Monroe County Children Matter! (CAPE)

Community Alliance To Promote Education

Family Resource Centers



Monroe County Children Matter! is Monroe County's CAPE Project, funded in December 2001 through a $5 million grant, as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Community Alliances to Promote Education program.  The CAPE coalition was formed and the application for funding submitted through the Community Foundation, which also holds the $1 million endowment for CAPE. If you would like to make an online contribution to the endowment fund, please click here.

The endowment is dedicated to finding ongoing financial support of the primary outcomes:

* Safe and Healthy Children entering school ready to learn - everyday

* Building community: Strengthening our investment in families

The goal of Monroe County Children Matter! is to ensure that all Monroe County children enter school ready to learn, stay in school and graduate with the skills to assume a job or to pursue further education, and acquire the life skills and dispositions to be lifelong learners and good citizens.  Key initiatives have included Family Resource Centers, Family Literacy Centers, and community-wide efforts to build developmental assets for children.  Family Resource Centers are located at Edgewood Primary, Summit and Templeton Elementary Schools with satellites at Banneker Center, Broadview Center and Shalom Center.

CAPE strives to provide opportunities for parents to gain expertise through resources and regularly scheduled programs for children birth through 5 focusing on health, safety, play and early learning. Elementary school age initiatives encourage schools to provide meaningful opportunities for parents to be active partners in their children's education.