Agency Spotlight
H.A.N.D.S.
Helping Area Needs for Diverse Early Child Care Services
Children and Families; Our Hope for the Future
When one makes a donation to the Wyoming County United Way the most reoccurring question is, “Where does my money go?” We have added this special section to let you know just how valuable your donations are.
H.A.N.D.S. (Helping Area Needs for Diverse Early Child Care Services) is a committee of community leaders and agencies concerned with improving the quality and availability of child care in Wyoming County. These agencies and community leaders work directly with families and children in a range of service areas. H.A.N.D.S is a grant funded through the Child Care Resource Developers of NEPA under the Department of Public Welfare. H.A.N.D.S. is a 501© 3 non profit organization.
H.A.N.D.S. is the Community Engagement Group for Wyoming County. Each county across the State has a Community Engagement Group that is state funded.
H.A.N.D.S. mission is to implement planning strategies that allow growth and development of quality early child care and education services vital to our children and families.
Through H.A.N.D.S. efforts we will inform the general public about child care issues and concerns specific to our area. We will identify and address gaps in services for early child care.
By facilitating trainings we will provide opportunities for early child care education for those who work directly with children and the general public.
Keystone STARS
Improving the quality through:
*Standards *Training *Assistance *Resources *Support
If you are looking for quality child care for your child look for Keystone STARS participating website at pakeys.org. The performance standards are grouped into four levels: STAR 1, STAR 2, STAR 3, STAR 4. Each level builds on the previous level and utilizes research based on practices to promote quality early learning environments and positive child outcomes. The standards address staff qualifications and professional development, the early learning program, partnerships with family and community, and leadership and management.
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts
Providing high quality pre-kindergarten to thousands of young children across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania Department of Education has brought quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to 11,000 three and four year olds in Pennsylvania. By enrolling your child in a quality pre-kindergarten, your child has a better chance of being ready for kindergarten and grade school.
Educators Lab
Provides Early Childhood Educators and Parents equipment to create materials they can use with their children. Die cuts and a die cut machine along with a variety of art materials can be used to create educational materials.
Resource Library
A resource library of books and videos on a variety of subjects from classroom management to parenting skills are available for Educators and Parents to borrow.
Parent/Educator Learning & Lending Library
The purpose of this library is to provide a variety of educational materials that can be borrowed similar to a public library. The library allows parents and educators the opportunity to borrow items to use with their children. Items focus on school readiness skills such as learning the alphabet, number, colors, shapes and concepts.
