Parent Child Home Program (PCHP)

Promoting early learning and parenting skills for low-income families

The PARENT CHILD HOME PROGRAM (PCHP) is an innovative, home based literacy program that strengthens families and prepares children to succeed academically.   During half-hour, twice-weekly visits, trained home visitors use specially selected toys and books to provide cognitive enrichment through verbal interaction and special game play. PCHP promotes the joy of learning and serves families with children, aged 16 months to 4 years, in White Plains, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Mamaroneck, Mt. Vernon and Greenburgh.

The PARENT-CHILD CENTER (PCC) in New Rochelle is a free drop-in playgroup for parents and their pre-school aged children. PCC serves families challenged by poverty, low levels of education, language barriers and other obstacles to educational success. Parents and children participate together in this center-based program housed at St. Gabriel's School, New Rochelle, New York.  Early childhood play activities, parent education, family literacy and community referrals are provided. The Center is open September through June and a summer extension program meets at community parks. 

The CHILD CARE HOME PROGRAM (CCHP) modeled after the research-proven Parent Child Home Program began in 2007 to provide professional development and support to family childcare providers in their role of preparing young children for school success. CCHP increases the quality of early childhood educational experiences of children in family child care to ensure that they enter school ready to learn. This innovative program has been recognized by CLASP, a well-respected national not-for-profit, which uses research and analysis to develop and advocate for federal, state and local policies to strengthen low-income families and create pathways to education and work. CCHP iis featured on pages 35-39 of Home Away From Home: A Toolkit for Planning Home Visiting Partnerships with Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers, a toolkit newly released by CLASP to help to states exploring partnerships between home visiting and family, friend and neighbor (FFN) caregivers.

EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS! is a public awareness campaign
sponsored by the Parent Child Home Program that is focused on mobilizing the community through education and team building. The initiative is designed to support a literacy-based early childhood culture in Mount Vernon that promotes early learning and future school success. To read the latest Early Childhood matters newsletter, click here.

An annual reunion recognizes past participants of the Parent Child Home Program who are currently graduating from high school and college.  Over the years, program graduates have been assisted with scholarship money to continue in higher education.  Additionally, summer camp scholarships have enabled former program participants and their siblings to attend day camp.   

The Parent Child Center receives support from the Westchester Community Foundation, Target and the TD Charitable Foundation.

For information about any PCHP related program or to become a Home Visitor in the program, contact:

Patrice Cuddy, Director, Parent Child Home Program
Phone: 949-7699 ext 324   E-mail:  pcuddy@wjcs.com

Contact: Rivka Gorin, Coordinator, Parent Child Center
Phone: 914-949-7699 ext 323   E-mail:  rgorin@wjcs.com

The Parent-Child Center celebrated The Week of the Young Child at events in Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle, Port Chester and White Plains. Click here to view photos.

The Parent Child Center sponsored "cool" Summer Fun at Hartley Park in Mt. Vernon.  To view photos, click here.