Providing preschool children with research-based early learning programs, healthy environments in which to develop, and nurturing care gives them the best opportunity to flourish and succeed in life. Child Care Solutions (CCS) works to promote high-quality child care and early learning programs, as well as to help families and children access these programs, through parent referrals, child care provider training and early learning advocacy. “We’re building the citizenry of the future when we invest in early education today,” said Peggy Liuzzi, retired CCS Executive Director. “What they do today has long-term impact on what the world is like tomorrow.”
The State Health Department and the Office of Children and Family Services identified an unmet need for these crucial services in Cayuga County. CCS stepped up to the challenge by promptly expanding its services into a second county.
CCS hit the ground running with the help of a Strategic Partnership grant from the Community Foundation. The funding was used to acquire and renovate a collaborative workspace in Auburn, make necessary technology upgrades throughout the organization and launch a marketing campaign to introduce CCS’s services to residents of Cayuga County.
A cohesive and collaborative multi-county service organization emerged from the regionalization effort. CCS was able to maintain a continuity of service while also opening up new possibilities. By centralizing CCS’s program staff and making them all available within its expanded region, parents and child care providers benefit from a full array of services, many of which are new to them. CCS was able to double the amount of training opportunities available to Cayuga County providers and make web-based child care search available to parents in that region. The implementation of high-quality early learning experiences in both Cayuga and Onondaga counties is leveling the playing field so that all children are able to have the solid foundation they need as they move ahead.
