Early Connections 2017-18 Annual Report

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Early Care & Education Providing early care and education programming for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years Quality early learning programs for 300+ children ● 7 locations including 1 in North East and 1 in Union City ● Licensed by PA Dept. of Human Services ● Participates in Keystone STARS ● Inclusive classrooms at two centers ● Free meals which consist of breakfast, lunch and snack (The USDA Nondiscrimination Statement can be found at https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-nondiscrimination-statement) ● Creative Curriculum used in all classrooms ● Accept Child Care Works ● Parent and Community Involvement ● Summer Camp Pre-K Counts (PKC) State-funded Pre-K program for at-risk children who are between age 3 and younger than the age for entry into kindergarten Free, five half-days a week high quality preschool - kindergarten readiness program ● 215 children participated during the 2017/18 school year ● 6 Early Connections locations plus 1 classroom in partnership with Iroquois Elementary School Early Connections Pre-K Counts students exploring the world at the Tom Ridge Environment Center Pop Pop’s Pantry Addressing food insecurity - Nutrition assistance Provides supplemental meals for low income families unable to access pantries that are open during work hours ● 171 bags of food distributed ● Available to all eligible City Center families ● In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank Community Innovation Zone (CIZ) Supported Playgroups (SPGs) for families and caregivers Families enjoying a Supported Playgroup field trip to the Erie Zoo Participants learn to be their child’s first teacher ● Developmentally appropriate activities to promote readiness for success in school ● Provide a better understanding of school procedures and expectations ● Resources and referrals ● Opportunity to network ● Supported an early learning symposium spearheaded by the Union City Family Support Center to highlight the importance of collaboration between school and service agencies beginning prenatally through grade three ● 3 year grant funded through PA’s Race To the Top Early Learning Challenge Program, administered by Early Connections with United Way as the lead agency ● Partners included the Iroquois School District, the International Institute, YMCA of Greater Erie, and the Union City Family Support Center ● Activities included visiting the Children’s Museum in Erie, the Pittsburgh Museum, and the Erie Zoo Supported Playgroups provide families with a fun environment to learn together. Family Support Engaging families in their children's learning Able to serve 20 children and their families at a time ● Quality early learning, before and after school care ● Activities for the entire family ● Infant through school-age, on a full-time basis ● Funded through a contract with Erie County Department of Human Services (DHS)
Erie's Future Fund Preschool Scholarship program administered by Early Connections for economically-challenged families throughout Erie County Look at what we built! All the while we were learning about problem solving, cooperation, math, creativity and so much more. 150 scholarship opportunities for qualified children from low-income families ● Scholarships accepted at 40+ highquality early care and education program locations in Erie County ● Part-time summer scholarships offered for up to 50 scholars over an 11 week period ● Scholarship options: 3 or 5 half days a week during the school year ● Open enrollment deadline allows families to access the program beyond the start of the school year ● Provide educational resources and support during the application process ● Scholarships are funded from within Erie County through individual donations, Pre-K Earned Income Tax Credits, and cause-related marketing Erie’s Future Fund was created in 2011, an outgrowth of the Erie Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Advisory Panel in partnership with United Way of Erie County, Success By 6, members of the Early Learning Investment Commission and Erie Together. United Way Success By 6 (SB6) Success By 6, United Way of Erie County's Early Care and Education initiative, is a community collaborative of professionals from a wide range of organizations. Sack races! Just one of the many fun activities to try during the 9th annual Pre-K Counts Awareness Day event Celebrated 15 years serving the Erie Community and helping prepare their children for Kindergarten ● Focuses on the needs of young children and their families through the work of several SB6 committees: Maternal Child Health Task Force, Erie County Early Learning Professionals, and Pre-K Counts, as well as in partnership with the Erie County Local Inter-agency Coordinating Council ● 12th Annual Success By 6 Early Learning Expo: 65 families including 112 children, 35 local agency exhibits, hands-on activities, live entertainment, and educational materials. Each child received a book courtesy of Hooked On Books for Kids Erie ● 9th Annual Pre-K Counts Awareness Day: 700 preschoolers and their teachers from Erie County Pre-K Counts programs took part in a variety of educational activities and games at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center ● Children Do Come with Directions booklets: 5000+ booklets have been distributed in the past 2 years. We plan to update the booklet for reprinting in 2019. United Way Erie Free Taxes Free tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) to assist eligible low and moderate income wage-earners to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Free tax preparation service provided by IRS-certified volunteers at numerous locations throughout Erie County 2018 FILING SEASON RESULTS ● Federal VITA Returns: 6,248 ● Claims (incl in above total): 2,136 ● Returns: 616 ● Total Returns: 6,864 ● Refund Total: $10.9M ● Tax Filer Savings (est.): $1.8M
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Early Connections 2017-18 Annual Report

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