Help for daycares affected by Hurricane Katrina

A $5.9 million social services block grant has been awarded to help in-home child-care providers get back in business.

The Department of Human Services grant was issued to the MSU Extension Service School of Human Sciences for its Nurturing Homes Initiative.

The project manager said the money will be used to help 149 child-care providers working out of their homes re-establish services in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"They receive technical assistance, lessons and learning materials," said the project manager. "The spin is they also get a playground, an outdoor learning environment, and a fence if they don't have one."

While the daycares don't seem to actually get money they do get to have equipment that will make their daycare more pleasant to their children.