Dr Seuss Rescheduled

Bad weather closed down Dr. Seuss celebrations scheduled for Monday, March 2. Fortunately, most of our 45 community volunteers from PNC, Air Products, Susquehanna Bank, and others will be able to reschedule. Among them is Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who will read his favorite book to the children enrolled in the Head Start classroom hosted by Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethlehem on Tuesday, March 3.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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IronPigs vs Pawtucket Red Sox

Hit a homerun supporting children and families!

Saturday, April 25, Community Services for Children (CSC) is holding a fundraiser during the game between the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Pawtucket Red Sox at Coca-Cola Park. Exclusive for 100 first-come, first-serve purchasers and sponsors, the party will be held on the 3rd Baseline Party Porch. Featuring a hearty two-buffet of ballpark favorites, supporters will also enjoy access to the deluxe club level at the Park, a Go Green grocery Bag, unlimited sodas, and a beer token. Game time begins at 7 pm.

Tickets are $75; children ages 16 and under are $40; those 2 and under are free. Proceeds benefit CSC, whose programs include Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, CSC’s PreK Counts Preschool, Northeast Regional Key/Keystone STARS, and Child Care Information Services of Lehigh County. To order tickets, call Sara George, 610-437-6000, ext 2101; sgeorge@cscinc.org

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Mayor Callahan reads to Head Start

Thanks for stopping to see us at CSC.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Tax Credits

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development has approved Community Services for Children to receive business contributions for Educational Improvement Tax Credits for fiscal year 2008-2009. The Department determined CSC’s “Enhancing Literacy Project” is an “innovative educational program,” one of two categories businesses may select for directing tax credits to invest in education.

CSC’s Enhancing Literacy Project is a pilot program to boost early literacy and language development among preschoolers. It will open at CSC’s Linden Street Preschool, Allentown, in September 2009. Businesses involved with Education 2010 have made a large commitment to support the start up and first year of operations. For additional information, contact Sara George, 610-437-6000, ext 2101; sgeorge@cscinc.org.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Thumbs up from Feds

The Office of Head Start recently completed a triennial review of CSC’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The monitoring tool gathered information through interviews, observations and document reviews. Results of the triennial review demonstrate that CSC’s programs are in full compliance with the myriad of performance standards, laws, regulations, and policy requirements. No corrective action is required.
New this year the reviewers included in the report comments on CSC’s areas of strength. “CSC is outcome-driven, progressive and results-oriented while placing a high value on service, excellence, integrity, and quality of relationships,” summarizes their comments.
Additional comments included the following:

• Head Start children consistently attain and even surpass agency goals’ to meet 80% of development in all learning domains
• All parents engaged in a family partnership goal-setting process and consistently achieved their goals, which lead ultimately to independence and family stability
• 100% of children enrolled were connected to an on-going source of health care and health insurance and 99% received preventive and on-going health care
• CSC maintained quality classrooms with those directly-run classrooms accredited by the National Association of Education for Young Children and Middle States, both gold standards for quality
• CSC demonstrates its commitment to rigorous program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement
• CSC seeks innovative opportunities to build upon its services through partnerships, research, and special initiatives
• CSC has strong partnerships in the community, including successful collaborations with school districts, Intermediate units/early intervention, childcare agencies, and Child Welfare to provide a varied schedule and choices for families
• Local health care providers responded and contributed to the positive health status of all children because CSC established a method of communication, trust, and respect for families and their needs
• More than 1000 families were referred and received needed additional resources in the community because of CSC’s strong partnerships with human service providers
• CSC has an experienced, expect management team to support the implementation of all services to children and families.
• Governing Board members are committed to the agency’s mission and are leaders in the community
• CSC has an adept financial management team that successfully manages all funding streams without audit findings.

For more information contact Sara George, 610-437-6000, ext 2101; sgeorge@cscincorg.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Guv Taps Ervin

Gov. Ed Rendell has appointed Jane Ervin, CEO/President of Community Services for Children, to join the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council. The Council will plan for expanding effective early learning and development services for young children and their families and make recommendations to the Governor to ensure the plans are implemented successfully. The Council will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of federal and state programs designed to serve young children from birth through their entry into school and to ensure a smooth transition for those children into K-12 education and other programs serving older children.
The Council will, among other duties,

• conduct periodic needs assessments,
• identify barriers to collaboration and coordination among federally-funded and state-funded early childhood programs and services,
• recommend policies and procedures to assure integration of the early intervention system,
• assure the development of a sound continuum from and between early childhood programs and traditional public education,
• engage parents to provide input to strengthen the state’s early learning programs, and
• assure an integrated approach to the design and delivery of early childhood mental health services across the state.

The Council will work closely with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), headed by Deputy Secretary Harriet Dichter. OCDEL directs Early Intervention, Keystone STARS, Nurse-Family Partnership, Pre-K Counts preschool, and the Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care program, among other programs.
Community Services for Children, headquartered in Allentown, administers Head Start of the Lehigh Valley (1100 children enrolled from Lehigh and Northampton Counties); Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Key, responsible for the Keystone STARS quality improvement initiative; PreK Counts classrooms in Allentown and Easton (7 total); and Child Care Information Services of Lehigh County, the childcare subsidy program for low-income families.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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New Board Members

Community Services for Children (CSC) recently announced new appointments to its Board of Directors, including Dr. Jarret Patton and Prof. Melanie Wursta.

Dr. Patton has served as Medical Director of Outpatient Pediatrics at Lehigh Valley Health Network since 2005. He takes pride in taking care of many of the underserved children in the Lehigh Valley. In addition to the CSC board, he serves as a children’s “champion” for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and is an active member of the Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), National Medical Association (NMA), Pediatric Advisory Panel for Gateway Health Plan in Pittsburgh, on the Long Term Care Advisory Panel at the national Joint Commission on health affairs. Dr. Patton earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Prof. Wursta is a professor and coordinator of the Teacher Education Department at Lehigh Carbon Community College. She is also project director for numerous education-improvement grants awarded by the US Department of Education. Among her many accomplishments, Wursta developed the Early Childhood-Early Intervention associates program. She also assisted in the development of an associates degree and specialized diploma program for Montessori training. She founded the Early Childhood Education Student Association. Prof. Wursta completed her master’s of education degree at Lehigh University.

CSC provides regional Head Start, Keystone STARS quality improvement services, PreK Counts preschool, and childcare subsidies for low-income families, in total affecting the lives of an estimated 50,000 children in 15 counties.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Book Drive

Barnes & Noble Booksellers located at the Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley is sponsoring a book drive to benefit the 1100 children enrolled in Head Start of the Lehigh Valley. The book drive runs November 1 – December 31, 2008. Shoppers may choose to purchase a book for an infant, toddler or preschooler offered by the store.
Community Services for Children, which operates Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, will hold a party at the store on Saturday, November 22, 10 – 11 am, featuring story time and crafts for preschoolers. There is no charge.

Head Start enrolls children 0-5 who live in very low income families. The educational programs prepare children to succeed in school. For most of these children, owning a book is beyond imagining. Head Start seeks to give at least 3 books to each child every year.

For additional information call the Community Relations Manager at Barnes and Noble, Eve Kabay, 610-791-3825.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Depressed Moms

Community Services for Children’s Institute for Child and Family Development is holding a conference addressing ‘How Maternal Depression Affects Babies and Children,’ Friday, November 14, 2008, at the Best Western Hotel & Conference Center off Rt 22 and 512 in Northampton County.

It is not uncommon for mothers to experience depression soon after childbirth and during the first year of their baby’s life. Early identification and treatment of maternal depression is important for mother, child and family. Major depression in the postpartum period holds a significant public health concern, posing a risk to the quality of the mother-infant relationship during a critical period for development of attachment.

Speakers Dr. Gerard Costa and Dr. Andres Pumariega will address prevalence, symptoms, and risks; the consequences for child development and subsequent psychopathology; screening and treatment; and how to support positive family relationships.

Dr. Costa a Developmental Psychlogist with Temple University and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Pumariega is Chief of Psychiatry, Reading Hospital and Medical Center, and Professor of Psychiatry at Temple University Medical School.

Both speakers have authored numerous journal articles on this and related topics.

The conference will include continental breakfast and lunch. To be added to our mailing list or for further information, call 610-432-7300 or 610-437-6000, ext 2106.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Gala/Donley Dinner

Just a few seats remain for the Children’s Gala and Donley Awards Dinner honoring United Way’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and Dolly and Lee Butz, Friday, October 17, 6 pm, Candlelight Inn. Featured speaker is US Chamber of Commerce Executive VP Dr. Arthur Rothkopf, President Emeritus of Lafayette College, addressing investment in early childhood. Also scheduled to speak are Tony Iannelli, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce; Buddy Lesavoy, chairman of the Board of the Lehigh Valley Chamber; Father Dan Gambet; Delores Laputka; Dr. Diane Scott and Jane Ervin.

The Fusion Jazz Trio is providing entertainment throughout the evening. Among tempting auction items is a five-day trip to Marcos Island, including roundtrip airfare, hotel stay at the Marriott Beach Resort, and restaurant certificates. Tom Hall Auctions promises a lively event.

Presenting Sponsor is USI Financial Services. Air Products is the Speaker Sponsor. For information, call Sara George, 610-437-6000, ext 2101.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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