The resource list below is geared toward community members who may be in need of essential resources related to clothing, coats/jackets, food, housing, and utilities. You can view the comprehensive list below or you can click any of the categories to help identify the right resource for you.
Please note that this list is a work in progress and is not complete. As more information is gathered it will be added:
If you are aware of a resource that should be included, please use this formto submit the appropriate information.
The Child Care Subsidy Program assists families in paying child care costs for children under age 13 who are not eligible to attend public school during the part of the day when public education is available, or children with special needs under age 18 who reside with the applicant. If you are eligible and are approved for services, the Subsidy Program can pay a portion of your child care costs directly to the child care provider.
Here are some helpful tips to find out if your employer offers childcare benefits or supports.
Employee Handbook or Policies: Start by reviewing the company’s employee handbook or policies. Often, child care benefits are mentioned in these documents along with other employee benefits.
Human Resources (HR) Department: Reach out to the HR department directly. They can provide information about all the benefits available to employees, including child care assistance programs, subsidies, or flexible spending accounts for child care expenses.
Intranet or Company Website: Check the company’s intranet or website for information on employee benefits. Some companies have dedicated sections or portals where employees can learn about available benefits and how to access them.
Ask Colleagues: If comfortable, ask colleagues who are parents if they are aware of any child care benefits offered by the employer. They might have insights or firsthand experience with the company’s programs.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Some companies offer employee assistance programs that include resources for child care support and referrals. These programs may provide counseling, information, and assistance in finding suitable child care options.
Family Village
It takes a village to raise a child…Ready Region Blue Ridge offers a variety of ways to engage and connect with families through our Family Village. You can be as active as you want!
Our Vision
All children birth to five have a solid foundation that leads to success.
Our Mission
To bring our community together to champion equal access to resources for all children from birth to age five.
What Is Family Engagement to Us?
“In Ready Region Blue Ridge, Family Engagement focuses on building relationships, fostering joint decision-making, and ensuring the availability of resources to support children’s learning and development through active communication and collaboration among parents, caregivers, and the community.”
– Family Council Members
How to Get Help When Concerned about Your Child’s Development- Birth-5 Years
We’re excited to invite you to join our family village Facebook group, where we can stay connected and share resources, updates, memories, and more. Who can join? Any parent or caregiver with children of any age!
The Family Council brings families together within our region to discuss early childhood care and education topics. Families are empowered to advocate for the needs and challenges they face when accessing early childhood care for their children.
Learn about early childhood care, education systems, and community resources.
Weigh in on current programs and what more is needed for families with young children
Use your voice to promote change
Who can join? Parents and caregivers of children aged birth to 5.
How often/long are meetings? 1 hour each month (virtual)
How much do you pay? $50 per family council meeting you attend and $25/hr. for additional meetings and events.
Are you interested in joining the Family Council and Family Village? We’d love to have you on board! Sign Up Here
The Virginia Promise Partnership is a coalition of leading organizations working together to achieve our bold goal of ensuring all Virginia families have access to affordable, quality child care by 2030, regardless of income.
We’d like to share information about the Virginia Promise Partnership with you. Please click the link below for more details:
To sign up contact our Family Engagement Specialist: tthompson@unitedwaycville.org or 434-459-0200
Social and Emotional Development describes the range of skills that young children learn that help them relate to themselves and others. These skills include: expressing and regulating feelings, considering how others feel, and solving problems with greater independence. For more information, see Virginia’s Early Learning and Development Standards, Birth-Five Learning Guidelines (ELDS) which outline typical child development from birth to five years of age. Use this document to understand what skills are appropriate for your child and to see what s/he might develop next.
United Way of Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro has put together a food resource guide that can be found on their website. Click below to learn more. You can find both hot meals and food pantries on this resource!
United Way of Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro has put together a community resource guide to help families meet their needs. Please click the link below to visit their website and review the resource guide.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is a state agency that oversees birth-to-five early childhood programs including child care centers, pre-K or preschool in public schools, family day homes, and Head Start. This includes measuring the quality of programs.
Our goal is that all Virginia children have learning experiences that prepare them for kindergarten. Measuring the quality of these learning experiences helps strengthen programs and provide important information to families.
What is VQB5?
In response to state law, Virginia has developed VQB5 to measure and improve the quality of infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. VQB5 is used in child care centers, family day homes, public school preschools, and Head Start sites. VQB5 helps families learn about different birth-to-five programs so they can choose a program that best meets their needs.
How does VQB5 work?
There are two parts of VQB5.
1. Trained observers look at all classrooms using a nationally-regarded early childhood observation tool called CLASS. This observation lasts 60-80 minutes. The trained observer focuses on the interactions between teachers and children. This is not a child-level observation. Teachers receive feedback on what they are doing well and support to improve.
2. VQB5 also looks at whether classrooms are using a quality curriculum that has been approved by the state. Curriculum is always optional, and programs have lots of choices.
Who takes part in VQB5?
Birth-to-five early childhood programs who receive government funding are required to take part in VQB5. Programs that do not receive any government funding can choose to take part.
What does this mean if my child is enrolled in a VQB5 site?
QB5 sites are focused on providing quality learning experiences for your child. This means your child’s teacher is receiving feedback and support multiple times a year. Your site is also likely using a quality curriculum. Starting in fall 2024, parents will be able to find information on the quality ratings for all VQB5 sites.
What are VQB5 sites required to do?
VQB5 sites are required to do the following each year:
1. Have CLASS observations in every infant, toddler, and preschool classroom in the fall and spring.
2. Report on their use of approved early childhood curriculum.
3. Provide important information about their teachers and classrooms, including child enrollment information to VDOE each fall.
Why do VQB5 sites need to give child enrollment information?
State law requires the VDOE to improve learning experiences for young children so that more children can enter school ready. This information helps the VDOE better understand how all these different early learning experiences support kindergarten readiness.
How will the privacy of my child’s information be protected?
Federal and state laws protect how child information is used. VDOE will keep child information private and secure. VDOE will never share information in a way that would identify any child or any small group of children.
What should I do if I have a question about VQB5 or if I’d like to learn more?
Public Housing The United States Housing Act of 1937 created the Public Housing Program as a means to provide decent, safe, affordable housing for eligible low income families, the elderly and the disabled. The Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority opened its first public housing development of sixty-one (61) units in 1974. Since that time, the Authority’s public housing inventory has grown to one hundred, eighty-eight (188) units on seven (7) scattered sites throughout the City of Waynesboro. The program provided a housing alternative to 694 individuals in FY 2003.
Homeownership Program
The Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s proven multi-level homeownership program has been recognized both nationally and statewide with awards of merit for assisting low income families in achieving the “American Dream of Homeownership”. Educating potential homeowners in the responsibilities and benefits of homeownership is the foundation on which the Authority bases its success. The Virginia Housing Development Authority’s (VHDA) Homeownership Education Program is the model for the Authority’s educational curriculum, as well as certification. In addition, VHDA’s SPARC Program allows the Authority to offer below market rate permanent mortgage financing and Branch Banking and Trust Company provides construction financing.
The Authority’s commitment and obligation exceeds simple counseling. In response to a need for “new low cost housing”, the Authority builds homes specifically for low to moderate income first time homebuyers. Such homes are less costly, with higher efficiency ratings and less maintenance costs. A prime example is both the Sherwood Avenue and Albemarle Avenue projects. In FY 2003, the Authority sold eight (8) homes generating over $654,000.00 to perpetuate the program.
