02 Nov United Inner City Services Receives $10,000 Grant from the Helen S. Boylan Foundation

United Inner City Services (UICS) recently received a grant for $10,000 from the Helen S. Boylan Foundation to support general operations of the early childhood program at the St. Mark Center.

For more than 50 years, United Inner City Services (UICS) has served the Kansas City community as a multi-service agency addressing the challenges facing families in the urban core. Today, UICS is carrying out its mission of “Building Bridges. Inspiring Minds. Impacting Futures” through the St. Mark Center. This center is the signature outreach of UICS and is recognized as one of Kansas City’s leading early-learning programs. Each year, the St. Mark Center serves approximately 150 curious, energetic, and joyful children, who range in age from six weeks to 5 years old. Students of the St. Mark Center are taught by highly trained faculty, use a project-based and arts-infused curriculum. The St. Mark Center is licensed by the State of Missouri and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

In addition to high-quality early childhood education, UICS also offers wraparound support services, such as extended care hours, healthy meals prepared by an on-site chef, socio-emotional support offered through a student support specialist, and an array of family-engagement activities. UICS prioritizes family engagement through various educational events for families.

High quality early childhood educational programs, like those offered through UICS, interrupt statistical trajectory and remedy the achievement gap. The St. Mark Center has developed an effective model with impressive outcomes. Each year, the St. Mark Center graduates more than 90% of students to be “kindergarten ready,” as measured by the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), Missouri’s kindergarten readiness assessment.