SAL awarded over $13 million to maintain programs, respond to community needs

Over $13 million in grant funding is helping SAL Community Services (SAL) respond to needs in the community.

SAL has been awarded more than $13 million to sustain and expand its programs that provide services to local families in the Quad Cities and central Illinois. This funding is a continuation of previously awarded grants and ensures that the group can maintain existing programs while responding to emerging community needs.

“The demand for accessible childcare, workforce development, and essential services like food has significantly increased in our area,” said Marcy Mendenhall, president and CEO of SAL Community Services. “Our ongoing operations depend on state funding, grants, and the generosity of our donors. This renewed funding will allow us to continue our current programs and address new areas where support is needed most.”

SAL provides a variety of programs that support families with children from birth – 12 by emphasizing high-quality early childhood education and family well-being. It advocates for children, families, and early childhood educators at both the local and state levels.

The funding supports SAL’s work with in-home childcare, early childhood education, training and resources for childcare professionals and specialized services for immigrant families. It will help launch new opportunities like a home visiting program to support families with young children ages 0-5 who live in Rock Island County and face greater challenges to positive maternal and child health outcomes.

For over 50 years, SAL has served families in the Quad Cities and surrounding regions. Their goal is to build thriving communities, and a key component is workforce development.

SAL is one of only four care centers to pilot Illinois’ Smart Start Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, a hands-on training initiative that helps people gain the skills and knowledge needed for careers in early childhood education while earning nationally recognized credentials. It combines classroom learning with on-the-job experience, allowing students, guided by mentors, to earn while they learn.

“This funding reflects the trust our community and state leaders have placed in us,” said Mendenhall. “We are committed to honoring that trust by continuing to improve and expand our services. Our team works tirelessly to bring innovative solutions and government support to the region, improving care options and opportunities for working families.”

SAL was also awarded a grant renewal for its Home Child Care Network (HCCN) program, which supports licensed family childcare providers, as well as funding to expand offices into the Galesburg area. SAL currently has offices in Moline, Galesburg and Peoria. SAL will be part of a three-year pilot program designed to increase access to childcare during non-traditional hours through its network of home-based providers, including evenings, overnight shifts, holidays and weekends. By expanding the program’s reach and focusing on flexible childcare solutions, SAL hopes to meet the needs of working families and strengthen the network of licensed in-home childcare providers across the region.

The $13 million in state and federal grants support SAL’s wide array of programs, including the Home Child Care Network, Prevention Initiative, Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, Home Visiting Expansion Program, Illinois Smart Start Apprenticeship Pilot Program and the Welcoming Center. These programs are vital to SAL’s mission of serving families and childcare professionals, including immigrants and refugees. SAL also operates four Skip-a-Long Childhood Centers in the Quad Cities, providing high-quality care and education to young children in the area.

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