Community Connections for Children | ELRC

Written By: Christy S. Renjilian Do you know the average cost of care for children enrolled in an early childhood education center?  For infant care, the average annual rate is $14,000. For toddlers, it’s $13,500. And for preschoolers, the number is $11,700. And these costs vary widely from state to state.  In Mississippi, it costs $5,400 per year for a four-year-old. . .  and almost $17,000 in Massachusetts. [Source: US News] According to the Child Care Aware of America report, “Demanding Change: Repairing our Child Care System,” in every part of the country families are paying a higher percentage of… read more »

And a Breakdown of the Unsustainable Financial Model Written By: Christy S. Renjilian The future of early childhood education (ECE) is bleak without significant revisions to how we fund and support our youngest children and their families.  It’s evident that the childcare sector is a crucial, yet underfunded part of the American economy.  It funds jobs and pays the bills for millions of Americans. One in every 110 U.S. workers – and one in every 55 working women – makes a living in some part of the early childhood education sector.  And for those working in every other industry, finding… read more »

The Hidden Gems in Our Region: These Programs Make a Difference Written By: Christy S. Renjilian Did you know that 27% of Pennsylvanians who work struggle to survive from one paycheck to the next?  This group is referred to as ALICE—an acronym that means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.  They make more than the federal poverty guidelines and as a result, don’t qualify for support services.  But they don’t make enough to make ends meet and provide for the basic essentials.  Community Connections for Children works with many organizations to support these families.  One of the leading agencies Community… read more »

Written By: Christy S. Renjilian Did you know that by 2025, Pennsylvania will need thousands of new teachers? Thousands? And a glimpse at the collegiate level shows fewer college students are entering the track to becoming an educator. In fact, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the number of certificates for new teachers issued in Pennsylvania has dropped by roughly two-thirds over the past decade. Add to that the compounding crisis we’re seeing, with experienced educators leaving the profession — a staffing shortage that’s compounded due to COVID and teacher dissatisfaction. There are great things happening in… read more »

Written By: Christy S. Renjilian I have a saying posted in my office—one that I have moved all over the country to serve as a reminder of the goal of my life’s work.  It says: “Children do not drop out in high school. They drop out in kindergarten and wait ten years to make it official.” And decades of research from educators, economists, social scientists, and policy analysts studying a wide array of indicators and outcomes have proven this to be true.  The trajectory of a child’s life is grounded in what happens during the first five years—long before that… read more »

Six Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a New Job Written By: Christy S. Renjilian If you’re like me, you have experienced a toxic work environment at some point in your career. Maybe it was a terrible boss or clique of colleagues that made you feel left out. Maybe someone in leadership played favorites or took credit for your work. Or maybe it was low morale across the board that started to affect your own happiness. In a recent Work and Well-Being survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), three in five workers said work-related stress caused them to… read more »

Connections is a training series for newly DHS Certified Family providers or those still journeyingthrough the certification process. Your business needs Connections! Click below for dates offered in English and Spanish!

Written By: Christy S. Renjilian What do you think of when you think of a Board meeting? Is it a bunch of stuffy people in suits sitting around a long table? Overseers, out of touch with what their business is doing and its impact in the world? This is exactly the vision that Community Connections for Children, Inc. (CCC) has worked hard to avoid with its Board of Directors. We want a Board that is fully involved in the organization, filled with members who enthusiastically participate in CCC’s mission to ensure all families have access to affordable, high-quality childcare choices… read more »

Five Go-To’s for Community Connections for ChildrenCare Consultants, Inc.  Written By: Christy S. Renjilian Have you ever stumbled across a tool or resource that changed the way you work or approach life? The impact that one piece of technology can have on you and your business can be monumental. Time and energy saved. And money expanded — so often we are better able to serve our community and clients with these increased resources.  The nonprofit world feels this, too. And some of the challenges facing us as nonprofits have only grown since the pandemic. From budget cuts and stifled resources… read more »

Human Resources: Our Approach How Community Connections for Children, Inc. Shifted Their HR Culture  Written By: Heather Spitzlay and Christy S. Renjilian What comes to mind when you hear the phrase human resources?  A sifter of resumes? An enforcer of rules? Or maybe even the termination engineer? The latter is a term made popular by Up In The Air, a movie starring George Clooney.  I hope these ideas aren’t the ones that pop into your head. But so often, human resources can bring up negative feelings or thoughts. Partly due to the influence of media and culture. And partly due… read more »