UPO Grantee Serves Diverse Communities
Widely Successful Rosemount Center Reaches Into Local Communities
Working together on their writing assignment, these two girls epitomize the spirit of the Rosemount Center.
This young fellow studies name recognition.
Housed in a remodeled nineteenth century Washington, DC mansion, the Rosemount Early Childhood Development Center sets atop a hill in the city’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, just a stones throw from the world famous National Zoological Park. Rosemount, a UPO Head Start delegate agency, began operations in 1972 when the building’s owner, the House of Mercy, a nonpro?t philanthropic group af?liated with the Episcopal Diocese, converted the site with an eye toward providing comprehensive childcare services to the diverse surrounding community. Today, emphasizing its theme A Great Place to Start, Rosemount prepares children and their families for the future by providing early childhood education and family support programs. Approximately 300 children are enrolled, one-half within the center and the other half in the Center’s home-based program. Rosemount, which operates in a multicultural setting, is located in one of the city’s most diverse communities, enrolling children mainly from Latino, Caucasian, African2
Enjoying a snack, these Home-Based program children come to the center for additional studies.
The recently remodeled building is now a full featured state of the art early learning facility complete with all the amenities.
American, Ethiopian, Chinese, and other ethnic groups. Moreover, because most Rosemount families are either at or below the poverty level, programs are geared directly to their needs and aspirations. More than a day care center, the facility provides comprehensive early childhood education, bilingual instruction, physical therapy, mental health, family support, services to pregnant women, speech therapy, and others. Rosemount youngsters graduate better prepared to tackle the rigors of kindergarten with many enrolling into the renowned Oyster Elementary School located in Woodley Park.
In addition, by tracking its former students, Rosemount has found many now studying at prestigious universities throughout the United States. The center receives funding from the federal government, DC Department of Human Services, UPO, federal sources, and from direct donations. Rosemount also receives long term support from the House of Mercy. A United Planning Organization delegate agency since 1984, Rosemount continues its strong partnership with UPO receiving funding, training, and other programmatic support.
UPO REPORTER