MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of A Place to Grow, Inc., (APTG), is to provide a quality educationally based, early childhood learning environment for children. In fulfilling this mission, A Place to Grow currently serves 110 children ranging in age from six weeks to six years. These children are predominantly from low to moderate-income level families. Twenty five percent of the families enrolled receive childcare reimbursements from the State of Rhode Island.

Description:
A Place to Grow, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)(3), child care and educational facility located in South Kingstown, RI. APTG has prided itself on the fact that we provide QUALITY CHILDCARE to children between the ages of six weeks to six years. We are licensed through the Rhode Island Department of Children Youth and Families and the Rhode Island Department of Education. As a part of providing quality care, we enforce higher standards than mandated by these agencies. With our staff of education and health care professionals, we maintain a staff to student ratio that exceeds the State minimum requirements. This aids in ensuring a high level of individualized attention and learning for each child. The program is divided into six classrooms, each serving a child for approximately one year of their growth. APTG believes that all children are special and deserving of a safe, stimulating learning environment that enables them to explore their surroundings at their individual pace and skill level. We believe that children learn best through interaction and exploration with adults, other children and materials. At APTG, our teachers try to create a nurturing environment suitable for this kind of learning by providing numerous opportunities for hands-on choice activities and situations relevant to the child's own life experiences. APTG teachers and staff are positive role models that encourage proper social behavior, generate values and strengthen the self-esteem of each child. At APTG we strive to make each child feel safe, confident, respected and valued.

History:
APTG was founded in 1992 by the volunteer leadership, executives and administrators of South County Hospital in conjunction with the Visiting Nurse Service of Rhode Island (VNS). This was done with assistance from the hospital's non-profit Foundation for the purposes of providing childcare for the hospital employees and the surrounding community. To better achieve its purpose, the facility was located on the campus of the hospital, in a building occupied by the VNS. A board of directors and parents of the program oversee the operation and management of APTG. Although being founded, in part by the hospital and located within the limits of their campus, APTG was maintained as a separate nonprofit corporation from the hospital. In 1995 the VNS stepped out of the partnership leaving South County Hospital as the main advocate for APTG's continuing operation. However, in October of 1999, the hospital asked us to vacate the facility to make room for hospital expansion. In January 2002, APTG moved into its current home at 12 High Street where we are continue to provide quality, educationally based child-care to this day!

Contact person: Melissa Sposato, Executive Director, (401) 782-6100, (email)
Office fax number: (401) 782-6107

Address:

12 High Street Wakefield, RI 02879 (See a map)

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Solutions for Children, Youth, Families
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No