Early Connections Annual Report 2016-2017

Early Connections
Organizational Overview
Early Connections has operated in Erie County for over 100 years, providing outreach and programming to young
children and families. Currently, Early Connections provides quality STAR 4-level programming at six sites, four in
the City of Erie, one in North East, and one in Union City. STARS is a quality rating system used by Pennsylvania to
determine the quality of Early Care and Education sites based on specific standards, with one STAR being entry
level in the system and four STARS being the highest quality. STARS sets requirements for early childhood
programs to promote the best learning environment and safest setting possible.
At Early Connections’ centers, in the care of competent, qualified staff, children experience developmentallyappropriate
learning activities which fulfill the PA Early Learning Standards and provide a variety of opportunities for
a diverse community of learners. We serve approximately 300 children daily in our centers, from infant through
school age. All locations include PreK Counts; two provide inclusive classrooms where children with identified
special needs attend programming with “typically-developing” children while receiving needed supports. All centers
participate in our contract with Erie County to provide full-time programming for children in our Family Support
program.
Young children in Erie County are considered "high risk" for early school failure (OCDEL Reach and Risk Report,
2017). Research has shown that if children receive a high quality early childhood education, they are more likely to
succeed in school, graduate, and enter the skilled workforce. Quality early childhood education provides a positive
long-lasting effect on a child’s educational and economic future, in turn helping improve their community’s economy
and future workforce (http://www.readynation.org).
Early Connections accepts CCIS (subsidy) child care funding for qualified families, and will direct families to the
local resource for subsidy. Currently, EC also provides up to 30 funded preschool slots for children whose families
meet the qualifications through United Way of Erie County funding. United Way has also provided Early
Connections with Bridge Funding, so that children whose families are on childcare subsidy wait lists are not forced
to wait for programming. In addition to early learning and child care, Early Connections administers:
• Erie’s Future Fund, a scholarship program supporting economically-challenged families in enrolling their
children in high-quality early learning throughout Erie County.
• Success By 6, United Way’s initiative to ensure
that children enter kindergarten ready to learn
and succeed in school.
• Supported Play Groups, funded through CIZ
Race To The Top, to assist families in helping
their children develop school and social skills.
• Erie Free Taxes (Rural Outreach Component),
to increase families’ awareness of and access
to no-cost, professional-quality tax preparation.
• Contracts with the Northwest Regional Key, to
provide technical assistance to child care
centers in Erie County and neighboring counties;
professional development for child care
practitioners; and Child Development
Associate programs for CDA credentialing.
We welcome questions regarding our work, and invite you to read our Annual Report in the pages that follow. Early
Connections is truly dedicated to creating lifelong learners through exciting and engaging programs!