For more than 50 years, Miami Valley Child Development Centers has worked to deliver exceptional early childhood education and develop compassionate partnerships with families to support them in realizing their hopes and dreams. Read more about the nonprofit organization in this Q&A featuring Chief Executive Officer Berta Velilla.
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What is the mission of Miami Valley Child Development Centers?
Miami Valley Child Development Centers exists to ensure that children and families with limited opportunity have the support, resources and relationships they need to thrive.
As the region's Head Start organization, we provide comprehensive early childhood education, family support, health services and community connections that help break cycles of poverty and create pathways to lifelong success. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their family's income, circumstances or zip code.
Equally important, we recognize that children succeed when families succeed. Our work strengthens the entire family by connecting parents to education, employment, housing stability, health resources and leadership opportunities that foster greater self-sufficiency and economic mobility. We are not simply preparing children for kindergarten; we are helping families build brighter futures and stronger communities.
Why are your services now more important than ever?
Families across our region are facing growing challenges, including rising housing costs, food insecurity, transportation barriers, limited access to affordable childcare and increasing economic uncertainty. For many of the families we serve, these challenges can become obstacles that prevent both parents and children from reaching their full potential.
Head Start was created to level the playing field for children facing the greatest barriers to success. MVCDC provides a trusted network of support that helps children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn while helping families build stability, confidence and resilience.
What changes are you looking to implement or programs are you looking to build upon?
One of our most exciting initiatives is MVCDC University, a strategy designed to strengthen the early childhood workforce while creating new pathways to economic mobility for the families we serve.
At MVCDC, we know that children thrive when they are surrounded by caring, qualified educators. Like many early childhood organizations, we face a significant teacher shortage that impacts our ability to fully meet community demand for high-quality early learning opportunities for children who need them most.
MVCDC University is our bold and practical solution to grow our early childhood workforce by building career pathways, unlocking opportunities and ensuring every child has a caring, qualified teacher. Through this initiative, parents, current staff and other aspiring educators will earn their Child Development Associate credential, the nationally recognized standard for early childhood educators. Participants receive expert coaching, individualized support and flexible learning opportunities that allow them to earn their CDA while they work and care for their families.
Our goal is to raise $1 million over three years to support 120 individuals in earning their CDA credential and transitioning into careers as early childhood educators. By investing in workforce development, strengthening family engagement and building innovative partnerships, we are creating a sustainable model that expands access to high-quality early learning while helping families move toward greater economic stability and self-sufficiency.
Recent grants awarded from Dayton Foundation funds include a $45,000 discretionary grant to help launch a dedicated development department that will strengthen fundraising and donor engagement to support MVCDC's programs. How do gifts like these help you help others?
Investments like these create opportunities that extend far beyond a single program or initiative. The development department will help us build sustainable community support, strengthen relationships with donors and partners, and diversify funding so we can continue meeting the evolving needs of children and families throughout our service area.
Ultimately, gifts like these ensure that families facing significant barriers have access to comprehensive services that can change the trajectory of their lives. They allow us to invest not only in high-quality learning experiences for children, but also in the health, stability, educational attainment and long-term success of the families we serve.
Every investment in MVCDC helps create stronger children, stronger families and stronger communities.
What are your most important needs right now? How can the community support them?
Our greatest need is sustained community investment in the children and families who face the greatest barriers to opportunity. While federal funding provides the foundation for Head Start services, community support allows us to go further, respond more quickly to emerging needs and develop innovative solutions that strengthen outcomes for families.
The community can support our work through financial contributions, corporate partnerships, volunteerism, advocacy and by helping raise awareness about the importance of investing in young children and families. We also invite community members to learn more about Head Start and the powerful role it plays in helping families build stability, independence and hope for the future. Learn how you can support our mission and become a Difference Maker at www.mvcdc.org.
When our community invests in children and families today, we are investing in a stronger, healthier and more prosperous Miami Valley for generations to come.