Vision Checks Scheduled

The Family Library at Community Services for Children (CSC) offers age appropriate programs to introduce young children to eye health, safety tips, and a free vision screening provided by the Center for Vision Loss.  The programs are offered on the following Saturdays, 10:30 – 11:30 am: October 20, November 10, and December 15.

On October 20^th, C.Well Bunny is a clever and loveable hare who will introduce age 3-5 year old preschool children to easy to understand eye health and safety tips. This program is short, interactive and helps young learners understand the vision screening process.

On November 10^th, See All You Can See is designed for 6-8 year olds includes eye safety, games and fun illusions from Dr. Optical and Miss Illusion.

Wild About Healthy Eyes will be offered on December 15^th, geared for 9-12 year olds, includes puzzles, optical illusions, how the eye functions and sports safety.

Each program includes a free vision screening. For information and to reserve a spot, call 610-437-6000, x 3140.

The Family Library is located on CSC’s main Children’s Campus, 1520 Hanover Ave, Allentown. CSC prepares children and their families to succeed in learning and in life. We believe all children deserve a chance to succeed in school, which begins in early life within a nurturing family.

3S33d_admin September 20th, 2012

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Head Start passes federal review

The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that CSC’s Head Start/Early Head Start of the Lehigh Valley programs are in compliance with all applicable program performance standards, laws, regulations, and policy requirements. This determination was made following an exhaustive 5-day on-site review held in May 2012.

Noting exceptional strength, the federal reviewers identified the new Infant Toddler and Family Center recently completed for the SafeStart program. The Center plays a unique role in providing specialized care and intervention for vulnerable infants and their parents who have faced challenges such as early trauma, neglect and poverty. The environment of the facility was specially developed to promote healing and stimulate healthy growth. The facility has become a special demonstration site for students from nine area colleges and universities.

CSC believes that all children deserve a chance to succeed in school, which begins in early childhood within a nurturing family. CSC’s programs affect 40,000 children annually in 13 counties of northeast Pennsylvania.

3S33d_admin August 9th, 2012

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Ball supports abused babies

Proceeds from the 2012 Children’s Ball will support “Building a SafeStart for Babies” campaign. SafeStart is a program housed in the new treatment facility called the Donley Family Center for Infants. SafeStart provides daily therapy for babies who have been abused and neglected and works toward stopping repeat abuse. It is the only such treatment program in Pennsylvania.

The Ball will be hosted by Community Services for Children on September 22, 2012, at the Lehigh Country Club, from 6 to 11 pm. $135 early bird ticket includes reception, dinner, dancing to The Flamin’ Caucasians, and auction.  After August 15, the ticket price goes to $150. Sponsorships are available.

Contact CSC at 610-437-6000, x 2101 for additional information.

3S33d_admin July 5th, 2012

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Literacy Lab helps preschoolers

Results are outstanding for Community Services for Children’s Head Start children participating in the innovative Literacy Enhancement Project in the 2011-2012 school year. When the children started the program in the fall, their early literacy skills were far below proficient for their age. In fact, only 21% had skills appropriate for their level. By June, 97% tested at the kindergarten entry level. By comparison, state-wide, 76% of children in Pre-K Counts were proficient at the end of the school year.

Seven of these classes combine federal Head Start funding with the State Pre-K Counts funding. An additional five classes of children use only federal Head Start dollars.

CSC’s Literacy Enhancement Project combines an innovative self-paced literacy software called Imagination Station and other literacy-related strategies. A literacy lab coach assists children, monitors their progress, and works with the classroom teachers to devise individualized approaches to help struggling students.

CSC is approved by the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program as an Educational Innovation Organization. CSC is eligible to receive tax credit dollars to support the Literacy Enhancement Project. Numerous companies have taken advantage of this in the past, including PPL, Computer Aid, Butz, Air Products, American Bank, PNC, Embassy Bank, Wells Fargo, LVHN, Eastern Industries, and Capital BlueCross, among others. Education 2020! in Allentown has taken a special interest in supporting the growth and development of the Literacy Lab. Last year, Susquehanna Bank using “Strikeouts for As” dollars and TD Bank Foundation also supported the expansion of the Literacy Lab. For information, call Sara George, 610-437-6000, x 2101.

3S33d_admin June 21st, 2012

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Jane Ervin receives Liberty Bell Award

The Lehigh County Bar Association presented Jane Ervin, CEO, CSC, with the Liberty Bell Award at its luncheon on May 1, 2012. The award, presented on Law Day, recognizes Mrs. Ervin’s work advocating for children, especially those who are abused and neglected.

The Liberty Bell Award was established more than 40 years ago to acknowledge outstanding community service. Each group presenting the award is free to establish its own criteria. Many groups present it to a layperson, a man or woman who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community. It is often presented to an individual lawyer or judge or to an entire community organization.

3S33d_admin May 1st, 2012

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Dep Secretary Visits Literacy Lab

Barbara Minzenberg, PhD, Deputy Secretary, Office of Child Development & Early Learning PA Depts of Education and Public Welfare, visits CSC on Thursday, May 3, 2012. The purpose of her visit is to hear about a unique business partnership CSC has to provide an innovative approach to teaching literacy among preschoolers.

CSC’s Head Start program created the Literacy Lab in 2009 to test new methods for improving early literacy among preschoolers. The first Literacy Lab was started at the Head Start/Pre-K Counts Preschool at 12^th & Linden in Allentown. Having proven to be effective, a second Literacy Lab opened at the Donley Children’s Campus in 2011. Approximately 240 children have weekly access to the lab.

Outcomes among the Head Start children indicate that those using the Literacy Lab had higher literacy scores than those children without the Literacy Lab.

CSC’s Literacy Lab is a public-private partnership, supported entirely by local businesses, many of whom belong to Education 2020! The return on investment of this unique approach of incorporating technology in early learning has proven to be a compelling case to the business. The Literacy Lab qualifies as an Educational Innovation under PA’s Dept of Economic Development program “Educational Investment Tax Credit.” Many of the contributing businesses to the Literacy Lab have taken advantage of this EITC program, including Air Products and PPL.

Also attending the May 3^rd tour are Russ Mayo, Superintendent, Allentown School District, Peter Mayes, Principal, Mosser Elementary School, ASD, and Tony Salvaggio, CEO, Computer Aid, who has been a major supporter of the Literacy Lab.

Giving presentations are Paula Margraf, Executive Vice President and Director Head Start of the Lehigh Valley; Deidra Vachier, Director of Early Education; and Lora Lesak, Director of Developmental Health Services.

Tour includes Literacy Lab located on the Donley Children’s Campus as well as the new Infant, Toddler Center for the Early Head Start program called SafeStart. SafeStart features a unique therapeutic nursery approach to helping children born affected by prenatal alcohol and drug exposure.

3S33d_admin May 1st, 2012

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Children Safe after Police & bus collide

Children Safe after Bus and Police Car Collide Shortly before 10 am on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, a Head Start of the Lehigh Valley bus driven by Argentina Cordero was struck by a police cruiser in the vicinity of Oswego and Hanover Avenue, Allentown. The 15 preschoolers were unharmed, attributed to their wearing five-point Star Guard harnesses.

The bus driver and assistant teacher Missi Kupetz, also riding on the bus and responsible for child safety, ensured the children were safe and remained calm. Head Start dispatched a second bus to pick up the children and assistant teacher. They were delivered to their Head Start classroom on the Donley Children’s Campus, 1520 Hanover Avenue.

The bus driver was injured in the accident and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The assistant teacher has been driven to the hospital as a precaution. Parents of the children were called and a letter will be sent home as well.

Driver undergoes surgery at St Luke’s BethlehemThe Head Start of the Lehigh Valley bus driver Argentina Cordero broke her arm in several places as a consequence of the collision between the police cruiser and bus the morning of March 27^th. She is undergoing surgery at St. Luke’s Bethlehem.

3S33d_admin March 27th, 2012

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Bullies Begone

Community Services for Children brings Rosalind Wiseman to the Lehigh Valley on May 22 to speak frankly about bullying: what children are facing and what parents and others can do to prevent and intervene. Her talk will be followed by a Q&A and a book signing, 7 to 8:30 pm, Lipkin Theatre on the campus of Northampton Community College, Green Pond campus.

Ms. Wiseman is an internationally recognized expert on children, teens, parenting, bullying, social justice, and ethical leadership. She’s well known for her best-seller Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World. It became the basis for the movie Mean Girls.  She writes the monthly “Ask Rosalind” column in Family Circle magazine. She has written the “Owning Up Curriculum,” a comprehensive social justice program for grades 6-12, which is in widespread use throughout the country.

Seating is limited. Tickets are $25 available by visiting www.cscinc.org/events or calling 610-437-6000, x 2113.

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

3S33d_admin March 13th, 2012

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Becky Gorton & Salvaggios Honored

Rebecca “Becky” Gorton and Tony and Rosann Salvaggio are this year’s recipients of the Edward and Inez Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy awarded by Community Services for Children. The awards will be given during a luncheon program at The Sands on April 19, 2012, 11:30 – 1:00 pm. Tickets are $50; sponsorships are available.

Mrs. Gorton recently retired from Northampton Community College after 32 years where she leaves an impressive legacy of service, dedication and achievements in advocating for children and developing programs in early childhood education.

Brother and sister Tony and Rosann Salvaggio have combined their expertise to advocate and support research in technology and methodology to improve the reading skills of pre-school aged children. They have long believed that children should start using technology early in life because it can enhance their ability to learn the basic of early reading skills. They have been principal drivers behind the development of CSC’s highly successful early literacy program called the Literacy Laboratory, which demonstrates the effectiveness of such technology tools in early literacy development.

For additional information, call Community Services for Children at 610-437-6000, x2113, or log onto www.cscinc.org/events.

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

3S33d_admin March 8th, 2012

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Bingo supports babies

Great fun for young and old on Sunday, April 15, noon to 4 pm – Purse Bingo at Northeast Middle School in Bethlehem. Proceeds support SafeStart, a therapeutic nursery program for babies and toddlers who suffer effects from prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol.  SafeStart gets these children onto a healthy development track so they are more likely to be ready for kindergarten.

Tickets are $20 for an afternoon of 20 bingo games and tricky tray raffles.

Featuring high quality purses as prizes including Coach, Michael Kor and Vera Bradley among others. Tricky Tray prizes include Disney Hopper passes, Hotel stays in Antigua & St. Lucia, Pocono SPA, 2 tickets to Godspel on Broadway, NY City Day Trip Package, Restaurants, Amusements parks, and much more.

SafeStart is a program of Head Start/Early Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, administered by Community Services for Children (CSC). CSC believes that all children deserve a chance to succeed in school, which begins in early childhood within a nurturing family. CSC is an expert in early childhood education and family development promoting quality and innovative practices that affect the lives of 40,000 children annually in 13 counties of Pennsylvania.

For tickets, go to www.cscinc.org/events or call 610-437-6000, x 2113.

3S33d_admin March 2nd, 2012

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