Since 2010, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) served as the former Southeast Regional Key in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to develop and implement an integrated and coordinated system of program quality improvements and professional development supports for early childhood education.
Beginning July 1, 2018, OCDEL announced the creation of regional Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) to improve the quality of and access to early learning services in the state.
PHMC is the lead agency for Early Learning Resource Center 19 in Chester County to provide a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers, and communities to gain information and access services that support high-quality child care and early learning programs.
Through the ELRC, child care professionals can obtain support in building quality outcomes for children by working with quality coaches to achieve Keystone STAR 3 and 4 status, building connections with community partners, and supporting children and families in accessing additional services, such as PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start, home-visiting, and Early Intervention.
PHMC has partnered with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to administer Child Care Works (PA’s subsidized child care program) and to offer enhanced child care resource and referral services for all PA families. These services were formerly offered through Child Care Information Services (CCIS) of Chester County.