EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCE CENTER

Stark & Summit Counties

Contact:  Gary Plauger

Email: gplauger@ecresourcecenter.org

Phone:  (330) 491-3272

Location:  1718 Cleveland Avenue NW/Canton
 

With funding from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, the Early Childhood Resource Center was established in 2000 as a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Center was created to improve the quality of early education and care by providing professional development, accreditation courses, technical assistance, and mentoring for early childhood professionals.

In 2011, the Center began focusing on parent engagement, education, and support by offering parenting courses and mentoring services throughout the community.

In 2013, the Sisters of Charity Foundation transferred the management and operations of the SPARK kindergarten readiness program to the Center. 

In 2014, the Ohio Division of Child Support partnered with the Center to provide parenting education for non-custodial fathers who fell behind on their child support.

In 2016, the Center became a partner in the THRIVE initiative to reduce infant mortality, helping young fathers strengthen their parenting skills. 

In 2017, the state of Ohio designated the Center as the child care resource and referral agency for Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Trumbull counties. As the region's child care resource and referral agency, the Center helps early childhood providers improve their quality, helps families find early childhood programs that meet their needs, and raises community awareness about the importance of early childhood development.

Mission:

The mission of the Early Childhood Resource Center is to promote the healthy development of young children by strengthening families, improving the quality of early learning experiences, increasing school and community readiness, and informing public policy.

The Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, 2022 from 10:00 am. – 12:00 p.m. It will be a virtual Zoom Webinar. The audience is encouraged to utilize the chat Q&A to interact with the Commissioners, guest speaker(s), and the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood (OCF) staff. 
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81763981193?pwd=TmhYMEY1eFgxWTNEZTZIbnBPRFlsdz09
Passcode: 813187
Webinar ID: 817 6398 1193
The phone # +1 301 715 8592

Please click here to join the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022 Commissioners’ Meeting.
If you would like to listen to the recordings or see presentations from the previous Commission Meetings, please click here. 

Please Note: We are unable to provide technical assistance during meetings. 

2022 Commission Meeting Dates:    Feb. 10, May 12, July 14, Sept. 8 and Nov. 10. 

If you would like to attend a commission meeting or if you have any questions, please contact Terri Simons via e-mail at Terri.Simons@jfs.ohio.gov. 

If you need to speak to someone over the phone, please contact Executive Director Kimberly Dent at 614-752-0583.