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The Mericle Family Center for Early Childhood Education recently received an upgraded, Keystone STAR 2 quality assurance rating from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Greater Wyoming Valley Area (GWVA) YMCA announced today.
Since its opening, the YMCA Child Care Center staff led by Child Care Director, Trudi Dorbad (pictured above on right), has been working hard to provide quality Y services to the greater Pittston community.
Located near CenterPoint Commerce, the center offers day care, preschool, pre-kindergarten, and before/after care for school age youth. Multiple YMCA programs offer safe and convenient child care services in Pittston. During the 2023-2024 school year Mericle Family Center served 26 infants, 35 toddlers, 52 preschool/pre-K students and 94 school-age students. Enrollment is steadily growing.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Keystone STARS (Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, Resources, and Supports) is a quality rating system that promotes quality improvement in early learning and development programs and school-age child care. A Keystone STARS designation informs parents that their children are in a safe, respectful environment in which they are learning new things every day to support their current and future successes in school and in life.
This new designation at the Mericle Family Center site gives the GWVA YMCA a total of six quality child care centers:
Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA (STAR 4)
Charlotte L. Casterline, M.D. YMCA Early Learning Center (STAR 4)
Greater Pittston YMCA (STAR 4)
YMCA Child Care Center at the Bear Creek Community Charter School (STAR 4)
Hazleton YMCA Early Learning Center *coming in 2025
Early learning programs participating in Keystone STARS can earn a quality rating score from a STAR 1 to a STAR 4. At each level, programs must meet certain quality standards in four key areas: staff education, learning environment, leadership/management, and family/community partnerships. The higher the STAR level, the higher the quality standards. Quality environments provide a stimulating, nurturing atmosphere in which children will thrive. Nutrition, developmental milestones, kindergarten readiness, and life skills are also a major focus in YMCA child care programs.
Thanks to support from community partners, the GWVA Y has been expanding services since 2020 and is planning to open a new child care branch in Hazleton in early 2025. Additionally, outdoor youth programming is offered at the Camp Kresge location in White Haven.