Just for Kids Audio Story

What you need to know:

• Just for Kids is a non-profit organization that specializes in before and after school programming for the youth of Western New York.

• The organization has been in a near constant state of growth, adding new schools to its programming almost every year.

• With enhanced enrichment opportunities, Just for Kids aims to provide high quality childcare that sets children and families up for success.

• The organization has received numerous awards and recognitions for the services it provides.

As an organization with a large impact on the community, Just for Kids aims to make a difference in the lives of today’s youth. Just for Kids is part of a non-profit organization called Childcare Network of the Niagara Frontier that specializes in before and after school programs for the youth of Western New York. Established in 1994, the organization began in the daycare management industry and in 2007 it managed its first outsourced before and after school program at a local school district in Williamsville, New York. 

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It was at this point that Kristina Kleeh was asked to oversee the operations and refine the model to tailor it to the school age population. Kleeh is now the executive director at Just for Kids.

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In the first year with the new model, the organization met and exceeded enrollment goals and staffing needs, and was poised for expansion. Growing almost every year, Just for Kids now serves 24 schools, including six different districts and seven private or parochial schools across Western New York. In addition to before and after school programming, Just for Kids offers camps during school breaks.

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Just for Kids strives to provide a high quality before and after school programming model for youth, parents and schools. Kelli Braaten, the Just for Kids program manager at Country Parkway Elementary School, believes this program allows parents to feel confident that their child is in good hands. Kleeh feels that the model allows parents to finish their work day with peace of mind, knowing that their child is in a safe and meaningful environment. She also adds that the programming model is one that schools can be proud to offer. 

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“Our commitment is really a commitment to quality, founded on four key elements: strong leadership at all levels, employment of highly qualified individuals, investment in program resources and an overall commitment to the local community,” Kleeh says.

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Just for Kids is different from other programs with similar offerings in that it offers more than a simple babysitting service. The organization aims to enrich the education of today’s youth, employing specialists in curriculum as well as the arts. There are also some unique subcomponents of the program. One is Kids Care, a volunteer activity program, and another is Kids College, a program where special guests visit the children to teach something they’re passionate about.

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“We’re not just doing scantrons, we’re not just going outside and running around. There’s certainly space and room for open-ended play, which is very important, but overall the time that they’re with us is organized in a way that I think they’re able to get a lot out of it.”

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Kleeh believes it’s important to provide high quality childcare, especially when many of the children spend up to six hours a day at Just for Kids. 

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“I think it’s exceedingly important that their time spent with us is purposeful, that they feel good about themselves . . . ,” Kleeh states.  “ . . . they need to feel loved, they need to feel as though they are validated and hopefully having a fun time while they’re at it,” she continues.

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Along with the entire Just for Kids staff, Kleeh works to ensure that the organization continues to provide high quality services for the community. 

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“If I had to describe it I would probably say fulfilling. Having been here for 16 years I still enjoy coming to work every day, I still enjoy coming up with new, creative ideas, problem solving and all of that,” Kleeh shares. 

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She also feels that the work the organization does is such that, from the administrative level down, allows the staff to go home feeling proud of what they’ve done.

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It’s not just Kleeh who believes in the strength and capabilities of the program. Throughout the years, Just for Kids has received many accolades. The organization was named Child Care Provider of the Year by the Child Care Resource Network, selected out of 103 other childcare providers in Western New York. Kristina Kleeh has also been recognized, having received the New York State Network for Youth Success Quality Leadership Award. Additionally, Just for Kids has been named Employer of the Year by both Buffalo State College and the University at Buffalo, the Nonprofit Internship Site of the Year by the University at Buffalo and, multiple times, a Buffalo Business First Best Places to Work Finalist. 

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While continued growth is a goal, Kleeh strives to ensure that the program continues to uphold the values of its mission along the way. As a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a high quality childcare program, Just for Kids makes a difference in the community, helping many families across Western New York.