Early Child Development & Education Center

Please note:

Due to Governor Wolf’s shelter-in-place directive, our early care facility is currently closed. Essential workers who need child care can search for a Child Care Center using the Pennsylvania DHS website, linked below.

At YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s Homewood-Brushton Center, we believe that quality early learning leads to success in school and a lifetime of opportunity. A licensed Pennsylvania Keystone STAR 4 Facility, our Early Child Development & Education Center provides comprehensive, interactive early care and education for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. We provide healthy and nutritious meals and encourage children to think, be creative, and succeed.

YWCA’s Homewood-Brushton Center is one the few programs that offer a Summer Preschool program to children 3-5 years of age. During Preschool Summer Camp children participate in enriching activities with Reading is FUNdamental, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Citi-Parks, Frick Art Museum, and Y on the Fly activities. Summer field trips are supported by Tickets for Kids.

We believe…

• That children learn best when we respect their uniqueness
• In each child’s desire for independence
• That a physically and emotionally safe child develops trust in their world
• In the natural creativity of children
• That children enjoy and benefit from the company of others
• That children develop their ability to move by moving
• In families – and we see ourselves as part of each child’s extended family

Children at our early care center follow a flexible daily routine that allows each one to advance at their own pace. We provide a rich learning environment that is developmentally appropriate and aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards. Two meals and snacks are provided daily.

Our Infant and Toddler classes pull from Creative Curriculum – a comprehensive, research-based program designed to guide teachers and caregivers as they implement developmentally appropriate practices and meaningful experiences that nurture learning and development.

YWCA also participates in Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts program, which provides high-quality pre-kindergarten services to at-risk three- and four year-olds at no cost to families. Following the Big Day for Pre-K curriculum, teachers create a purposeful and fun early-learning environment in a full-day, setting.

In 2018, we launched an additional Pre-K Counts classroom located at Propel Schools in Braddock Hills site. Serves 18 children living in and around the high-needs Woodland Hills School District, YWCA’s Braddock Hills classroom provides children with an opportunity to remain in a familiar environment as they enter kindergarten and beyond.

To find out more, please contact Cheryl Smith at (412) 365-1910.