Easter Seals North Georgia (ESNG)

ESNG Early Education and Care Program includes Head Start, Early Head Start, Georgia PreK and the USDA Nutrition Program. ESNG provides NAEYC accredited, comprehensive early education services to over 2,140 children who are living in poverty in 20 locations in metro Atlanta, Dekalb, and Northeast Georgia. In 2022, 93% of 4-year olds graduated our program meeting or exceeding developmental expectations. Additionally, 163 families received job training, 356 families receiving emergency or crisis directed services, 38 families moved from homelessness to safe housing, and 109 families participated in ESL services. 1,229 children received preventive and on-going medical services. 1,155 children received on-going oral health education and dental services.

ESNG's Foster Grandparent Program is a unique intergenerational program that provided 76 low income seniors an opportunity to volunteer in local nonprofit early learning centers to provide "tutoring" to children with disabilities who need extra attention during 2022. The foster grandparents enjoy engaging with the young children and they are creating positive outcomes with the children. Child outcomes indicate that 80% of the children working with the foster grandparents have improved their development.

ESNG Early Intervention Program administers the Babies Can't Wait Early Intervention Program and serves children in Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Counties. This program provides services including: physical, occupational and speech therapy, special instruction, autism services, family training and service coordination to more than 2,800 children with disabilities from birth to three years of age. Outcome measures indicate that more than 95% of children demonstrated substantial improvement in their social-emotional, cognitive, language and behavioral skills. More than 95% of families increased their knowledge about their rights, increased their ability to effectively communicate their child's needs and increased their ability to help their children develop and learn.