EARLY CONNECTIONS INC

Early Connections (formerly the YWCA) has operated in Erie County for since 1895, providing outreach and programming to young children and families. Currently, Early Connections provides quality STAR 3 and 4-level programming at five sites, three 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 for children, contributing to a child’s overall success.
Through professional development requirements, Early Connections helps maintain a high level of quality in our early care and education teachers and staff, offering the opportunity to continuously improve their practice while keeping updated on research-based trends in the field.
All of our locations are licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and meet DHS’s specific regulations for child care centers. We offer CACFP (food program) meals and snacks at each center, so that children receive nutritious food throughout the day.
At Early Connections’ centers, in the care of competent, qualified staff, children experience developmentally-appropriate learning activities which fulfill the PA Early Learning Standards. Currently, we serve approximately 300 children in our centers, from infant through school age. All locations include PreK Counts, four locations include Infant/Toddler Contracted Slots to serve vulnerable children throughout our community, and one provides inclusive classrooms, through a contract with the Erie School District, where children with identified special needs attend programming with typically-developing children while receiving supports to meet their needs. Early Connections supports young children's early learning and development through high quality programming, utilizing years of evidence-based research that supports long-term positive impacts on a child, especially a child from poverty (http://www.highscope.org).
Young children in Erie County are considered "high risk" for early school failure (OCDEL Reach and Risk Report, 2016). Research has shown that a lack of quality early learning experiences makes it more likely that children will be unprepared for success in school and beyond. Conversely, if a child receives 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 has sites in the City of Erie, in Union City, and in North East, addressing the needs of each community to have quality options for families seeking early education and child care. Community partners support the work of our organization, and have engaged in outreach to additional community partners and businesses.
Early Connections accepts CCW (subsidy) child care funding for qualified families, and will direct families to the local resource for subsidy.
At our administrative office, we administer several initiatives to support children and families throughout our community, listed below:
• Erie’s Future Fund, a preschool scholarship for qualified children from low-income families to attend a preschool at over 40 high-quality early childhood education programs throughout Erie County.
• United Way Scholarships funding through Erie’s Future Fund, to serve children in the Community Schools catchment areas.
• Success By 6, United Way’s initiative to ensure that children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.
• Family Support Program, to provide quality early care and education for up to 20 children from families involved with the Office of Children and Youth.
• Rural outreach for Erie Free Taxes, sharing Erie Free Taxes information rurally, through a contract with United Way of Erie County.
• Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program, serving as Intermediary for the PA Northwest Hub to help college students receive credentials in Early Childhood Education.
We invite your questions and would be happy to provide a tour of any of our centers. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time!