Our History
Since our founding as an outreach ministry in 1966 by the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, Episcopal Children's Services (ECS) has remained focused on a central mission of creating better lives for children.
From humble beginnings as one center serving a small handful of children in the Springfield area of Jacksonville, ECS has grown to become one of Florida's largest not-for-profit early education organizations.
With an annual budget approaching $36 million and a staff of 200 professionals, the programs administered by Episcopal Children's Services touch the lives of 14,000 children in Duval, Clay, Nassau, Baker, Bradford, Union, Putnam and St. Johns counties each day. Additionally, through special social services programs, ECS reaches out to many families of the children served, bringing vital support to thousands of adults and older siblings.
Today, much of our attention is focused on developing reading skills and school readiness - the fundamental building blocks of success.
Having a hand in guiding the education and benefit of a child today is being in direct touch with the future. Give a child a Better Beginning, and you dramatically increase the child's odds of being a better person...of having a Better Life.
ECS Timeline
1966 - 1970:
-
One child care center serving 30 children.
1970 - 1980:
-
Two child care centers serving 125 children.
1980 - 1985:
-
Four child care centers serving 325 children.
-
Budget of $700,000.
1985 - 1990:
-
Introduction of Child Care Nutrition Program.
-
Introduction of Subsidized Child Care Program.
-
More than 1,400 children served every day.
-
Budget of $1 million
1990 - 1995:
-
Introduction of Child Care Resource and Referral.
-
Regional Training Institute offers Child Development Credential.
-
More than 2,750 children served each day.
-
Budget of $5 million.
1995 - 2000:
-
Introduction of Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Clay, Nassau, Bradford, Baker and Union counties.
-
More than 7,000 children served each day.
-
Budget of $11.5 million.
2001 - 2003:
-
ECS joins the State Partnership Board for School Readiness.
-
ECS becomes the School Readiness Provider for Clay, Nassau, Baker and Bradford counties.
-
ECS develops Links to Literacy, an innovative preschool curriculum.
-
More than 8,500 children served every day.
-
Budget of $15.7 million.
2004 - 2006:
-
ECS becomes the School Readiness Provider for St. Johns County.
-
ECS administers the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program in six counties.
-
ECS becomes a partner in RALLY Jacksonville!
-
ECS establishes publishing agreement with Kaplan Early Learning Company for Links to Literacy.
-
More than 14,000 children served every day.
-
Budget of $28 million.
-
ECS becomes School Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten provider for Putnam and St. Johns Counties.
-
ECS becomes a nationally accredited child care resource and referral provider.
-
Budget of $36 million.