The South Central Power Foundation recently announced that the Brown County Institute for the Enhancement of Education was awarded grant funds.
Jina Bohl, director of the Brown County Institute for the Enhancement of Education explained that it is the affiliate for the ‘Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.’
According to a summary report that was sent to SCPC Foundation the Institute currently have 342 children participating in the program.
“The Imagination Library is a program that provides a new book, every month, to any child registered with the institute,” Bohl said. “These book-a-month deliveries begin the day a child is born, and continue until the age of five.”
The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gives parents the opportunity to talk to their children during everyday routines.
“These are high quality, stimulating books that allow kids to not only be read to by a parent but also to read themselves,” Bohl said. “These a nice books and they can make such a difference in a child’s life.”
From January to October 2016, the Institute has sent a total of 3,023 books to children living in Brown County. Just recently the Institute calculated that it has sent out 35,252 books to members since 2008.
Bohl said that the Institute has also partnered with the Brown County Success by 6 Committee which is made up of all five school districts in the county, the Brown County Educational Service Center, Adams Brown Economic Opportunities, Inc., Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, Child Focus Inc., HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) and 8 area child care centers and family home care providers.
“These partnerships have enabled the Institute to participate in activities that are aligned to our organization’s mission,” she said. “Not only does this partnership provide an avenue for collecting data from our library members but also helps recruit library members for the Brown County Institute for the Enhancement of Education.
To learn more about the Institute and how to register a child to become part of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library please register at browncountyinstitute.net.