Moline Even Start loses its funding

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By Dustin Lemmon | Thursday, March 15, 2007 1:31 PM CDT | () comments

(Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Becky Lopez babysits for children of parents who are in the Moline Even Start program at Bethel Wesley Church. The program has lost its funding and could close in June.

(Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Instructor Tara Vize teaches a class in English as a second language for the Moline Even Start program. The program will close in June unless another funding source can be found.

MOLINE — For eight years, the Moline Even Start program has helped children and adults learn English as a second language, get an early start on their education or acquire a GED, but in a couple of months, the cash-strapped program could shut down.

The program’s coordinator, George Carizey, said the federally funded program learned recently that it will not be funded next year. Without an alternative revenue source, it will shut down in June.

“We’re trying to drum up support because we just learned that we’re going to be phased out,” he said, noting they were funded on an eight-year cycle.

The level of funding had fluctuated over the years, at its highest reaching $150,000, while this year, it was half that, Carizey said. The program, also known as the BWC-CLC Family Literacy Project, has already cut staff in the past.

Supporters say if the program is lost, the community will suffer because it provides services that no one else offers.

“We’re a school, but we do so much more,” Carizey said. It’s “stuff we do that the family is going to lose out on.”

The program, which has seven staff members, teaches English to anyone who needs to learn, but also provides babysitting for parents, helps them with their GED, teaches parenting and job skills and helps refer students who are victims of domestic abuse or have other needs.

The staff also provide early childhood education and help kids develop motor skills. They identify children with vision, speech or hearing problems at an early age before they get in school.

Last year, the program served 67 adults and 105 children, Carizey said.

Veronica Williams, who received her GED through the program three years ago and now is enrolled at Black Hawk College, credits Moline Even Start with inspiring her to do more.

“If it wasn’t for them, then I wouldn’t be in my third year in college,” she said. “The people there are sincere. They help you.”

She said the program gives parents a chance to improve themselves by providing day care while the adult is learning.

“I really hate that they’re having problems with the funding because it really helps a lot of people,” she said.

Maria Hernandez, who was a student of the program and now works there as a babysitter, said without the program, many parents will struggle.

“They taught us how to learn and share with our kids,” she said recently, while watching her son play. “If you have any problems or trouble, the teachers or George, he’ll always listen to us.”

Gary Orr, principal at Washington Elementary School in Moline, where the program got its start, said Moline Even Start has changed over the years, taking on new responsibilities and expanding services.

“We really enjoyed having the program here when we did,” he said.

The program’s funding demise was something Orr foresaw but hoped would not happen.

“I was kind of worried about that when I heard the funding sources were going down,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you get it for as long as you can and you know eventually it’s going to run out.”

Rachel Lloyd-Fowler, principal of Jefferson Early Childhood Center in Moline, said the two programs have exchanged referrals over the years. Jefferson has students who speak 14 different languages, and Even Start has helped many learn English.

She said the program gives struggling parents a chance to have more success.

“It helps them upgrade their skills so they’re ready to move on,” she said. “It takes on the gambit of educating the whole family.”

Lloyd-Fowler said such programs as Even Start sometimes struggle to survive because they can’t illustrate their success to those evaluating their funding.

“It’s hard to provide hard data on how you’re affecting families,” she said. “It’s more of a feel-good program, but you know they’re doing good work.”

Carizey said the program is trying to raise money so it can continue to provide summer classes beyond June. Efforts to obtain funding at the state and local government levels have been unsuccessful.

“A lot of times, I feel like we’re on our own as far as funding goes,” he said.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Moline Even Start Family Literacy Program is located at Bethel Wesley Church, 1201 13th St., Moline. Weekly classes include:

* Parenting/life skills

* English as a second language

* Parent/children activities

* GED preparation

Next fundraiser

The program will have a taco sale from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 29 at the church. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the church.