[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO KIDANGO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2009

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Kidango, a 
quality early education and child care provider with administrative 
offices in Fremont, California. Kidango is celebrating 30 years of 
serving children in the California cities of Fremont, San Jose, 
Livermore, Dublin, Union City and Newark with plans for expansion in 
San Jose and Hayward.
  In 1979, formerly known as Tri-Cities Children's Center, is now known 
by the community as Kidango. Kidango began providing mental health 
consultation to the staff and parents of the children enrolled at 
Kidango. Utilizing a relationship-based training strategy, staff was 
specially trained to understand and work with children with social and 
emotional challenges.
  Kidango has a long history of serving children, including infants 
with developmental delays and disabilities, by providing Early 
Intervention Services. In 1994, Kidango merged with the Agency for 
Infant Development and expanded Kidango's services to children with 
special needs.
  In 2002, Kidango created its own in-house mental health department 
and Inclusion Team comprised of staff from its Education, Intervention 
and Mental Health Departments. This program utilizes the relationships 
developed with families and teachers to provide effective mental health 
services and responsiveness to the special needs of all children.
  Seven Kidango centers in San Jose, California received the honor of 
being designated as Smart San Jose sites. Smart San Jose is the City of 
San Jose's premier Early Education Initiative that works to expand the 
availability of high quality, affordable early care and education 
spaces in centers and family child care homes.
  In 2006, Kidango added Community Family Services as part of their 
expansive program offerings. This partnership strengthened the work 
Kidango does with children and families by allowing Kidango to serve 
more infants and those children who do better in a family child care 
home environment.
  Kidango currently serves 3,300 children annually through its quality 
early care and education programs, child development services, early 
intervention services, Mental Health Department, Head Start Department 
and Community Family Services.
  I join the community in recognizing Kidango on its 30th anniversary 
of exemplary service in childcare, education and child development 
services to meet the diverse needs of children and families throughout 
the Bay Area. I send best wishes to Kidango for continued success.

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