Helping Children and Youth Achieve Their Potential

There is no doubt that future success is greatly influenced by the education and experiences people receive in their early lives.  We know that children who start school ready to learn and continue to stay on track as they grow, have better chances of being self-sufficient as adults.  In contrast, youth who possess numerous risk factors in their lives have much higher chances of experiencing negative outcomes.

This is why United Way of Berks County is committed to supporting programs that help children and youth achieve their educational potential.  Whether it is promoting quality early child care and education to help prepare children for school, or supporting programs that help children and older youth develop age-appropriate life skills, our work is focused on helping the younger generation gain the education they need to experience success now and in their futures.

Community Outcomes and Partner Agency Programs

Following is a list of community-level outcomes that have been established for the focus area of Education, and a list of partner agency programs receiving funding to address each particular outcome. For a full description of these agency programs and contact information, click here.

SCHOOL READINESS 

Outcome:  All families, especially those in greatest need, have access to immediate, affordable, accessible and quality childcare.

Funded Programs
Partner Agency	Program
Berks County Intermediate Unit	Child Care Program
Opportunity House	Child Care Program
YMCA of Reading & Berks County	Child Care Program

 

 

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Outcome: Youth participate in diverse and effective out-of-school programs that are supportive and develop skills, knowledge and values

 

Funded Programs
Partner Agency	Program
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berks County	Mentoring Program Services
Birdsboro Community Memorial	Out of School Programs
Campership Program	Camp Scholarships
Camp Fire USA: Adahi Council	Community Outreach
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania	Comprehensive Youth Development Outreach to Minority and At-risk Girls
Hawk Mountain Council:  Boy Scouts of America	Comprehensive Youth Development Scoutreach
Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading and Berks County	Comprehensive Youth Development
YMCA of Reading & Berks County	Youth Programs

 

Outcome: Youth develop age-appropriate life skills and social competence and have the opportunity to effectively utilize those skills

 

Funded Programs
Partner Agency	Program
Council on Chemical Abuse	Peer Mediation Program
The Children’s Home of Reading	CHOR Day Academy

 

United Way Initiatives

Right From the Start Initiative
Because the first years last a lifetime

Research shows that the window of optimal brain development is from the prenatal period through the first few years of a child’s life. In their early years, children develop critical cognitive, social and emotional skills that will last for their lifetime. Developed primarily through interactions with parents and other caregivers, these skills are also critical to children’s readiness for early and continued educational success.

Because many children in the City of Reading have the potential to be negatively impacted by factors such as poverty, language and cultural barriers, single parent households, and low levels of educational attainment by parents, United Way of Berks County developed the Right from the Start Initiative to help these children get a better start in life. Begun in 2005, Right from the Start is a comprehensive early care and education initiative that engages parents and other caregivers of children ages 0-5 in the City of Reading, to help them gain the knowledge, support and opportunities needed to help children begin school ready to learn and succeed.

Right from the Start is based on the following theory of change which includes long-term outcomes for parents and children:

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Children are prepared for school success

　

Right from the Start Program ComponentsChildren reach developmental milestonesParents provide more nurturing and stimulating care for their childrenParents increase their competence and confidence

 

Baby College

Baby College is a 10-week series of free, weekly group parenting education and family support classes for parents of children ages 0-3. It was developed by United Way, based on a similar program developed by the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York. Educational topics include child development, communication and discipline strategies, and health and safety issues and are available in both English and Spanish. Home visitors conduct weekly visits with parents to reinforce class material, and to help with assessment and referrals for other needed services.

Since its inception in September 2005, close to 500 parents and caregivers have graduated from Baby College, and demonstrated significant increases in their parenting and child development knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.

As of 2009, United Way began contracting with the YMCA of Reading and Berks County to assume full responsibility for the continued operation of the Baby College program. For more information, contact the YMCA at (610) 378-4700.

Raising A Reader Program

Raising A Reader is an award-winning early literacy development program developed in California. The program provides colorful book bags filled with high quality, multicultural-focused books on a weekly basis to families with children who often have limited exposure to books. Raising A Reader helps to support healthy brain and language development in young children, increases family bonding time through book sharing experiences, while building critical early readiness skills. This is accomplished by helping parents learn strategies on how to promote an interest in books with their children, and by teaching them the importance of telling stories and reading with their children on a regular basis.

United Way is partnering with 14 early care and education sites in the City of Reading, including Head Start classrooms, child care centers and home visitation programs to provide this program to approximately 1,000 children and their families each year.

 

For more information about Raising A Reader, contact Jennifer O’Brien at (610) 685-4586 or jennifero@uwberks.org. Play and Learn Centers

 

Play and Learn Centers provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to learn and network with one another, while sharing activities with their children that stimulate development. Play and Learn Centers provide free, informal, yet structured weekly sessions for parents and their pre-school aged children in their local neighborhoods. Sessions consist of child-focused activities, along with time for parents to share information with one another.

Through a partnership and grant from St. Joe’s Hospital, United Way recently opened two Play and Learn Centers: one at Grace Bible Fellowship Church near 12th and Marion Elementary School in Reading, and a second at Glenside Community Center in the Glenside/Hensley Homes housing development.

Future plans for this program are to develop centers that will be in operation five days a week throughout the city, to provide support for parents and caregivers of young children wherever they live.

For more information on Play and Learn Centers, please contact Sharon Mast at (610) 685-4574 or

sharonm@uwberks.org.

Berks Early Care and Education Council 

The United Way of Berks County manages the Berks Early Care and Education Council (formerly Care for Kids Coalition), which serves as the county’s community engagement team for early care and education.   Over 30 local organizations are involved with the coalition, which strives to provide information to the community on the importance of early childhood education and works to strengthen relationships between early care education and school districts.

Activities of the Council include:

• Distribution of While You Are Working around Berks County.  While You Are Working is a directory of child care options around the county, and provides information on Keystone Stars, the quality rating system for child care in Pennsylvania. Download While You Are Working
• Distribution of Getting Ready for Kindergarten, an early learning calendar with school readiness activity ideas for parents, to child care providers, preschools and at kindergarten registrations.  Download the calendar 
• Sponsoring a yearly conference on supporting children with special needs for early care and education staff and parents
• Promoting the Pre-K Counts Program, a free pre-kindergarten program for eligible 3 and 4 year olds
• Working with local school districts and early care and education programs to ease children’s transition from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten

 

For more information, contact Jane Moyer,  at (610) 685-4577 or at janemoy@uwberks.org.