The Berkley Child and Family Development Center strives to create a community / neighborhood focused on the importance of relationships between our families and staff. We view Berkley as a place for

families where we will all grow and develop together. We strive to nurture a culture of respect and trust; where the children and adults experience a sense of connection and new possibilities.

The Berkley Family Involvement Program, Inc., or FIP, focuses on advancing and promoting the educational experience of young children, their parents, teachers and community. Parents are encouraged to participate in Family Involvement opportunities, which we consider more than just a Parent

Teacher Organization. FIP meets monthly to discuss the fundraising, community events and education programs that are provided by the involved Parents, Teachers, and Community to support our children.

FIP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation of the UMKC community which enables it to support the Berkley CFDC and the children on its own. There are annual elections for the positions of President, Vice

President, Secretary and Treasurer and anyone may place themselves into nomination for an active roll in FIP. There are also many special positions or committees allowing for participation in FIP, including:

• Education Committee Participants coordinate educational events specifically designed for Berkley families.
• Classroom Representatives work to coordinate family involvement directly in the classroom, including communication and volunteerism.
• Room Rep Chair coordinates all room representative activity. Room reps serve on FIP in order to coordinate and communicate with rooms and Family Involvement Activities. Reps serve as a liaison between the rooms and the Committee.
• Fundraising Committee Participants work on fundraising events for the FIP. Fundraisers cover cost associated with committee expenditures. Furthermore, the Family Involvement Program donates toward center type expenditures such as playground fence, helmets for bikes, sandbox toys, faculty/staff appreciation, and teacher symposiums. The fundraising committee assists the center in any additional events including any capital campaigns.
• New Parent Liaison assists in marketing the FIP and activities to new families and providing them with a contact regarding questions from a parents' perspective. Families typically determine the spending trend for these events.
• Staff Retention Committee Participants work to raise the level of appreciation for all faculty and staff members. Furthermore, the committee works to raise funds in order to award additional funds for those faculty and staff members whom have been employed over one year at the Center.
• Fall All-School Picnic Chair organizes the event for all the Berkley families, teachers, and children to meet, mix, and mingle over a picnic and play date.
• Month of the Young Child (MOYC) Chair organizes the month long event in April that celebrates the young child and all the community around them. MOYC includes activities like cards and flowers for teachers, advocacy for the child, educational programs, and an event to celebrate our teachers and staff who make it all possible everyday.
• Carnival Chair is organized as an end-of-year event that kicks off the summer and allows the community to play.

Chairpersons/Directors from all of the above committees share committee reports during meetings and serve on the FIP Board.

FIP invites all families and staff to attend and give input during the monthly meetings, or to send comments to the Room Reps or Board for sharing. The FIP stands as an independent non-profit organization with a board of directors. Although FIP is a separate organization, it shares a vision and supports the Berkley CFDC.

For more information please contact FIP at BerkleyFIP@umkc.edu .

Edgar L. & Rheta A. Berkley
Child & Family Development Center
1012 East 52nd Street
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 235-2600