A ribbon cutting ceremony by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce will kick off Step Up Ventura’s open house on Saturday, August 26 from 3pm-5 pm at 1767 E. Main St. In collaboration with Magic Carousel Preschool and Academy, Step Up Ventura’s program will offer supportive serves to homeless children 18 months to five years who will be attending Magic Carousel as preschool students.
As Magic Carousel provides full-time childcare and preschool to homeless children, Step Up Ventura’s attachment focused, trauma-informed services will help these children be successful academically, emotionally and socially.
Step Up Ventura’s program for the homeless students at Magic Carousel includes services rich with one-on-one time, expressive arts, pre-literacy, self-management and problem solving. Parent coaching and parent-child relationship building will give children and their families a safe, nurturing place to connect, heal and learn.
There are about 3,000 homeless children aged zero to five in Ventura County. This includes children living in temporary/transitional housing, shelters, over-crowded/uninhabitable places, and on the street.
By age five, many of these children are emotionally stressed, developmentally delayed and/or unready for kindergarten. They are at risk for acute illnesses, mental health difficulties and learning problems. These high risk factors can lead to unstable relationships, school failure and other problems. Step Up Ventura’s therapeutic program coordinated with Magic Carousel’s preschool hopes to change that.
Applications for Step Up Ventura’s program at Magic Carousel began August 14. These all day, year round services are made possible with funding from private donors, grants, faith-based organizations, businesses and the City of Ventura. People interested in donating, volunteering or having a child attend Magic Carousel and participate in Step Up Ventura’s program can contact Step Up Ventura at [email protected] or 665-3385.
Step Up Ventura is a local non-profit whose mission is to promote family stability and school success by providing accessible therapeutic services to homeless children ages zero to five.
