Infant Toddler Development Center (ITDC) opened in 2000 as a partnership between St. Joseph Center and Venice Community Housing Corporation. ITDC provides bilingual, all-day, licensed childcare to 23 children ages 12 weeks to 35 months with an emphasis on cognitive, emotional and physical development. The program serves homeless and very low-income families, who also benefit from regular parenting classes and access to St. Joseph Center's entire array of family-oriented programs. ITDC maintains a low staff-to-child ratio that is 1:3 for infants and 1:4 for toddlers. Qualifying families receive free, high quality childcare that allows parents to pursue educational and work opportunities (which is required to keep their children enrolled).

The benefits of high quality early childcare are by now well-known, with great benefits accruing not only to the individual child but to the community at large. A recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis found that when children between the ages of zero and five years receive high quality childcare "they are more likely to succeed in school and later contribute to society." The study also found that they are more likely to graduate high school, obtain well-paying jobs, and avoid government assistance programs.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers at ITDC provide important classroom support that helps teachers be more effective and responsive to children's needs.