 Each year, BELL engages family housing providers in Philadelphia by using the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)’s Self-Assessment Tool for Shelters, an assessment designed to help shelter staff members create residential environments that are safe and developmentally appropriate for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
As we gear up for the Fall 2022 Self-assessments, Beth McLean, Director of Residential Services for Drueding Center, gave insight on her experiences with the tool and the process. She stated, “There are learning points. There are things we learned we can post and make available [to clients] and learn from.” McLean noted that over the years, Drueding staff discussed the process as a team and shared information they learned with each other. She said last year was her first time completing the tool, and that “The process has helped [me] think more about their needs.” McLean also shared one challenge, “...is having to think about some of the categories and how they are represented here.” Drueding is a transitional housing program, and, “Answering questions on Food and Nutrition, for example, when our residents have their own units, I have to think about what that might look like here.”
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Children’s Work Group Conferences Announced!We hope you are enjoying your summer. The next CWGEC Conferences will be in August and September! Get Ready for New School Year in August with Ms. Hartranft & Ms. Landy. Learn about health issues facing our families in September with Dr. Felice Le-Scherban and others from Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health.
 Senator Vincent Hughes Honored at Lancaster Ave Jazz & Arts FestivalPEC recognized Senator Vincent Hughes at the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival on July 16 for going above and beyond for the people of the 7th District. In fact, his work is helping children and families throughout the Commonwealth.
He has served this community as a member of the state legislature since 1987. He was a State Representative before being elected to the Senate in 1994. Senator Hughes is known for his support of health care access, small businesses, and economic development. He has been recognized locally and nationally – with his wife Sheryl Lee Ralph – for his work in HIV/AIDS advocacy. Click the button below to see his acceptance speech. Thank Senator Vincent Hughes: hughes@pasenate.com  Your Voices Were Heard: Early Childhood Education State Budget UpdateWe thank Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania General Assembly for increasing funds for early childhood education. We especially thank State Senator Vincent Hughes for his tireless advocacy for young children experiencing homelessness as reflected in the new state budget. Together, they were able to add these new investments:
Welcome ECE Specialist, Sierra Austin Please welcome a new member to the BELL Project Team, Sierra Austin, Early Childhood Education Specialist.
Sierra came to Philadelphia with dreams of learning more about the country’s Criminal Justice system, as well as to better understand how adversity impacts a person, and the shaping of human behavior. Those dreams came true after she earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology at Temple University. She also continued on at Temple University and earned her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with a focus on Black Criminology and Intersectionality. Sierra has gained her advocacy and social service experience after working in the Risk Reduction and Advocacy Unit of the Temple University Police Department. She currently works to assist service providers in connecting families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity to high-quality early childhood education programs. Learn more about our BELL program  Children at Youth Service, Inc.'s Baring House Nursery with that program's Director. Hey, Philly Emergency and Transitional Housing Programs: |
