$2.1M in expenses

As a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) is dedicated to improving the quality of child care in six Ohio counties. This is accomplished by providing training, coaching and technical assistance to child care staff and administrators. As the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, the ECRC supports families in finding child care, while also working to improve the quality options for care. In 2023, the ECRC trained 9,120 educators and provided 7,464 coaching sessions. In addition, the ECRC supported over 101 educators to obtain the coursework needed to get their Child Development Associate Credential.

$1.7M in expenses

The SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) program is a home visitation model recognized nationally as a best practice model in supporting young children in getting ready for Kindergarten. ECRC works with children, families, community agencies and school districts as partners to ensure their success. Home visits include prescribed lessons aligned with Ohio's Early Learning Standards, administers assessments and screenings, and initiates referrals to needed community resources. SPARK and schools work collaboratively to ensure that children experience smooth transitions into school. In 2024 3,036 children participated in the SPARK program.

$1.6M in expenses

The ECRC serves families through outreach and parent education services in our six counties. In our Canton facility, families can check out books from our library, play in our indoor or outdoor play spaces, use our production lab to make learning tools or take a parenting education class. Our parent education staff also provide comprehensive case management, coaching and resources to high need fathers and mothers. This could include concrete supports, help in navigating life's challenges, support in gaining custody of their children or paying child support and learning how to co-parent.