Are you a former or a parent of a Head Start Student? We want to hear your story!

Head Start will be celebrating it’s 50 year anniversary in 2015 and we would like to highlight the accomplishments of families who have attended Head Start of the Lehigh Valley. Head Start alumni have gone on to become successful business leaders, artists, politicians and role models for others in the community. As part of our 50 year celebration, we would like to share your story with others in the Lehigh Valley and the world! Please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OPnL9B9k79ShmT2ASYD_Pebfno8CAUgT4nmjOCuSQoM/viewform

to complete a brief survey.

3S33d_admin February 26th, 2015

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National Penn donates $10k for scholarships

Community Services for Children (CSC) recently received $10,000 from National Penn in Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding in support of its early education scholarships.

“We are so appreciative of National Penn’s leadership in supporting early education. This is the building block for successful high school graduation and an educated workforce,” said Jane Ervin, CEO/President of CSC.

CSC will distribute $10,000 in scholarships to children enrolled in high quality pre-k programs which have earned a STAR 3 or STAR 4 quality designation by the Pennsylvania Keystone STARS program; accredited by the national association for educating young children (NAEYC); or accredited by the Middle States Commission on the Accreditation of Elementary Schools.

Community Services for Children (CSC) is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. Qualifying businesses may receive tax credits in exchange for donations to CSC to fund students from low income families attending high quality pre-k programs. These credits are obtained through the program Educational Investment Tax Credits (EITC) and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

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 February 26th, 2015

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PPL donates $120K for scholarships

Community Services for Children (CSC) recently received $120,000 from PPL in Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding in support of its early education scholarships.

“We are so appreciative of PPL’s leadership in supporting early education. This is the building block for successful high school graduation and an educated workforce,” said Jane Ervin, CEO/President of CSC.

CSC will distribute $120,000 in scholarships to children enrolled in high quality pre-k programs which have earned a STAR 3 or STAR 4 quality designation by the Pennsylvania Keystone STARS program; accredited by the national association for educating young children (NAEYC); or accredited by the Middle States Commission on the Accreditation of Elementary Schools.  Currently 20 low-income four-year-old children are supported by CSC’s scholarship fund to attend the unique Newton School, which uses hands-on science, technology, engineering and math as a way of learning.

Community Services for Children (CSC) is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. Qualifying businesses may receive tax credits in exchange for donations to CSC to fund students from low income families attending high quality pre-k programs. These credits are obtained through the program Educational Investment Tax Credits (EITC) and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

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 29th, 2014

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Pediatric Cancer Fdn, Bev Bradley new Donley Awardees

On April 17, 2015, Community Services for Children will present Michelle Zenie, Executive Director of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and Beverly Bradley with Cops n Kids with The Inez and Edward Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy. The event takes place at DeSales University Center at noon. Tickets are $50. Sponsorships are available.

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.

“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 Thomas Daub, Dr. John vanBrakle, and Thomas Donley.

Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.  The PCFLV supports quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer along with long-term survivorship, family support and bereavement programs. The Foundation remains a friend of the family forever from the moment of diagnosis. They reduce anxiety and stress with programs like Chemo Circus and Golden Days and with special guests such as the IronPigs. The Foundation holds art programs at the Banana Factory and supports date nights, family fun nights, and Moms and Dads Nights Out. PCFLV runs Camp Smile during the summer for children diagnosed with cancer.

Beverly Bradley.  Beverly Bradley has worked tirelessly as the leader of the Cops-n-Kids literacy program. Over 600,000 children’s books gave been distributed to grade school children attending many of the “at risk” school in the Lehigh Valley. Besides encouraging a love of reading, Cops-n-Kids instills a sense of a caring community for children who may feel isolated. She has recruited volunteers from businesses as well as other organizations including countless young people from colleges, sports teams, and high schools. These young people in turn mentor and instill in children a love of learning and reading that may not be a priority in households that are challenged by poverty, unemployment, and personal problems.

In addition to the Donleys, past individual recipients include Senator Pat Browne, Dr. John vanBrakle, 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”).

For additional information, call Community Services for Children at 610-437-6000, x2112, or log onto www.cscinc.org/events.

Community Services for Children is a regional leader in early childhood education, affecting the lives of 40,000 children annually. In 2015, we celebrate 50 years of Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, founded in 1965.

3S33d_admin December 29th, 2014

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Capital BlueCross Supports Literacy Lab

Community Services for Children (CSC) recently received $12,500 from Capital Blue Cross in Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding in support of its innovative Literacy Lab program.

“We are so appreciative of Capital BlueCross’s leadership in supporting early education. This is the building block for successful high school graduation and an educated workforce,” said Jane Ervin, CEO/President of CSC.

Capital BlueCross’s contribution supports CSC’s Literacy Lab. This innovative program for preschoolers has proven to accelerate young children’s grasp of early literacy skills which can help future success with language, reading and writing.

Community Services for Children (CSC) is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as an Educational Innovation Organization and a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. Qualifying businesses may receive tax credits in exchange for donations to CSC to fund students from low income families attending high quality pre-k programs. These credits are obtained through the program Educational Investment Tax Credits (EITC) and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

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 November 5th, 2014

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PNC supports STEM training

PNC recently gave a $10,000 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 provide training for prekindergarten teachers so they are better able to help young children learn methods, vocabulary, and tools of inquiry. An 18-hour training course was previously developed and is currently being piloted thanks to a grant from the PPL Corporation. The PNC grant will enable CSC to offer the course to additional teachers affecting as many as 400 children.

“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,” said Jane Ervin, CEO/President of CSC.

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 November 5th, 2014

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Century Fund supports STEM

The Century Fund recently awarded $30,000 to Community Services for Children (CSC) to create a STEM-focused prekindergarten. The award helps CSC to expand the number of low income children accessing high quality prekindergarten by adding a pioneering new program called the Newton School in Allentown that has a unique STEM focus (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) along with literacy, social studies, physical development and health, art and music. The funding pays for furniture, equipment and start up materials.

Twenty children are enrolled in The Newton School, all of them provided scholarships through CSC’s PreK Scholarship Organization funded by local corporations contributing through the Educational Investment Tax Credit program.

“ 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.”

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 November 5th, 2014

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PPL donates $20,000

Community Services for Children (CSC) recently received $20,000 from PPL Corporation in Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding in support of its innovative Literacy Lab program.

“We are so appreciative of PPL’s leadership and longstanding support of early education in our community. This is the building block for successful high school graduation and an educated workforce,” said Jane Ervin, chief executive officer and president of CSC.

The innovative Literacy Lab program for preschoolers has proven to accelerate young children’s grasp of early literacy skills, which can help future success with language, reading and writing.

“PPL is committed to improving the communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said Melinda Stumpf, regional affairs director for PPL.  “A quality early childhood education for our children today will help them be prepared for high-quality jobs at PPL tomorrow.”

CSC is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as an Educational Innovation Organization and a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. Qualifying businesses may receive tax credits in exchange for donations to CSC to fund students from low income families attending high quality pre-K programs. These credits are obtained through the program Educational Investment Tax Credits (EITC) and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

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 October 24th, 2014

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CSC CEO joins state children’s board

Jane Ervin, President and President of Community Services for Children, was recently elected to the board of PA Partnerships for Children. This state-level board develops and promotes public policy related to child welfare, children’s health, early learning, public education through post-secondary completion, and after school and youth development. Among other activities, their on-going projects include PA Kids Count Data Center, “Making the Grade: Effective Teaching in Every Classroom,” and The Porch Light Project, which strives to ensure all children grow up in families where their needs for safety, permanency and well-being are met.

Community Services for Children is a regional leader in early childhood education, affecting the lives of 40,000 children annually in 18 counties of NE Pennsylvania. Services include Early Head Start/Head Start, Regional Key/Keystone STARS, Child Care Works subsidies, and The Newton School.

3S33d_admin October 22nd, 2014

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Check out CSC’s Newton School on PBS-39 Focus

CSC’s Newton School was recently highlighted on PBS-39 Focus program. Check us out!

Click here to watch our segment!

3S33d_admin October 20th, 2014

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