Early Connections Annual Report 2016-2017

Early Connections and EUMA
A family’s stress associated with the need for food and permanent shelter often leaves children lacking access to consistent,
quality early childhood education, and can hinder the child’s success in kindergarten and school. To help address this
need Early Connections began collaborating with the Erie United Methodist Alliance (EUMA) to help homeless or transient
families provide their children with access to quality early care and education in early 2016. EUMA has existed within our
community for 130 years, providing services and shelters to help end homelessness to veterans, youth, children and
families, as well as addressing the root causes of poverty.
Early Connections streamlined the application and enrollment process for infants and children from EUMA families that are
faced with homelessness in our community. Early Connections staff look at appropriate financial tuition supports to help
assist the family enroll their children at any of our six locations. While attending, the children are provided with nutritious
snacks and meals, along with quality early care and education. Our staff will also help with kindergarten enrollment, if
needed, providing an easier transition into kindergarten. Early Connections is thankful for all of the work that EUMA
provides to our community, and hopes to continue collaborating to help children from homeless and transient families.
Community Innovation Zone
Early Connections administers the Community Innovation Zone (CIZ) grant with United Way of Erie County as the lead
agency. The CIZ grant is federally funded through our state by the Race To The Top Early Learning Challenge Program.
Funding provides Supported Play Groups (SPGs) in one urban and one rural location. Working with a facilitator, families
and caregivers are provided with resources and referrals, have the opportunity to network, and learn to be their child’s first
teacher using developmentally appropriate activities. This promotes readiness for success in school, and provides families
with a better understanding of school procedures and expectations. Many participating families may have economic or
cultural challenges, and the support of the facilitator and other families are of benefit to everyone involved.
• Partners include the Iroquois School District, the
International Institute, YMCA of Greater Erie, and the
Union City Family Support Center.
• During 2016-17, 78 parents and children have
participated in Supported Play Groups (SPGs). SPGs
reached low-income and refugee families, providing
educational resources and referrals to all, and a safe
environment for refugee families to bond and become
acclimated to their community.
• In the summer of 2017, the Union City Family Support
Center provided a family trip to the Children’s Museum in
Pittsburgh for 66 parents and children, encouraging
participation by those families that would most benefit from
ongoing participation in our CIZ Supported Play Groups, in
hopes of significantly expanding our CIZ group reach both in
the rural and urban program.
Family Support
Through a contract with Erie County Department of Human Services (DHS),
Early Connections has been provided with funding to enroll up to twenty
children, infant through school-age, on a full-time basis. These children might
otherwise not have an opportunity to participate in quality early learning, or
experience the engaging activities provided in before and after school care.
The program
Has a strong focus on engaging families in their children’s learning
Provides activities for the entire family
30 children were enrolled over the course of the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Early Connections hopes to obtain funding to enroll additional children in the coming year,
providing a safe environment to help them prepare for success in school and life.