UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Preschool and early childhood learning centers provide a safe, nurturing environment where young children develop essential cognitive and social skills that will follow them for life.

“What happens in the very early years sets the stage for all later education and growth and the ability to interact effectively in the community,” said Ann Walker, executive administrator of the Child Development and Family Council of Centre County (CDFC).

But for many families in the local community, access to quality childcare and prekindergarten programs is out of reach. They earn just over the maximum income to qualify for financial assistance through state-subsidized programs, but too little to afford standard daycare rates. They often have tough decisions to make, sometimes finding it necessary to delay payment of other bills to ensure quality care for their children while they work or attend school.

That’s where CDFC comes in. A private nonprofit organization that promotes comprehensive programs responsive to the needs of children and families in Centre County, CDFC offers infant, toddler, pre-K and school-age care for families in State College, Philipsburg and Penns Valley. While some families may qualify for financial assistance or scholarships based on income, CDFC’s safety net program — supported by the Centre County United Way — exists to help families who otherwise may slip through the cracks.

More than 400 families have benefited from the program since 2000, each with a unique situation. Some parents needed care for their children while they searched for jobs or completed job training programs. Others, including teenage parents, sought care while they completed their education. Some have had terminal illnesses and needed short-term respite care.

“Some people need assistance. And for those not income eligible [for state funding], it just doesn’t seem fair,” said Nicole Pristash, program administrator for CDFC. “They need a leg up. They’re not asking for much; they’re just asking for a quality place where their child can be safe and learn something.”

Added Walker, “The CDFC has always been about equity and diversity and making it possible for families, regardless of income, to be able to choose high-quality early care and education programs."

Ensuring continuity of care

Families who receive financial assistance through the Centre County Child Care & Education Safety Net Program for Children and Youth pay a weekly co-payment on a sliding scale determined by income and family size. CDFC administrators also consider unexpected financial hardships, like making necessary but expensive car repairs to be able to travel to work. Safety net funds are then used to help cover the remaining cost of childcare services.

While some families benefit from the safety net program for the duration of their children’s time with CDFC, others only need short-term assistance — such as to bridge the gap between beginning a new job and receiving their first paycheck.

“I believe in mutual responsibility; this fund exists so we can support continuity in childcare service and education,” said Walker. “We see families able to continue working because they have services and their children are safe, and we’re present when things happen in families’ lives that may be disruptive.”

The CDFC safety net program is funded in part by the Centre County United Way, which is in turn supported by Penn State United Way Campaign. Donations from the Penn State community make up approximately 40% of the total dollars raised for the Centre County United Way each year. These dollars directly support neighbors in need — in the last year alone, more than 33,000 local residents benefited from the services of one or more of Centre County United Way’s 24 partner agencies, including CDFC. With CDFC’s safety net program, more families can enroll children in quality care and educational programs during their formative years.

“The future of our country has to do with the ability of our children to get a great start so their brains can develop in the way they need to,” said Walker. “It is such a critical time for there to be support.”

Giving kids a better start

At CDFC’s two child development centers — one in State College and one in Philipsburg — infants, toddlers and preschoolers participate in traditional early educational activities, where they learn through play. They practice letters and numbers. They create art projects. They listen to stories. And as they develop cognitive abilities that will prepare them for future academics, they simultaneously and subtly gain and strengthen critical social-emotional skills.

“Those more basic skills are almost more important than knowing the alphabet,” said Walker. “Kindergarten teachers want to know, ‘Can they share? Can they sit quietly during circle time? Can they wait in a line?’”

Development of these skills begins as early as infanthood. CDFC’s designs its earliest educational programming to meet infants’ needs while also preparing those infants to become toddlers. Then in the toddler classroom, toddlers are prepared to become preschoolers. And so on.

“It’s always been my theory that everything builds; we’re preparing everyone for adulthood, and everything is a stepping stone,” said Pristash.

Early childhood education can also help address or eliminate issues that may emerge later in life, according to Pristash. For example, trained staff in classrooms can identify children who may benefit from early intervention and help get them enrolled in those programs at a younger age, potentially reducing or omitting the need for services during their school years. Pristash noted that some studies have also shown that children who participated in pre-K programs were less likely to be arrested as teenagers or adults. Another project — which studied the adult life outcomes of at-risk, low-income children who participated in a high-quality early childhood education program — found spillover effects that positively impacted the next generation and could potentially break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. These indirect benefits of early childhood education could not only make a difference for individual children and their families, but could also save future costs on special education, law enforcement, welfare programs or incarceration.

“It’s all about giving kids a better start,” said Pristash.

Learn more about how you can support the Centre County United Way at UnitedWay.psu.edu. Penn State employees are asked to consider supporting the United Way through a gift, no matter the size, using the University’s online payroll deduction donation form.