R2LP's many programs and initiatives are made possible with funding from the following federal, state, city and private organizations.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
With support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and in partnership with Making Connections Providence, R2LP encourages the involvement of parents in every aspect of its work. With funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, R2LP has introduced families to the Rhode Island Early Learning Standards through its Fun Family Activities for Preschoolers class, a six-session program offered throughout the year.
Bank of America Grant Programs
A Bank of America grant funds professional development opportunities for home child-care providers. These funds support El Club de Proveedoras Infantial de Rhode Island, a professional club for home-based child educators led by the provider community and hosted by R2LP. The grant also funds targeted training for home providers seeking to address identified needs in evaluations from BrightStars, the state's new Quality Rating and Improvement System for early-care settings.
Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation
The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation helps support the work of R2LP's 35 AmeriCorps members at libraries, early-care settings, pediatric clinics and the R2LP offices. The law firm also provides valuable pro bono legal support to R2LP and its parent organization, The Providence Plan.
Corporation for National Service/ Serve Rhode Island
Serve Rhode Island administers funding from the Corporation for National Service for AmericCorps programs in Rhode Island. With 35 members, R2LP's program, which got under way in 2005, is one of the largest in the state. After a full month of training in early childhood education and development, members work for 10 months in child-care centers, libraries, pediatric clinics and the R2LP offices to enhance the school readiness of our children.
Dexter Donation Fund
Dexter Donation, an agent of the City of Providence, provides support for a "Hardship Fund" for eligible AmeriCorps members during their year of service with R2LP. The Dexter Donation assists members who suffer from conditions of poverty that would otherwise prevent their continued participation in R2LP's service learning program. The program may provide additional resources to members for food, eyeglasses, household products, rental assistance and other expenses necessary to remain in the program.
R.I. Department of Education and Providence Public School Department
The R.I. Department of Education and the Providence Public School Department currently fund R2LP's Early Learning Center, one of seven classrooms in the state's Pre-kindergarten Demonstration Project. Classrooms in this year-long pilot program will adhere to 10 national benchmarks that help to ensure quality, including teacher credentials, class size, staff to child ratios, and health screenings. The National Institute for Early Education Research will measure the gains the students have made in language, literacy, early mathematics, and social and emotional development, and will report the results publicly.
The Rhode Island Foundation
Support from the The Rhode Island Foundation is helping R2LP expand professional development opportunities for Latina early childhood educators throughout Providence. El Club de Proveedoras Infantial de Rhode Island is a professional club for home-based child educators led by the provider community and hosted by R2LP. Membership in the past year grew from 35 to more than 100. All Club members have completed HeadsUp! Reading at R2LP.
Rhode Island General Assembly
The Rhode Island General Assembly maintains $2.3 million in legislative grants, funding a variety of programs and projects designed to enhance the quality of life for Rhode Island residents. Ready to Learn Providence has been the recipient of three legislative grants.
United Way of Rhode Island
With United Way funds in 2010/2011, R2LP will provide targeted professional development for child-care centers in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls seeking to address needs identified in their BrightStars evaluations or to advance to the next star. (BrightStars is the state's new Quality Rating and Improvement System for early-care settings.)
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education provides essential funding for R2LP's two largest professional development initiatives--Early Reading First (ERF) and Early Childhood Educator Professional Development (ECEPD). These programs have provided hundreds of center-based and home-based providers with in-depth early literacy training through college-level courses, on-site mentoring, and material support. In August 2009, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it had selected R2LP for a third ERF award. In this program, R2LP will work with centers in Pawtucket and Central Falls as well as one in Providence.
Past funders include the Hasbro Charitable Trust, IBM Corporation, Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation, Rhode Island Department of Health, Urban Institute National Neighborhoods Indicator Partnership, and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Child Care Bureau.
