Community Connections for Children in York was selected by the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to be the regional Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) for Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry and Lebanon Counties (Region 9) and York, Adams, Lancaster Counties (Region 10). The ELRCs were created to improve the quality of and access to early learning services and help families identify the best child care options that meet the needs of their children. The ELRCs will also provide connections to other organizations providing services to families with young children. Beginning July 1, 2018 ELRCs will provide a single point of contact for families, early childhood education programs, non-profits, communities and business leaders to gain information and access services that support high quality early childhood education. Community Connections for Children is one of twelve organizations across the Commonwealth that were selected.
Community Connections for Children will expand services through the new ELRC model overseeing the Child Care Works programs for these seven counties. The agency will continue to provide support for PA’s quality improvement program, Keystone STARS in this service area and as a subcontractor for ERLC programs in Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder, Union, and Northumberland Counties (Region 8). Community Connections for Children will continue to administer the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for 21 counties and is a United Way of York County Partner Agency. Agency revenue will expand to approximately $75 million and will be adding 35-40 staff members.
Christy S. Renjilian, Executive Director of Community Connections for Children, said, “Community Connections for Children is pleased to continue its decades of service to York County and surrounding communities. We have a long history of working with a wide variety of community partners to promote access, affordability and quality of early childhood education programs for families and children. Community Connections for Children looks forward to building upon our strengths and creating new partnerships to enhance services throughout ELRC Regions 9 and 10”.
Community Connections for Children, founded in 1987, is committed to helping children, families, and early childhood education programs be successful. Our mission is to ensure that all families have access to affordable, high quality child care choices that lead to success in school and life.
We assist low income working families in paying for child care. Community Connections for Children provides resources, training, and on-site technical assistance to early childhood education providers to help them improve their program to ensure that every child is successful in school and life. We serve approximately 24,000 children, families, and early childhood education programs annually.
For more information, please contact Christy S. Renjilian, Executive Director, crenjilian@childcareconsultants.org or 717-771-8560.