Elk County Strategic Child Care planning initiative

Building a Stronger Child Care System for Our Community

Elk County is engaged in a collaborative Strategic Child Care Planning process to strengthen access to high-quality, affordable child care. This initiative brings together local leaders, providers, employers, and residents to create practical, community-driven solutions that support children, families, and the workforce.

Why This Work Matters

Communities across the country are facing increasing challenges with child care—particularly around affordability and access. While there has been national discussion about the issue, local communities are often left to develop their own solutions.

Here in Elk County, the need is clear. A recent Stackpole Hall Foundation Community Needs Assessment found that a lack of quality, affordable child care is:

  • Affecting children’s readiness for school
  • Making it harder for families to fully participate in the workforce
  • Creating financial strain for families, especially those who do not qualify for assistance but still struggle to afford care

A strong child care system is essential not only for children and families, but for the health of our entire local economy.

Read more about the Stackpole Hall Foundation Community Needs Assessment here.

What We Are Working Toward

An effective child care system in Elk County will:

·      Make care at all levels (birth to PreK, out of school time (OOST), PreK-12 years, non-traditional hours) easier for families to access, 

·      Make care at all levels (birth to PreK, out of school time (OOST), PreK-12 years, non-traditional hours) more affordable for families, 

·      Promote care that is high quality and supports children’s social-emotional, language, cognitive and physical development, 

·      Promote a well-prepared, competent and fairly compensated child care workforce, 

·      Increase public understanding of the relationship between high-quality care, family and community economic prosperity and children’s long-term outcomes, and 

·      Secure sustainable local support to establish a child care system that meets the above goals 


Anticipated Timeline:

  • March 2026: Steering Committee formed
  • April–May: Goals and key questions identified
  • June–July: Community surveys and focus groups
  • August–September: Data analysis and strategy development
  • October and beyond: Implementation begins



How You Can Get Involved

Community participation is essential to building a strong child care system.

We encourage all Elk County residents to:

  • Complete a survey when available
  • Participate in a focus group
  • Share experiences and ideas
  • Help spread the word

Your input will directly influence the strategies and solutions developed for our community.


Survey Links:

Coming Soon!

Meet the Steering Committee

   Tom Wagner, Esq. , retired attorney and Board Member of Elcam, Committee Chair 

Fritz Lecker, Elk County Commissioner, Committee Vice Chair

Doug Bauer, Director of Human Resources, Horizon Technology

Mary Lynn Bellotti, Exec. Dir., Ridgway YMCA

Kathy Blake, Jay Township Supervisor

Kate Brock, Exec. Dir., Community Education Center of Elk & Cameron

Elana Como, CEO, Northwest Institute of Research, Inc./Early Learning Resource Center

Linda Franco, Northcentral Workforce Solutions (Retired)

Kaitlin Goetz, Ridgway-Elk County Chamber of Commerce

Jodi Guisto, Education Program Coordinator, Northern PA Regional College

Melinda Lewis, Library Director, Johnsonburg Public Library

Cortney Pahel, Director, Early Childhood Programs, Dickinson Center

Julianne Peer, CEO, Penn Highlands Elk

Harley Ramsey, Superintendent, St. Marys Area School District