Head Start Showcased in National Fitness Video

Our Head Start and Early Head Start programs were among several programs in the country chosen to participate in a project designed by the National Head Start Association and NIKE to create video APPS (applications) demonstrating physical play and interactions with caregivers.

Go Smart, created by NHSA and NIKE, guides teachers and families to integrate physical activity across the curriculum in all areas of learning and gets families actively involved in their children’s health and fitness. Our Early Head Start and Head Start children and teachers have been participating in the creation of these apps.  A videographer has been to some of our Head Start Classrooms and to all of our EHS-SafeStart classrooms filming our children performing various scripted activities to create a FREE online resource available to all families across the USA.

The Go Smart online version includes approximately 134 simple developmentally appropriate games and activities aimed at children from 0-5 years of age.  There are brief video clips accompanying each of these activities to capture the physical play and activity as children and their caregivers interact together.

Take a moment and access the demo of these apps.  There are still more to come, and the videographer will be returning to our campus to do more taping in the next few months.  However, the first group of free apps were released last week and we are very proud of our children and teachers and wanted to share this with you.

They are fun to view and remember, we have a lot to be proud of, we are an excellent program producing excellent outcomes thank to our staff and our fabulous children and families.  Please share the information with your families, especially as more and more apps are created.

3S33d_admin October 10th, 2014

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Donley Award Nominations Due

Inez and Edward Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy

Background: Given for the first time in 1996, Community Services for Children established this prestigious award to acknowledge public service that has significantly improved the quality of life for children at the local, state and/or national levels. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Donley, who exemplify the spirit of the award, were the first recipients. We continue to honor their example by naming the award for them.

In addition to the Donleys, past individual recipients include Senator Patrick M. Browne, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Butz, Mr. L. Jack Bradt, Mr. Peter Carpino, Mr. Scott Fainor, Mrs. Marlene “Linny” Fowler, Mrs. Rebecca Gorton, Mr. Kostas Kalogeropolous, Mrs. Patricia W. Levin, Dr. and Mrs. Peter Likins, Chief Roger MacLean, The Honorable Jeanette Reibman, The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Mrs. Ardath Rodale, Dr. Arthur L. Scott, Dr. Diane Scott Dr. John vanBrakle.

Past recipients of the Organization Award are Agere Systems; Air Products & Chemicals, Inc; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Computer Aid, CoreStates Bank, Crayola, Education 2020!; Just Born, Inc;  Lehigh Valley Health Network, Northampton County Medical Society Alliance, PNC Financial Services, PPL Corporation,  St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network, The Harry C. Trexler Trust, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley  Women’s Leadership Council.

Criteria for Nominations:

1. Nominee must be an individual, couple, group, non profit organization or for-profit company whose residence or offices are located in the Lehigh Valley, PA.
2. Contributions of time, talent and/or treasure have directly improved the health, education or general welfare of children between the ages of 0-18. OR
3. Contributions have substantially increased the awareness of needs of children.

No more than two nominees will be selected annually for the award to be presented at the Donley Awards Luncheon, typically held in April.

Ineligible: Schools, child care providers

Due November 7, 2014. Mail to Development Office, Community Services for Children, 1520 Hanover Ave, Allentown, PA 18109; or fax to Development Office, 610-437-6500. Or email to sgeorge@cscinc.org.

Please print or type. Attach extra sheets as needed or email.

Nominee Organization/Company/Individual:

Contact Name:

Address:

Telephone:                                                                         email:

What contribution(s) has the nominee made to improve the health, education or general welfare of children? Provide specific examples.

Has this work been done alone or has the nominee worked in partnership or otherwise organized a team to participate in the work? Please be specific.

Describe the children who have been helped.

Describe the location of these children.

How has the nominee increased the awareness of children’s needs? Provide specific examples.

Name and contact information of the individual making the nomination:

Name:

Address:

Telephone:                                                                                                           email:

Awardees will be announced in January 2015. Awards will be presented at an awards luncheon in April 2015 at DeSales University.

Email nominations to sgeorge@cscinc.org by Nov 7th, 2014.

3S33d_admin October 10th, 2014

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STEM prek opens

Community Services for Children (CSC), provider of Head Start, Keystone STARS program, and subsidies for child care, has launched a preschool using STEM topics as its focus for learning. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Research indicates that the skills necessary to work successfully in the 21^st century must start in early childhood. The new school is called The Newton School, noting the achievements of Sir Isaac Newton as their namesake.

“ We know that teaching literacy skills is essential to success,” said Jane Ervin, CEO and President of CSC. “Now the research is in that shows early math skills are predictors of success, too.”

In the 2014-15 school year, The Newton School is located on the Donley Children’s Campus in east Allentown. CSC is currently looking for new space in Allentown with the expectation that in future years The Newton School will expand to centers around the Lehigh Valley.

The STEM-approach to learning uses hands-on experiences to help children discover ideas in science, math, and engineering. Teachers learn to use open-ended questions to support children’s learning. With a generous grant from PPL, CSC has also developed and recently launched a STEM training series for prek teachers.

“Early education teachers have had little exposure to the methods, materials and applications for STEM teaching up to now, “ said Ervin. “We believe that both The Newton School STEM-focused preschool and the comprehensive training for prek teachers is new in Pennsylvania.”

An open house introducing The Newton School is scheduled for October 15m 9:30 – 11:00 am, Community Services for Children, The Fowler Building, 1520 Hanover Ave, Allentown. For information call 610-437-6000, x 2101.

3S33d_admin October 2nd, 2014

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Head Start and East Penn SD add prek

East Penn School District and Head Start of the Lehigh Valley are offering a high quality free preschool to eligible children this fall at Jefferson Elementary in Emmaus. Residents of Emmaus will have transportation available. The school year will begin September 2 and run through the end of May. The school day will run 5 days per week, 4-1/2 hours. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Eligible children must live in the East Penn School District, reach 4 years of age no later than September 1 and live in a family with an income at or below the federal poverty guideline. Currently that guideline is $23,850 for a family of four.

Community Services for Children administers Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, which provides high quality preschool programs. Children who attend CSC’s Head Start program are fully ready for kindergarten after completing a year. Parents and other caregivers are encouraged to participate in family education events and activities. All children are connected with medical and dental services to ensure their continued healthy development.

To apply, please call Community Services for Children, 610-437-6000, Enrollment Department.

3S33d_admin August 8th, 2014

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Ball fights child abuse

The Children’s Ball, “A Night in New Orleans,” will be hosted by Community Services for Children on September 13, 2014, at the Lehigh Country Club, from 6 to 9 pm. $100 ($195 for a couple) includes reception, dinner, New Orleans-style street fair, jazz, photo booth, dancing and auction.

The special Live Auction features autographed items from Hall of Famer Andre Reid and Phantoms tickets and paraphernalia. Susan Bella has donated beautiful jewelry for the Magic Key Box.

Proceeds from the 2014 Children’s Ball will support the Donley Family Infant Center. The Center is a new treatment facility that provides daily treatment for babies who have been abused and neglected and works toward stopping repeat abuse. It is the only such treatment program in Pennsylvania.

Contact CSC at 610-437-6000, x 2112 for additional information. www.cscinc.org/events.

Community Services for Children is a regional leader in early childhood education by preparing children to succeed in school. Programs covering 18 counties of NE Pennsylvania affect 40,000 annually.

3S33d_admin July 25th, 2014

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Head Start/Pre-K Counts Parent Survey

We need your help! We are conducting the 2013-2014 Head Start/Pre-K Counts survey. This survey helps us identify areas of improvement so that we can continue to provide excellent service to you and future families in the program.

Please click on the link to take the survey.

3S33d_admin May 20th, 2014

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Browne & Van Brakle win Donley Award

More than 140 community and business leaders joined Community Services for Children (CSC) recognizing State Senator Pat Browne and Dr. John Van Brakle with The Inez and Edward Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy for their achievements on April 23, 2014, at DeSales University Center. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey also recognized their work promoting children’s health and education with citations presented via field representatives Carol Obando-Derstine and Marta Gabriel, respectively. Created especially for the event was a new glass design by artist Peter Yenawine of Crystal Signatures. Ashley Russo, President of The Peak TV, was mistress of ceremonies, and premiered a short video about CSC’s work to start the event.

“The country has come to recognize the importance of early childhood education,” said Mr. Edward Donley, former CEO of Air Products. “And Pat Browne has been in a forefront of this for years. We in Pennsylvania owe him a debt of gratitude.”

“The high level of pediatric care and attention to children who have been traumatized in the Lehigh Valley is very much a credit to Dr. Van Brakle,” said Jane Ervin, CEO of CSC.

Among those attending were Edward Donley, Jane Ervin, Barbara Fraust, Lehigh County DA James Martin, Rep. Mike Schlossberg, JB Reilly, Don Bernhard, L. Anderson Daub, David Lewis, Bernie Story, Barbara Diamond, Edward Meehan, Dr. Mark Erickson, Dr. Jarret Patton, Glenn Guanowsky, Kay Hughston, Peter Brown, James Klunk, Winnie Willinsky, J. Robert Lovett, Lin Erickson, Fred Fenselau, Dean Wagaman, Frank Smith, Ray Federici, Peter Schurman, Robert Kraemer, Donna Haggerty, Colby Kent, Jan Heller, Thomas and Cindy Donley, Robert Episcopo, Laurie Hackett, Robert Vitale, Tony Cioffi, and Andrea Brady.

Major sponsors for the event included Air Products, Crayola, INetU and PPL.

Given for the first time in 1996, CSC established this prestigious award to acknowledge public service at the local, state, and/or national levels which has significantly improved the quality of life for children. Mr. and Mrs. Donley, who exemplify the spirit of the award, were the first recipients. We continue to honor their example by naming the award for them.

“I believe the judges have made outstanding selections from among the nominations we received,” said Jane Ervin, CEO of Community Services for Children. “The choice wasn’t easy since we have so many shining lights advocating for children in the Lehigh Valley.”

The judges who made the selections were Jan Heller, Thomas Donley, and Dr. Arthur Scott.

Senator Patrick Browne   Senator Browne is the recognized leader in the PA Senate on Early Learning issues.  He is co-chair of the Early Learning Caucus – the largest bi-partisan caucus in the PA legislature. This caucus ensures that the needs of children are given continuous priority.  While Senator Browne may be most associated with Lehigh County, his efforts have helped children across the Commonwealth. Without his leadership, state funding for various programs helping children would have been greatly decimated. We can thank his efforts in saving Subsidy for childcare, mental health and early intervention, Head Start Supplemental Assistance, and Nurse Family Partnership home visitation program. Senator Browne famously builds coalitions among legislators across the aisle as well as community and business leaders.

Formerly a state representative, Browne successful ly negotiated a 10-acre allotment from the Allentown State Hospital to provide a children’s campus now housing Head Start, Early Head Start/home program, SafeStart, Subsidy Services, and the Keystone STARS program.

Dr. John Van Brakle  Until his recent retirement. Dr. Van Brakle was chief of pediatrics, holding the Forrest G. Moyer Distinguished Chair of Pediatrics at Lehigh Valley Hospital. He greatly expanded the pediatric clinic at LVH, recruited subspecialists in allergies, behavioral health, neurology and cardiology. He has participated in studies in parenting and ADD. He worked on the development of a vision for a children’s emergency treatment facility and hospital.  He was also a driving force in establishing the Lehigh County Child Advocacy Center. He has been a long-time advocate especially for children who have suffered abuse. Dr. Van Brakle grew the LVHN Pediatric department, especially the Children’s Clinic on 17^th and Chew Streets.  He has consulted for the CAC in Northampton County and served as the Vice Chair of Children’s Coalition of the LV. He is a current board member of Pennsylvania Partnership for Children. He is the consummate child advocate and always dedicated to the health, education and wellbeing of children

In addition to the Donleys, past individual recipients include Chief Roger McLean, Mrs. Rebecca Gorton, Mrs. Ardath Rodale, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Butz, Mr. Kostas Kalogeropolous, Mrs. Patricia W. Levin, The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Dr. Arthur L. Scott, Mr. Scott Fainor, Dr. Diane Scott, The Honorable Jeanette Reibman, Mr. L. Jack Bradt, Mr. Peter Carpino, Mrs. Marlene “Linny” Fowler, and Dr. and Mrs. Peter Likins.

Past recipients of the Organization Award are Northampton County Medical Society Alliance, Computer Aid, PPL Corporation, Education 2020!, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network, The Women’s Leadership Initiative of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; PNC Financial Services; Just Born, Inc; The Harry C. Trexler Trust; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Agere Systems; Air Products & Chemicals, Inc; Lehigh Valley Health Network; CoreStates Bank; and Binney & Smith, Inc (now “Crayola”).

Community Services for Children is a regional leader in early childhood education, affecting the lives of 40,000 children annually.

3S33d_admin April 25th, 2014

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Child Advocacy Centers Funded

Legislation designed to secure a reliable funding stream for the state’s Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) has been approved by both the state House and Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law, announced Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Lehigh/Northampton), author of the measure.

“I have been working on legislation to fund the state’s CACs for the last 10 years and am overjoyed that these important facilities will now have funding to help them continue their mission,” said Harhart. “The work done at these centers is life-saving for many of the children who seek help, and it gives law enforcement the information needed to track suspected abusers. I am thankful my colleagues in the General Assembly recognize and support the need to fund these vital centers. I look forward to seeing it signed into law in the coming days.”

A CAC is essentially a one-stop-shop treatment program for abused children which brings together doctors, nurses, prosecutors, social workers and law enforcement. This multidisciplinary approach gives abused children the best chance to recover and also provides the most effective way to gather evidence to bring perpetrators to justice.

House Bill 316 establishes a $10 fee increase for the cost of duplicate birth certificates in order to fund existing CACs, support the development of new CACs, train individuals mandated to report suspected child abuse and for other child abuse-related costs. The cost of a duplicate birth certificate would therefore rise from $10 to $20.

Currently, CACs are supported through federal funding, grants, donations and fundraising events. Under Harhart’s legislation, it is estimated the duplicate birth certificate fee increase would raise approximately $2.86 million per year.

“According to the Task Force on Child Protection, it is recommended every child should be within a two-hour car ride of a CAC,” said Harhart. “With only 21 CACs currently spread across 67 counties, more facilities are definitely needed, which this funding will help support.”

Under the legislation, an advisory committee comprised of 21 members, including the victim advocate and representatives from law enforcement, county children and youth agencies, and victim service providers, would also be created to make recommendations regarding how to administer the funding.

House Bill 316 garnered approval in both the House and Senate. It is supported by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Department of Public Welfare.

3S33d_admin April 7th, 2014

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LV Community Foundation Grant

The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation recently granted $7500 to Community Services for Children to assist with the construction costs of The Donley Family Infant Center. The Center is a unique treatment facility, which provides the SafeStart program consisting of daily treatment for babies who have been abused and neglected and works with parents to stabilize their families and prevent repeat abuse. It is the only such treatment program in Pennsylvania.

Community Services for Children is a regional leader in early childhood education that prepares children to succeed in school. Programs covering 18 counties of NE Pennsylvania affect 40,000 annually.

3S33d_admin December 13th, 2013

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PPL gives $44K STEM grant

PPL Corporation recently gave a $44,000 grant to Community Services for Children (CSC) to expand its role in providing high quality science, technology, engineering and math (“STEM”) education to children in prekindergarten.

CSC will use the grant to develop a training model for prekindergarten teachers so they are better able to help young children learn methods, vocabulary, and tools of inquiry. Grant dollars will also support preparation of trainers; program implementation; expansion of a model classroom; and a technology lab.

“We are excited to further our role in prekindergarten STEM, because we have experienced a great deal of success with our Head Start children in this arena already. This grant allows us to expand our role in preparing and educating teachers in the field. We are also looking forward to partnering with such organizations as the DaVinci Science Center,” said Jane Ervin, CEO/President of CSC.

“Investing in high quality STEM education is essential to our community’s success,” said Don Bernhard, director, Community Affairs, PPL Corporation. “By starting at the prekindergarten level, our community’s children will receive a strong foundation so they are better equipped for success in the classroom and beyond.”

Bernhard added, “A high quality early STEM education today will help our children be prepared for high quality jobs at PPL tomorrow.”

CSC is the region’s leader in early childhood education and family development, reaching 40,000 children in 18 counties annually. For further information, call Sara George, 610-437-6000, x2101.

3S33d_admin December 4th, 2013

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