Iredell County COVID-19 Education Fund

Funder: Joint partnership between United Way of Iredell County, Iredell County Government, and Iredell-Statesville School System

Geographic Scope: Iredell County, NC

Overview:
Established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this fund supports academic excellence for students and economic success for families during pandemic-related disruptions. The fund addresses two specific problems: families unable to afford childcare while working or attending school virtually, and lack of mental and social interaction for youth.

1. Childcare Scholarship Program

• Purpose: Help provide childcare to low-income, employed families on days when children are not attending school on site
• Eligible Activities: School-age childcare (ages 5-18)
• Participating Providers: Licensed Iredell County childcare centers
• Application: Only licensed childcare centers can request directly
• Award Structure: Paid on first-come, first-served basis while funds available
• Contact for Centers: BEckerman@uwiredell.org

2. Ongoing Grants to Child-Serving Agencies

• Award Period: Monthly payments from 7/1/20 - 6/30/21
• Distribution: Through United Way Community Investment Process

Grant Recipients:

• Boy Scouts
• Boys & Girls Clubs
• Children's Hope Alliance
• Girl Scouts
• Iredell County Hospice and Palliative Care - Rainbow Kids
• Iredell County Partnership for Young Children
• Piedmont Mediation
• Pharos Parenting (SCAN)
• YMCA of Statesville

Eligibility (for Families):

• Families qualified for free and reduced lunches
• Low-income, employed families
• Children ages 5-18

Monitoring:

• Ongoing monitoring by volunteer steering committee
• Committee includes diverse local leaders
• Performance evaluation and emerging needs assessment
• Strategy adjustments as needed

Contact Information:

• Program Coordinator: Brett Eckerman
• Email: BEckerman@uwiredell.org
• Phone: 704-872-3000

Additional Resources:
For any human service needs, individuals can call 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) for professional guidance.

For Families Seeking Childcare Scholarships:

1. Eligibility Check:
   • Family must qualify for free and reduced lunches
   • Contact school district or provider for eligibility verification
   • Children must be ages 5-18
2. Find Licensed Provider:
   • Locate licensed childcare programs in Iredell County
   • List available at: https://www.iredellnc.com/guides/374-iss-school-age-childcare-programs
3. Enrollment Process:
   • Work with chosen licensed childcare provider
   • Provider submits scholarship request
   • Scholarships awarded on first-come, first-served basis
   • Note: Scholarships not guaranteed, subject to available funds

For Licensed Childcare Providers:

1. Participate in Program:
   • Contact Brett Eckerman to register as participating center
   • Email: BEckerman@uwiredell.org
   • Request slots in advance for school-age children
2. Process Scholarship Requests:
   • Only childcare centers can request scholarships directly
   • Submit requests to BEckerman@uwiredell.org
   • Scholarships available for eligible families on first-come, first-served basis