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Ever wonder what really happens in high-quality infant-toddler-preschool classrooms? The research is in, and it proves that the best early childhood programs provide safe and nurturing environments while ensuring children develop in all domains: physical, social, emotional, and cognitive..

As Erie County businesses struggle to find employees, hundreds of working parents are struggling to find – and afford – high-quality childcare. This is due to a workforce crisis within the nation’s childcare sector that is resulting in closures of classrooms and long waiting lists. Childcare is the workforce behind the workforce.

The bottom line: high-quality programs cost more yet Pennsylvania’s childcare subsidies are not keeping pace – so families are forced to choose.

YMCA of Greater Erie High-Quality Learning Milestones:

  • 83% of 4-5 year-old-children meet and/or exceed the Kindergarten Readiness Checklist standards outlined by Erie Together (Erie’s antipoverty coalition)
  • Teacher-child ratio 1:9
  • 78% of parents attend parent-teacher conference
  • Minimum of 24 hours of professional development training annually for lead and assistant teachers
  • 100% of enrolled children participate in activities to strengthen their social/emotional skills.

How the Y is currently helping

Y donors contribute to the Y’s Childcare Fund– a flexible fund to increase quality measures and assist families with the affordability of care. In 2022, individual donors and businesses contributed over $145,000 to the Childcare Fund– which has already helped 46 children from 34 working families in 2023 with reduced fees for childcare.

In addition, the Y leverages state grants to increase quality measures such as curriculum, professional development and behavioral health supports.

How you can help keep families working and children learning

Currently, the Y has 536 (or 61 percent) children who are NOT eligible for subsidy through PACCW because their family size and income are slightly more than the federal poverty guidelines.

Will you help us make sure that all kids have access to high-quality childcare and learning environments? Our goal is to raise $50,000 to reduce wait lists and increase enrollment of children by at least 50%.

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1 out of 2 Erie County residents reports poor health.

Reclaiming Health

Research links neighborhood conditions to health and employment.

Improving Neighborhoods

Routines create structure and promote mental, physical and emotional health.

Fostering LEarning

1 in 3 high school students experience poor mental health.

Nourishing Bodies

OUR MISSION

At the YMCA of Greater Erie, we put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMCA of Greater Erie is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization.

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