What makes the Early Learning Center Special?
Innovative
YWCA Greater Cleveland Early Learning Center is the only model of this type in this part of the country.
Quality
All lead teachers are required to have a four-year degree to implement customized education plans.
Supportive
Family Engagement Director provides family members and/or guardians with resources to live a quality life and achieve their goals, increase self-sufficiency, and ongoing case management services.
Therapeutic
Our Clinical Director focuses on meeting the social and emotional needs of the children.
About the Early Learning Center
When you visit the Early Learning Center, you will sense right away that this is a happy place – not only for the children, but also for the teaching faculty. Everyone on staff is doing what they love most – working with children and families to establish a solid educational foundation. For more than 100 years, the YWCA has been providing high-quality early childhood education for children ages three to five years while empowering mothers and fathers to pursue their career and educational goals.
YWCA incorporates a therapeutic approach and two-generational model into its Early Learning Center model to best serve children age 3 to 5. This innovative trauma-informed model will assess and identify the social-emotional needs of the children, work with families to create case plans, achieve goals, prevent re-occurrence of homelessness, and empower families to achieve and maintain the highest level of self-sufficiency.
The Early Learning Center offers a uniquely diverse child care setting for families who live and work throughout Greater Cleveland. Experienced educators teach a child-centered curriculum, and children learn to celebrate differences from a young age.
Early Learning Center parents stay engaged and up to date through various communication channels, family events, support groups, and parent action teams.
Take a virtual tour of the ELC!
Thank you to NRP Group for serving as the general contractor for our outdoor classroom. The outdoor classroom is a therapeutic learning space that includes art stations, a sandbox, and raised garden beds that segue into a quiet green space.
To enroll your child at the Early Learning Center, please follow the process below:
- Call us at 216.881.6878 and ask to speak with LaTishia Gomez
- Fill out an application in person
- Participate in orientation
- Start!
For more information contact:
Tish Gomez
Family Engagement Director
email
Location
The Early Learning Center is conveniently located between University Circle and downtown, in the administrative building of YWCA Greater Cleveland.
4019 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44103
The Early Learning Center is open:
Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
The ELC is currently enrolling children 3 to 5 years of age. The ELC is closed eight days throughout the year for holidays and staff development.
Curriculum
Preschool
The Early Learning Center has a whole-child approach to teaching preschoolers, accounting for their mind, body, and soul. We celebrate the diversity of children and encourage them to learn about and respect their differences.
Preparing children for kindergarten comes naturally in our classrooms. YWCA preschool teachers help children internalize routines and rules to help them get along with others. Teachers also help children understand that there are many different ways to learn and be successful. We support each child’s individual strengths, which helps to foster their self-esteem.
Pre-K
Pre-K prepares children to enter kindergarten by teaching self-help skills, developing their attention spans, and fostering learning independence. Children develop a love of learning while they become accustomed to working independently, participating in group activities, and completing interest-based projects. Teachers help children understand the daily routines of a structured classroom while still focusing on child-centered, creative learning.
Our Goal
To prepare children for kindergarten and empower families to achieve and maintain the highest level of self-sufficiency.
Studies show that upon entering kindergarten, children who participate in early childhood education programs demonstrate greater language, literacy, and math development than children who go directly from home care to kindergarten.
Committed to Quality
YWCA’s Early Learning Center provides:
- Lower teacher-to-child ratios
- Higher teacher education levels
- A focus on professional development
- Early childhood mental health consultation
- Effective administration practices
- Strong implementation of an evidence-based curriculum
PARTNERSHIPS & ACCREDITATIONS
USDA Statement: The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form.
You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.