Parent Resources

Each stage in your child’s life brings excitement and new challenges. It is important to compliment your child’s development with appropriate, quality child care and educational experiences. Remember, YOU are the first teacher in your child’s life, but when you are ready to use child care or preschool services, Pennsylvania has resources to assist you in finding the best experience for your family. Continue to review the following information or visit PA’s Promise for Children to learn more.

Early Childhood Resources at Pennsylvania’s Public Libraries

Welcome to your public library!

You are invited to visit your local library in person or online to explore the many educational, enriching and useful materials and information free to parents, educators, and children.  

Many of these distinctive, quality services for early childhood education (birth through pre-K) will be available:

 

Quality of Life Grant Information

Through our Quality of Life Grant program, families that care for children and adults with autism and other special needs may receive funding to offset their enormous financial burdens. These grants provide families with stipends that may be used for a wide variety of supports related to their family member.

In order for an application to be considered for a Quality of Life Grant, an applicant must:

  • Have an individual with a diagnosed developmental disorder or disability living at home.
  • Have a family income of less than $30,000 per year (see below).
  • Live in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States (i.e., Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York only).
  • Submit a legible and complete application via the NeighborHeart website or via the United States Postal Service postmarked by October 1. If an application is submitted via the NeighborHeart website supporting documentation must be sent via the Postal Service. All packages sent via the Postal Service must be postmarked by October 1, 2009 and have the proper postage. NeighborHeart will not accept any COD packages.
  • Submit evidence of diagnosis from a doctor, therapist or school on their letterhead.
  • Submit proof of income (e.g., your previous year's Federal Tax Return or any other verifiable source). SSI PAPERWORK IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF PROOF OF INCOME
  • Not have received a NeighborHeart Quality of Life grant in 2008.


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO:  http://www.neighborheart.org/grants.asp

o   Novelist K-8 enables you to find titles, reviews, and synopses of age appropriate books on a variety of themes by subject, author, title, or keyword that can be saved on personalized lists.
o   DartClix links you to high quality websites on early childhood education.
o   The Professional Development Collection and ERIC offer a fabulous array of information and materials for early childhood practitioners’ education. 
o   It’s Never too Early: Great Books to Share with Infants and Toddlers
o   101 Great Picture Books for Preschoolers
o   Healthy Bodies: Promoting Good Nutrition and Movement with Preschoolers Through Picture Books
o   Easy things you can do at home to raise readers …and raise writers
o   Public libraries can borrow materials for you from other libraries through interlibrary loan.
o   Take advantage of the Statewide Library Card program where your library card becomes a passport to other public libraries throughout Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Libraries: Learning Starts Here