The need for child care at area racetracks is well documented. During the past ten years, the profile of backstretch employees has been dominated by families with young children. Belmont Race Track has become the first race track to have an on site child care center. That was a miracle created by the donors who understood the need for childcare for the backstretch families. Anna House provides and gives:
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A quality day care service for parents while they work.
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Children a head start to be ready for school.
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Creates an environment where children experience a sense of connection and
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Provides new possibilities for them to help make the world a better place.
Last year, backstretch families included 250 children below the age of 12, and almost half of them are pre-school age. Anna House currently serves fifty-two children. They enter our program speaking primarily Spanish, and as a result of their Anna House education, they speak fluent English when they graduate. Without our strong early childhood education program, the children would not be ready for school.
The BCCA has created a safe environment in which our children thrive and get a head start for elementary school. We have learned that our recent preschool graduates are successful in the local elementary schools. The BCCA’s goal is to see that all of our children succeed in school and life.