Hill House Association Announces Partnership With Childcare Center

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hill House Association, hillhouse.org, a 501 (c) 3 community and human services provider, announces the most recent strategic partnership to expand the delivery of services to families located in the Hill District. Building on its traditional settlement house model that engages community partners in service delivery, Hill House Association and Hug Me Tight Child Life Center, a Keystone 3 STARS rated childcare center, have aligned to launch new satellite daycare center in the Hill House Association facility, now called Hug Me Tight Childlife Center Hill House.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140131/NE56835)

Early in 2013, Hill House was seeking to collaborate with a childcare provider in order to strengthen and improve campus based services to the community.  An affiliation with a quality childcare center required a physical overhaul of existing space in the Hill House building and vetting that the selected childcare partner met certain research-based quality standards. Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring the daycare center met the highly rated Keystone STARS (Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, and Resources) quality standards.  The well recognized and top-rated early educational program, Hug Me Tight Child Life Center (HMTCLC), was approached by Hill House to explore a possible alliance. The HMTCLC organization brings with it a 30-year tradition of quality early childhood education services.

"This collaboration represents the best of the settlement house heritage, combined with modern day delivery of integrated social services.  It is supported by the community and provides enhanced experiences for the children of the families we are serving," states Hill House Association President and CEO, Cheryl Hall-Russell. "We are thrilled to be in partnership with such a highly rated organization. Their three-star ranking from the state of Pennsylvania demonstrates dedication to quality early education and a standard of excellence of service to families."

The childcare center, now housed in the James F. Henry Hill House Center at 1835 Centre Avenue, is in a space that has been completely refurbished. The new facility has been upgraded to exceed state standards and to promote the emotional, cognitive, communicative, perceptual-motor, physical and social development of children. A four month renovation project began in August of 2013 and included a floor to ceiling overhaul of the space.

The foundation community embraced the initiative and provided funding to refurbish existing child care space. Direct support to open the new satellite center came from McAuley Ministries and The Heinz Endowments with a generous gift of $50,000 from The Heinz Endowments.

Josephine Hatley, President of the Board of Directors for Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers, Inc. says, "The Board of Directors of Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers, Inc. enthusiastically endorses the collaboration of Hug Me Tight and the Hill House in the grand opening of Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers at the Hill House. We believe this collaborative effort will strengthen both organizations goals and objectives while providing a first class, safe, nurturing environment to the most important citizens on the planet - our children."

"We are excited for this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with the Hill House in expanding our child care center services," remarks Wanda Franklin, Director of the Hug Me Tight Childlife Center at Williams Square. "Our child care center at Williams Square has been in existence since 2004, is a Keystone 3 STAR facility. Our goals for the Hug Me Tight Childlife Centers Hill House is to increase the enrollment; and to obtain a comparable certification."

The Director of the satellite Hug Me Tight center, Tina Robinson, brings over 25 years of experience in early childhood education to the new center. She enthusiastically shares her child development knowledge with the children, staff and parents of those attending the center.

The agreement between Hill House and Hug Me Tight took a year to complete and the center began accepting children on January 2, 2014. Currently, children between the ages 6 weeks to 5 years old are being accepted.  It is licensed to serve up to 50 children. They may be reached by calling 412-281-4847.

Hill House Association Mission             
To sustain and enrich the people and places of Pittsburgh's storied Hill District.

Hill House Association Overview
The Hill House Association is an independent nonprofit organization offering a wide range of programs and services to Pittsburgh's Hill District community and surrounding areas. Through its unique multi-generational service model, dedicated staff, and redevelopment efforts, the Hill House continues to positively impact the futures of the residents and communities it serves.

About The Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion.

About McAuley Ministries
McAuley Ministries, the grant-making arm of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, is guided by the mission, tradition, and legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. The organization's mission is to be a catalyst for change, committing resources and working collaboratively to promote healthy, safe, and vibrant communities. McAuley Ministries focuses its grant making on the neighborhoods of the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland in the City of Pittsburgh, and on community initiatives in Southwestern Pennsylvania that are sponsored by or associated with the Sisters of Mercy. Funding priorities include projects that support entrepreneurship and workforce development; affordable housing; educational success; health and wellness; community development; and capacity building assistance to nonprofit organizations. Since its establishment in February of 2008, McAuley Ministries has awarded more than $11.7 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations. For more information about McAuley Ministries or its important work in the community, visit http://cp.mcafee.com/d/avndz8Arhpd7aa8VWZPhOrKrpu7e6zBVdcSOYesd7bNEVodIL3D3hOYCMrhKCCyYCyDsS8X13UQH054V7DAWJQ_w09ID8YYDlKDY01dCzB54wgZd_HYMyye79ZuVt4seLMWXzWr_bnjIyyHt5zBgY-F6lK1FJ4SyrLOb2rPUV5xcQsCXCODaSRI_OOIEiFecLFM04Sv6Ja0FpkDjw09JNdxYS2NF8Qg3dp7_4Qg1o_p-q80HI2buAvdFLCTfFGXUuf.

SOURCE Hill House Association