News
Parent-Child Home Program receives over $320,000 from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Garden City, NY – April 8, 2013–The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP), a nationally replicated school readiness and parenting support program proven to increase parent-child interaction, school success, and high-school graduation rates, will expand to reach an additional 125 low-income families in Mount Vernon, the South Bronx, and Nassau County with over $320,000 in support from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
PCHP CEO, Sarah Walzer, said “The Parent-Child Home Program is very proud that three PCHP sites were among the 18 agencies chosen to partner with the Office of Children and Family Services to support the educational, mental health, and physical well-being of vulnerable children and families.”
The evidence-based Parent-Child Home Program effectively bridges the achievement gap for low-income children through intensive home visiting (twice a week over a two-year period) with two and three-year-olds and their parents. Trained home visitors model reading, play, and conversation activities using books and educational toys that are gifts to the family. Targeting families challenged by poverty, isolation, language and literacy barriers, and limited educational opportunities, PCHP prepares children and families for school success and increases participants’ high school graduation rates by over 30%.
The PCHP National Center, located in Garden City, NY, oversees 110 local replications sites (24 in New York) annually serving more than 7,000 families in 150 communities.
“PCHP sites operated by Westchester Jewish Community Services, Leake and Watts, and Nassau BOCES are already successfully serving high-need families and all have waiting lists of others interested in participating,” Walzer explained. “OCFS funds, combined with the matching contributions from private foundations, will enable our local partners to assist 125 more families in preparing their children for school and life success.”
Westchester Jewish Community Services received $140,068 to expand the Mount Vernon PCHP and Child Care Home Program, and also offer two summer playgroups for participating families, and provide community education surrounding trauma resulting from violence. Leake and Watts was awarded $130,000 to expand services to 60 additional families and support a full time PCHP coordinator. Nassau BOCES received $50,350 to serve an additional 50 high need families, including at least five families who were displaced by hurricane Sandy.
To learn more about The Parent-Child Home Program please visit www.parent-child.org.
CONTACT: Katie Zapata, Parent-Child Home Program kzapata@parent-child.org, 516.883.7480
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