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PFCS Early Head Start
Annual Report
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PFCS Early Head Start
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Professional Family Care Services is the local agency that manages the Early Head Start Program in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Early Head Start helps low income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. The mission is:

 

to help expecting mothers have healthy babies
to help infants and toddlers grow and learn
to be as healthy, safe and strong as possible
to support and help the babies' families

Parenting is hard work, and Early Head Start helps everyone involved. Parent Educators work with little ones and their families right in their homes. Home visits last about 90 minutes. There are also group opportunities for Early Head Start parents and children to get together for socialization and learning.

Cambria County’s PFCS Early Head Start program has received funding to serve 72 children and expectant moms. To enroll, your family must qualify as low income according to Federal Poverty Guidelines. Other factors include parental status and any disabilities or developmental issues.
(Click here for details on who is eligibile.)

PFCS Early Head Start operates year round. We do not wait for the beginning of the school year to enroll new families. As children in the program grow past age 3, they leave the program so there are constant openings, which we fill immediately.

All eligible Cambria County expectant moms, families, and teen parents with children under age 3 are invited to apply now.
(Click here for an application.)

When applications are received, they are ranked according to a point sytem to ensure that children of families with the most need are served. If you have any questions about enrolling, please call us at Professional Family Care Services, EHS office ... 814.255.6780.

PFCS Early Head Start recognizes parents and guardians as the most important educators of their children. Our staff works as a team with enrolled families to:

    Reinforce and build each family’s unique strengths
  Set and achieve meaningful goals
  Individualize child devel. & parent ed services
  Support and strengthen parent/child relationships
  Help parents develop parenting skills

Parents and guardians are encouraged to take part in as many Early Head Start opportunities as possible. Family involvement includes parent education and training events, weekly socialization groups, Parent Comittee, seasonal events, and much, much more.
(Click here for our newsletters.)

PFCS Early Head Start enhances our program through staff education and through connections with a variety of community organizations and professionals. By exchanging resources and effective partnering, we are better able to identify and understand issues faced by Cambria County families, and improve the services we offer.

Some of our local community resources include:

 

Dr. Joseph Balaschak (Pediatric Dentist)
216 Dibert St.  Johnstown, PA  15901
814-535-7681

Birthright

Cambria County Early Intervention

Community Action Head Start

Michele Thomas, LPC, CADC

Mom’s House

Moxham Lutheran Church

All key areas of our program are reviewed and approved by Professional Family Care Services’ Board of Directors and the PFSC Early Head Start Policy Council. Our Policy Council meets monthly, and parents or guardians of children in the PFCS Early Head Start program are encouraged to apply for election to Policy Council. Click here for our current Annual Report.
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Click the web links below to explore sites that offer more info for families.

Baby Center      

Cambria County Literacy Council

Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center
(ECLKC is the federal Office of Head Start's online information and resource site for online learning and training.)

Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center

Head Start Center Locator

Head Start Resource Center
(Supporting the Office of Head Start and its work with children and families.)

National Head Start Association
(An organization that represents Head Start children and families, and offers training and support to Head Start staff.)

PA Child Support Program

PA Dept of Public Welfare

Commonwealth of PA - Education

Commonwealth of PA - Family Services

Pennsylvania Head Start Association

PA Parent Information & Resource Center   

ZERO TO THREE

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Volunteer Opportunities
To learn how you can volunteer with PFCS Early Head Start, please contact our Program Director at 814-255-6780 or
e-mail us by clicking here.