Star-struck and inspired in Bucks County

Last week, PCCY visited Just Children Child Care Center (JCCCC) in Feasterville, Bucks County, where Beth Halpin, the Assistant Director was quick to brag that of the nine teachers working there, six have worked there for over 20 years totaling a whopping 160 years! 

That’s 160 years of dedicated, consistent staff providing high quality child care to over 180 kids every year. One amazing teacher at JCCCC has taken public transportation from Philadelphia’s Broad Street line for over 30 years, saying that the kids make the hustle worth it. 

It’s no wonder this child care center is rated high quality under the State’s Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS).  And that’s why child care centers like Just Children Child Care Center are best positioned to tell legislators why healthy child development matters and why, when babies, toddlers, and preschoolers thrive, families thrive, and communities and society are better for it.

While we ’re doing our best to make the most out of this sweltering summer vacation season, PCCY is hard at work visiting providers in efforts to expand its advocacy corps in Southeast PA. Our goal is to ensure that legislative calendars this fall include opportunities for members of our General Assembly to visit child care sites to not only understand the challenges families and providers face, but to also share in their successes.

Part of this work, we should note, is to find new allies who can become new advocates for young learners across the Commonwealth. As a leading member of both statewide early education campaigns, Start Strong PA and Pre-K for PA, we know the very special insight and credibility providers bring to the table.

Based on some of our visits, we can attest that educators and parents are feeling the momentum of these campaigns and the authenticity they bring to all conversations about investments for early education.

As you saw during the past several weeks, thanks to the Philadelphia Foundation’s grant sweepstakes, we are firm believers in bringing the highest impact advocates to the table. That’s why we campaigned to double-down on parent advocacy training in our Parent Advocacy Accelerator proposal. Parents are a natural partner in nearly all of the work we do at PCCY. On early education matters, providers offer a vital voice that deftly speaks to importance and impact of investment.  

Every story that highlights family and provider challenges and successes is a story we want to share. 

CONTACT US TO SHARE YOUR STORY!

Together we can organize visits to your site so your legislator can learn more about the wonderful work that you do every day. Learn how today. 

Call Neli, 215-563-5848 x 18 or email nelidas@childrenfirstpa.org.