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Community centers play a vital role in early care and education by serving as a one-stop for a range of services and resources to promote child development, strengthen families’ connections, and foster community engagementi. Some of the coordinated services offered by community centers may include the following:
- Early childhood education programs, including preschools, pre-kindergarten classes, and childcare servicesii
- Parent education workshops, support groups, and informational sessions on child development, positive parenting practices, health and nutrition, and accessing community resourcesiii
- Family engagement activities and events such as parent-child workshops, cultural celebrations, family nights, and community outings to promote strong connections between families and early childhood programsiv
- Health and wellness services for children and families, such as immunization clinics, health screenings, nutrition education, and access to healthcare providersv
- Early intervention programs and agencies to provide support services such as screenings and assessments and referrals for therapeutic services and specialized programs for children with developmental delays or disabilitiesvi
- Comprehensive community resources and support servicesvii including information and referrals for housing and food assistance, mental health, legal assistance, and other social services
- Cultural and enrichment activities to expose children to diverse experiences and promote their cognitive, social, and emotional development. These activities may include art classes, music and dance programs, storytelling sessions, and multicultural eventsviii.
- Parental engagementix and leadership opportunities such as parent advisory councils and volunteer positions for the center
Resources Required
Very often, community-based services are made accessible to families through neighborhood centers. In this situation, intentionally including services to meet the needs of families with young children is all that is needed. Where such centers do not currently exist, community organizations or a collaborative of agencies can identify a unifying entity and physical location that can serve as a one-stop shop. Financial and other material resources and ongoing material and policy supports may be necessary to establish and maintain this type of resource coordination and delivery system within communities. Transportation to and from such centers, or the ability to provide satellite services and go directly to families would be beneficial.
