Growing Futures tells committee it serves 225 children, reports 96% school-readiness and seeks expansion funding

Larry Lewis, executive director of Growing Futures Early Education, described the organization's history, service model and financing to the Community Development Committee. "This year makes 60 years right now," Lewis said of the program's founding; he added that Growing Futures focuses on families in poverty and uses four program pillars to provide classroom instruction, wraparound health services, family support and community partnerships.

Lewis told the committee Growing Futures currently serves about 225 children and maintains a waiting list of more than 200. He said the program's graduates have high school-readiness outcomes: "Last few years, including this year, our children that just transitioned in, 96 percent of our children are ready to go into the school system," Lewis said.

On funding and capacity, Lewis said Growing Futures operates on roughly a $6 million annual budget, of which about $4 million comes from federal sources and the remaining $2 million is raised locally through fundraisers and development. Lewis said expansion to serve more children typically requires a Head Start expansion grant or private investment; he described workforce retention as the principal barrier to immediate expansion.

Council members asked about free meals, space and pilot models to provide mixed private-pay and subsidized slots. Lewis said the center provides breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack every day and that, with creative use of its existing facilities, staff could accommodate an additional ~40 children without immediate renovation but that staffing and quality-control concerns limit such short-term increases.

Why it matters: Growing Futures serves a vulnerable population in central Overland Park and its capacity, funding and workforce challenges affect waiting lists and local early-childhood outcomes.