News
Press Release, 5/3/17 WJCS Parent-Child Home Program Celebrates 45 Years Of Bridging The Academic Achievement Gap For Westchester Children
Contact: Colleen R. Brathwaite
Communications Manager
914-761-0600 x204 cbrathwaite@wjcs.com
White Plains, May 3, 2017 — Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett, right, joined in the 45th Anniversary celebration of the WJCS Parent-Child Home Program today, offering congratulations to the program’s home visitors who lay the foundation that bridges the academic achievement gap between pre-school children from low-income families and their more economically advantaged peers. Also praising the home visitors were, from left, Neil Sandler, WJCS Board President; Alan Trager, WJCS CEO, and Patrice Cuddy, Parent-Child Program Director.
The WJCS Parent-Child Home Program, which receives partial funding by Westchester County, has helped more than 4,000 parents become their children’s first and most important teacher and has sent thousands of children off to school ready to learn and succeed over the long-term. “Without the home visitors’ commitment and skill in building relationships with the families, our program would not have survived,” said Patrice Cuddy. “PCHP is a great program based on sound practices and theory, and the home visitor and dedicated parents brings it home.”
The program is the only implementation in Westchester of a nationally recognized model that prepares children for school because every parent has the knowledge and resources to build school readiness where it starts: in the home. Twice a week over a two-year period, trained home visitors model reading, play and conversation activities for pre-school children. They use books and educational toys that are given as gifts to the families. The program is offered in White Plains, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Greenburgh, Mamaroneck and Mount Vernon. For more information on the Parent-Child Home Program, visit www.wjcs.com/PCHP.
WJCS is one of the largest non-profit, non-sectarian human services agencies in Westchester, serving 20,000 people annually at 70 clinic, school, community and home-based locations throughout the county. The agency’s integrated network of services includes mental health treatment and counseling, child and youth development programs, residential and non-residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, home health and geriatric services. The highest level of professional development and training is offered through the WJCS Educational Institute. For more information on WJCS, go to www.wjcs.com.