Jesu Children’s Enrichment Center at Catholic Charities has a rich history of providing childcare for generations of families living in the Peoria area. Our mission is to provide quality early childhood education and care, to expand the scope of services for families and to continue to be a productive member of the community. Jesu provides early childhood education and care for children ages six weeks to 12 years. We operate year-round, Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Parent involvement and education are important components of the our program. Social/emotional health is an important goal for our families. We participate in Strengthening Families, a program that provides guidance to families so they may build protective factors around children in order to reduce abuse and neglect.

In 2005, Jesu Children's Enrichment Center received the Illinois State Board of Education Early Childhood Block Grant to provide state pre-kindergarten educational services in a childcare setting. In this program, we serve children who are at risk for future academic failure. Teachers in the program are highly qualified and curriculum is based on the Early Learning Standards of Illinois and is planned around the needs of individual children. The program’s curriculum focus is on literacy and math as a way to ensure school readiness. The program boasts a lending library for families.

Literacy begins at birth and all of our families are encouraged to be proactive regarding their child’s early education and love of books. The staff at Jesu Children’s Enrichment Center are also active participants in the Community of Early Childhood professionals as a way to stay current with early childhood education and best care practices. Foster grandparents from the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity volunteer on a daily basis in our infant, toddler and preschool classrooms.

To inquire about enrollment, please contact us at 309.636.7550.  There is no registration fee. Parents must be working or attending school.  Financial assistance through the ChildCare Connection may be available if you meet the requirements.  Learn more by clicking here, or contact the Jesu office.