Youth & Families - Early Childhood Grant

The grant program's broad goal is to support organizations in the Lehigh Valley that provide or advocate for high-quality early childcare services for children aged 0-5, addressing the critical developmental period where 90% of brain development occurs. Specifically, the program supports centers that aim to improve the quality of childcare services, tackle challenging behaviors and/or diagnosed mental health needs in children, and advocate for better regulations, funding, or policies for childcare providers. Organizations addressing these issues will be prioritized for general operating grants, with amounts ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. The critical backdrop is the ongoing crisis in early childhood education in the Lehigh Valley, characterized by insufficient high-quality childcare centers, significant staff vacancies, closed classrooms, and extensive waitlists, impacting the local economy, community well-being, and children's development.