Fed Recovery Funds

Federal Recovery Funds Aid Head Start Allentown Expansion
Allentown, PA – Good news for preschool children of low-income families in Allentown came from the federal government granting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to Community Services for Children for 20 additional Head Start slots. CSC has received $763,615 in ARRA funding, including this grant for $193,045.

CSC’s successful grant will provide a 12-month, 6-hour a day Head Start classroom experience for 20 children and family support programs in Allentown’s new Youth Success Zone. The center-based preschool program will include a research-based curriculum, community-based programming, nutritional meals and snacks daily, comprehensive family services and parent involvement opportunities, coordination with the neighborhood Youth Success Zone, health and nutrition support services, and resources and referrals as needed.

The new classroom will be located in the former St. Michael’s Church, 9th and Turner Streets in Allentown, where three other Head Start classrooms are located. This location is in the heart of the Youth Success Zone.

This will bring the total number of Head Start classrooms in Allentown to 24 (although as of this writing 6 remain closed due to Pennsylvania’s lengthy budget impasse). With the addition of this funding and when all Head Start/PreK Counts classrooms are open and in conjunction with the Head Start-Allentown School District collaboration, about 67% of the most vulnerable preschool children in Allentown would be enrolled.

Children of extreme poverty – Head Start’s children and families – are most likely to enter kindergarten a year or more behind their more advantaged peers and seldom cross the gap without quality early education and family assistance. In the 2008-09 school year, 88% of CSC’s Head Start children began the year significantly behind their peers, however 93% completed the school year ready for kindergarten.

The Youth Success Zone in Allentown is patterned after the successful Harlem Children’s Zone founded by Geoffrey Canada. Allentown leaders have forged a powerful team to organize and coordinate activities to fight poverty. The model focuses primarily and intensively on the social, health, and educational development of children. The Founder’s Team includes Susan Gilmore, CEO, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; Alicia Ruiz Orbin, Director of the Zone, United Way; Dr. Karen Angello, Superintendent, Allentown School District; The Honorable Ed Pawlowski, Mayor, City of Allentown; Bob Wood, Executive, Sodexo; Alan Jennings, Executive Director, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley; Ed Meehan, Executive Director, The Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust; Lou Liebhaber, Chair, Fundamental Success Consulting; Tim Holt, Community Relations, Air Products; and Vicky Kistler, Director, Allentown Health Bureau.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Early Head Start Expands

Premier Early Education Program Expands
Lehigh Valley, PA – The federal Head Start agency recently approved Community Services for Children (CSC) to expand the number of children and families enrolled in Early Head Start from 99 to 177. Early Head Start is a home-based program for extremely poor families – no more than $21,000 approximately for a family of four. Ideally the child is enrolled prenatally to promote a healthy birth and remains enrolled until age 3, when he is eligible for Head Start preschool.
Early Head Start provides comprehensive prenatal, child development and health services, disability and mental health services, family involvement and support services. The program provides weekly home visits at two hours each for 48 weeks a year and 24 group socialization experiences annually.
CSC estimates that even with the expansion, funding permits enrollment of less that 6% of eligible families. Children ages zero to three make up 55% of children under age 6 living in poverty in the Lehigh Valley (estimated at 6564 children). Almost half reside in Allentown.
Research indicates the following:

• The average 4-year-old child hears 30 million words addressed to them
• Children in low-language, lower income families hear only 13 million words addressed to them by age 4.
• A strong relationship exists between the total amount of family talk a child hears and the child’s vocabulary size. And there is a strong link between vocabulary size at age 3 and 4 with reading comprehension scores in third grade.

All children must start school prepared in all the areas of learning – socially, emotionally, physically, as well as cognitively, including their pre-reading and language skills. Children from low-income families, however, frequently are at a disadvantage, as the research above indicates. Starting as early as possible leads to the greatest likelihood of children entering school ready to succeed.
CSC has provided Early Head Start since 1997. Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, a free program for disadvantaged preschool-age children and families, began in 1965. The Early Head Start expansion represents a shift in dollars from CSC’s Head Start preschool program to Early Head Start while continuing to enroll the same number of preschoolers (982).

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Library closed to public

Due to the PA State Budget Impasse, the Family Library is closed to the public. Child care providers who wish to use the library may do so by scheduling an appointment through the Regional Key Infoline, 1-800-528-7222. For current status information regarding library hours, please call 610-437-6000, ext 3140. We apologize for this inconvenience.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Champs for Children raise $65K

The 14th Annual Champions for Children Celebration held September 11th at The Eastonian raised $65,000 to support CSC’s mission. Ardath Rodale and St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network were honored as the 2009 recipients of the Inez and Edward Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy. Both have been vigilant supporters of children and families in need.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Champs for Children

Champs for Children Honored
Friday, September 11, Community Services for Children continues a 14-year tradition of honoring individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to children’s welfare. Mrs. Ardath Rodale and St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network with receive The Inez and Edward Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy at The Eastonian, Palmer Township. The evening begins with a reception and auction at 6 with dinner at 7. In addition to the awards, Tom Sparough, a nationally known juggler, will involve the audience in telling the tale of children “on the edge.”

Given for the first time in 1996, Community Services for Children 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.

In addition to the Donleys, past individual recipients include 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 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”).

Thanks to all our generous event sponsors and patrons
Title: Beall and Marlene “Linny” Fowler
Presenting: Air Products Foundation
Gold: PPL
Media: The Morning Call
Silver: St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network; USI Insurance Services
Performance: Computer Management & Marketing Associates
Bronze: Alvin H. Butz, Inc; Capital Blue Cross; Concannon Miller PC; Gene & Jane Ervin; Flood & George; France, Anderson, Basile & Co, Inc; Chuck & Barbara Fraust; Highmark Blue Shield; Klunk & Millan; KNBT; Lehigh Valley Health Network; NAI Summit Management & Realty Co; Wachovia: A Wells Fargo Company
Table: Gross McGinley LaBarre Eaton; Northampton Community College; St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network
Friend : C.F. Martin Guitar & Co, Inc; Tom & Claire DeFazio; Ellowitch 3, LLC; Just Born, Inc
KSA&D; Lehigh Valley IronPigs; Mohr Management Resources; Schultz & Williams; The Warko Group
Awards: Rich & Desiree Lake; Leber Financial Group, Inc
Hors d’oeuvres: ASAP Mailing Service; Corporate Environments; George & Dorothy Folk; Information Supply; TW Cooper Insurance
For information, call Sara George, 610-437-6000, ext 2101; sgeorge@cscinc.org.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Brady Joins Board

The Board of Directors of Community Services for Children welcomes Andrea L. Brady, CPA,CVA , to the board. She is a Manager and Audit Niche Leader with Concannon, Miller & Co., P.C. in Allentown, PA where she has been employed for the past 7 years.

Her experience consists of working with numerous nonprofits in the Lehigh Valley. They include Ronald McDonald House Charities, Pinebrook Services for Children and Youth, Jewish Community Center of Allentown, WLVT-TV Channel 39 Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and Allentown Economic Development Corporation. Ms. Brady is also involved with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

Community Services for Children prepares children and their families to succeed in learning and in life. Programs include Early Head Start, Head Start, PreK Counts preschool, child care subsidies, and Keystone STARS quality improvement services.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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School Delayed

Budget Impasse Delays School for 233 Poor Children
Allentown, PA – As a result of the state failing to pass the early education portion of its 2009-2010 budget, Jane Ervin, CEO/President of Community Services for Children (CSC), announced today that the organization must delay the opening of 12 of its 39 classrooms for a month or more. They serve 233 preschoolers from poor families in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. More than 85% of the children live in Allentown. Delayed opening also affects Easton, Slatington and the Schnecksville area. Additional children in Bethlehem will have reduced classroom hours.

With delayed classroom opening, CSC is forced to furlough 42 employees. An additional 88 employees will incur 10% to 20% wage losses resulting through decreased hours between mid August and September 18th. About 46% of CSC’s 280-person workforce is affected. These steps will save about $250,000. If the budget impasse remains unchanged by early September, the organization will reassess options for further changes.

CSC’s Head Start program is funded both through federal and state funds for a total of 1159 children who live at or below the federal poverty line. These are the Lehigh Valley’s most vulnerable children. The average family income is $12,000. The state funds 178 Head Start children and state-funded PreK Counts represents 140 children.

In addition, the state has not reimbursed CSC for services already rendered in two other programs it operates: Child Care Information Services of Lehigh County and Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Keystone STARS program. The lack of payment has forced CSC to secure a $5 million line of credit at a high rate of interest.

The unresolved state early education budget creates huge economic ripples in the Lehigh Valley and across the state, affecting children, families, and businesses. State sources indicate that there is an immediate 2-for-1 multiplier effect with public investment in the local economy through the child care-related industry. Major economic impact studies have also shown repeatedly that investment in early childhood has the highest rates of return for community development.

Community Services for Children operates Head Start/Early Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, PreK Counts preschool, Child Care Information Services of Lehigh County subsidized childcare, and the Northeast Regional Key/Keystone STARS program.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Putt U Presenters

Putt for Children Tournament Announces Sponsors
Lehigh Valley, PA – Community Services for Children, Inc (CSC) is holding a fundraiser on August 1, 2009, at Putt U in Center Valley, PA. Proceeds will fund Head Start and other children’s programs run by Community Services for Children. Deiter Brothers Fuel and Company, Olympus, Yocco’s, Catering by Karen Hunter, and Kraemer Schurman Advertising and Design are pleased to present this event. Also sponsoring the event are Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Rich Mar Florist, Jacobsburg Historical Society, and Wilson Black Photography.

All ages are invited. Each ticket will be $10 (children three and under are free), registration is on the CSC website as well as on-site the day of the event. There will be a shotgun start with an award ceremony to follow. Awards will be given to the best male, female, and child under 13 as well as the worst score. Prizes will be from Target, Moose and Bug Florist, Fuzziwigs Candy Factory, and Marblehead Grille and Chowder House. One prize will be given away in a raffle to a random participant. Snacks will also be provided from local companies; Just Born, Chiquita Banana, Deer Park, Giant and A-treat. For more information go to our website at www.cscinc.org, or contact Sara George at sgeorge@cscinc.org or 610-437-6000 ext. 2101.

Community Services for Children is the sole provider of Early Head Start and Head Start in this region. The families enrolled in Head Start earn an average of $11,000 per year. Through Head Start, parents learn skills necessary to gain greater independence and their children arrive in our public schools ready to achieve. In addition to providing Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, CSC also administers a subsidized child care program and information service in Lehigh County as well as a child care quality improvement program for child care providers through the Northeastern PA Regional Key, which serves the 15 counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Bugaighis joins board

The Board of Directors of Community Services for Children welcomes Elizabeth Tyler Bugaighis, PhD, to the board for an initial three-year term beginning July 2009. Dr. Bugaighis is the new Dean of Education & Academic Success at Northampton Community College. She heads the Education, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and ESL departments. Her additional responsibilities college-wide include student retention and persistence initiatives, developmental education, tutoring services, and an NEH grant.

Dr. Bugaighis earned her doctorate in educational theory and policy from The Pennsylvania State University. She holds an MPA from Kutztown and a BA from Moravian College.

Community Services for Children prepares children and their families to succeed in learning and in life. Programs include Early Head Start, Head Start, PreK Counts preschool, child care subsidies, and Keystone STARS quality improvement services.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Swain Helps Head Start

Who: Swain School students volunteering at Community Services for Children/Head Start
WHEN: Friday, June 5, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
WHERE: CSC Headquarters, 1520 Hanover Ave in east Allentown (on the grounds of the Allentown State Hospital)
DOING WHAT: Reading to preschoolers, washing vans/buses, shelving books in family library
WHY: Community Service Project for 7th graders auctioned off at the Swain School annual auction

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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