a leader, advocate, in her approach and motivates others to join and researcher for early childhood education her in collaborative advocacy for children that have resulted in the most powerful with disabilities. She has worked to develop impacts for our children, our staff and for the Individual Classroom Plans to creative inclusive entire Head Start Program. For more than classroom settings while supporting teachers in 20 years, she has provided compassionate providing quality instruction. Every day, Renee and dedicated psychology interns to support shows her tireless dedication to supporting our young students and their families, which children with special needs. culminated in over $2,000,000 in contributions of non-federal match.

FLORIDA HEAD START ASSOCIATION WINNERS

Parents are their child’s first, and most important, teachers. Both the parents who have been honored with the statewide awards have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and achieved positive outcomes for their families.

The Beating the Odds Award celebrates The Parent of the Year Award celebrates a a Head Start/Early Head Start parent who Head Start/Early Head Start parent who has has overcome significant challenges on the demonstrated the ability to serve as a role journey to self-sufficiency. Nicole Everage model for their children and to make a positive has shown courage and determination to difference in the community. Antoinette Brown overcome the many obstacles and hardships showcases what it means to be a committed faced by a young mother with two young parent through her dedication to her children’s children who finds herself in incredibly education. She is a role model to other difficult circumstances. She has overcome parents as she is an excellent leader and active homelessness, purchased a car and is pursuing collaborator. Despite health challenges, she is her dream to become a veterinarian – all while present at every activity at the Baker center continuing to volunteer and support Monty and and serves as a Policy Council Representative. Hunter’s education.

12 Episcopal Children's Services | 2020 Annual Report Episcopal Children's Services | 2020 Annual Report 13 Our annual Achieve Awards celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our top Volunteers, Teachers, Staff Members, Parents and Partners.

After a highly competitive nomination and selection process, our top achievers from across our service are chosen because of their commitment to excellence in supporting the lives of vulnerable children and families in our community.

Every one of these winners exemplifies the spirit of giving back and we are all grateful for their generosity and dedication.

PARENTS OF THE YEAR VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR Skyler Bailey Ernie Albert Antionette Brown Dr. Catherine Bridges James Clemons Billivan Burton Jackeline Colon Gail Werneburg

STAFF OF THE YEAR SCHOOL READINESS Demica Davis CLASS AWARDS Lori Gabel First Baptist Preschool Davetta Williams Mwanza Lewis Diana Williams CHILD CARE PARTNERS OF THE YEAR TEACHERS OF THE YEAR ABC Academy Kristen Mooney Lane Avenue Child Development Center Patricia Portis Elizabeth Velez-Marmol COACHJAX! PARTNER OF THE YEAR Every Child Can Learn Child Development Center, Inc.

HEAD START HEROES

Our approach to continuous improvement throughout our Head Start/Early Head Start Program results in well-deserved nominations for recognition of our parents, community partners, and staff.

AUBREY PUCKETT MEMORIAL AWARD ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR Maritza Alejandro Lori Gabel

SARGENT SHRIVER EXCELLENCE IN TEACHER OF THE YEAR COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Elizabeth Velez-Marmol Heart of Florida Health FATHER OF THE YEAR RON HERNDON HEAD START PARENT James Clemons SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Sasha Reese STAFF OF THE YEAR Katherine Debrocq EDWARD ZIGLER INNOVATION AWARD Head Start/Early Head Start Mental Health Program FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Program State Services Local 49% 99% 2% Contributions & Other Revenue Expenses 6% $76,570,097 $69,182,384

Management Federal & General 40% 1%

EPISCOPAL CHILDREN’S AUDIT RESULTS SERVICES IS REPORTING OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN Our financial audit is conducted annually OUR HISTORY. by Ralston & Company, a Jacksonville firm, that holds an impeccable reputation in the With the hard work of a dedicated team, community, with specific expertise in auditing we continue to expand our revenues while financials for nonprofit organizations. We have maximizing the dollars that directly pay for used Ralston & Company for the past 8 years. desperately needed programming. Episcopal Children’s Services is understandably Our Federal, State and Local Governments proud of our track record of receiving an invested $69,182,384 in our program delivery unqualified opinion on our audits, with this year alone. And we will continue to no material weaknesses or issues of non- compete for additional investment. compliance in our financial statements. In addition to the audit of our Consolidated BUT THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE Financial Statements, Ralston & Company A PRICE. also audits compliance for each major Federal Program and State Program as required. Again, We must prove that our local communities value these audits have received an unqualified these investments by raising local support from opinion, with no material weaknesses or issues contributions and other revenues. These funds of non-compliance. are crucial to ensure our community is preparing our youngest citizens are entering school ready to learn. Because when children succeed in school, they enter the workforce prepared to compete in the global economy.

To continue this desperately needed investment, we need the support of every sector – corporate, local government, foundations, service organizations, religious groups and individuals. Every donation, no matter the size, is critical.

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 – 2020 DONORS AND SPONSORS

Marlene Abbate Madelina Colon Guiding Light Ministries Inc. Haubie Merced-Alicea Martha T. Shackelford Jamillah Abdullah Community Bag and Giving Tag Program Maria Guzman Angela Merritt Ronald Sholes Vicki Adams Janet Courter Brenda Haffner Mark T. Middlebrook Robert Simmons Frances Alford Martha Cox Dallas Hannar Lynda A. Miller Michael Slaven Yared Alula CSX Corporation Stanley Hanson Tracy M. Mills Darnell Smith Amazon Smile Foundation Lorrie Curran Harrington Insurance Inc. Wanda G. Minick Derrick Smith LaToya Anderson Michelle Cutler Caryon Harris Angelica Miranda Karen E. Smith Anonymous Daughters of the American Revolution Cessalie Harris Tamarah L. Molter Patricia Smith Christina Baker Demica Davis Jan Healy Shalanda Moore Smith, Hulsey, And Busey John D. Baker Michael Davis Heart of Florida Health Center Inc. Ameilia Morrison Anthony Snell Martha Baker Sheila Davis Helen And Edward Lane Endowment Fund Victoria Moulder Brittney Spangler Alicia W. Baltzell Taquarius Davis Debra Hicks Network For Good Rickina Spincer Bank Of America Veronica Davis Shirley A. Hightower Emily Neuschwanter April Sprague Bank Of America Foundation Katherine DeBrocq Darren B. Hodges Josephine Newton St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Mission Rachel Barker Mario Decunto Heather Hodges Nonprofit Center of Northeast FL, Inc. Mecca Stewart Mariel Bello-Narvaez Janice M. DeJesus Karen Holmes Ocala Lions Club Connie Stophel Kelsey Benton Brianna DeOsca Ryan Horn Ocala On Top of the World Lions Club Charities Jennifer Szala Malachi Beyah Temple DePlato Lajuanza Horne Foundation Inc. The Community Foundation For Northeast Florida Jessica Bianchi Jennifer Dews John Hougendobler Office Depot The Gate Foundation Sandra Birch Jeanne Dillard Kimberle Houlberg Bob Ohrablo The GE Foundation Black Knight Inc. Corp Direct Hoyt Family Charitable Fund Jasmine Paige The Haskell Foundation Jan M. Blais Destinee Disher Bill Hutchinson Davalu Parrish The Paul E. and Klare Reinhold Foundation Denver Blake Dottie Dorion Kissely Ingram Jane Patterson Debra Thornton Melissa Bloom Steven Dubie Kwanza Jackson Pamela Y. Paul Autumn Tomas Leslie Boddie Ann H. Duff Laticia Jackson Celinda Peacock Joanny Torres Tony Boloutchi Denita Dugas Turkessa N. Jackson PGA Tour, Inc. Madeline Torres Taylor Bounds Hailey Dugger Jacksonville Icemen Foundation Carolyn Phanstiel Angelique Tripoli Bradford County Sheriff’s Office Raelyn C. Durham Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation Jessica Pierce Amber Troutman Morgaen Brandler Bill Dyer Pam Jett PNC Foundation Cedric Twillie Patrice Bross EFSP Alachua County Claytonia Johnson Sara L. Pomposo Tyrone Baker Bail Bonds Alexander Brown EFSP Bradford County Ariel Jones Patricia S. Portis United HealthCare Debra Brown EFSP Gilchrist County Dominique Jones Nilda Price United Way of Grater Portland Shandoria Brown EFSP Levy County Kaplan Early Learning Nacya Pride United Way of Lake & Sumter Counties Holly L. Bryan Shanda Ellis Omie Kargbo Tami Reed United Way of Marion County J.F. Bryan Claire Evans Kendra Scott Kenya Register United Way of North Central Florida Shakekke Bryant Lisette Fiannaca Lake County Children’s Services Council Sally Register United Way of Northeast Florida Kathleen Bullock First Coast Relief Fund Alefia Landry Rena B. Selders Foundation United Way Worldwide Megan Burgess Florida Blue Foundation LassiterWare Eugenia C. Retamar University of North Florida Ed Burr Florida Insurance Trust Jessica Lauramore Lucia Reyes Volunteer Florida-Americorps Member Program Melissa Burrows Florida Rock And Tank Lines Foundation Law Office of Kimberly A. Schulte, LLC Elizabeth Rich VyStar Credit Union Patricia Byrd Bobbie Ford Candace Lee Mary S. Rieman Chaneil Wade Rushton Callaghan Barbara Freeman DeAndrea Lee Henry Ring Walmart-Foundation Anqvinette Callis Myrtie Fryer Jennifer Lee Kyerra Robinson Vivian Watson Darius Cannon Amy Gallagher Lisska Family Fund Tawnee Rogers Dr. Warner Webb Tara B. Cardozo Gateway of Deliverance of Tabernacle Inc Yolandita Lopez Carl Rorick Altoria White Courtney Cariveau Deborah Gianoulis Heald Betsy R. Lovett Luz Rosado Beverly Williams Jaclyn Cariveau Carmilita Gilmaoare Jennifer Lowe Robyn Sabatt-Waring Davetta Williams Meilin Chang Mollie Goodman Maria Luna Anita M. Sackman Ebony Williams Charities Aid Foundation of America Michele Goytia Teresa M. Machado Jennifer C. Salada Peggy S. Williams Susan Cheshire Cynthia Graves Teresa Mackado Sam’s Club 8253 Terri Williams Jacki Chimino Greater Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Takira Mainor Jany M. Sanchez Tameria Wimbley Christ Episcopal Church Amber Green Teresa J. Matheny Lisandra Sanchez Wolfson Children’s Hospital Circuit Court Clerk-Clay County Florida Jamila Green Jennifer Matusko Roushawn Saunders Carmelia Woodard City Of Jacksonville Angela Griffin Gwendolyn McBride Sierra Scarlett James Wright Melanie S. Clough Amanda Griffis Janice McClenton David Schubiger Janet G. Wright Jodie Coleman Shecovia Grimes Christopher McKnight Kelly R. Scott Jose Colon Jeffrey Grover Tina McLaurn Michaela Scurti

Our School Readiness Programs are sponsored in part by: Early Learning Coalition of North Florida Fernandina Beach Nassau County Board of County Commissioners Florida’s Office of Early Learning City of Lawtey St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Baker County Board of County Commissioners City of Macclenny Town of Callahan Bradford County Board of County Commissioners City of Starke United Way of St. Johns County City of Green Cove Springs Clay County Board of County Commissioners 8443 Baymeadows Road, Suite 1 Jacksonville, FL 32256 904.726.1500 www.ecs4kids.org