Childrens Alliance

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	Dyslexia Initiative Committees and Workgroups

		*of Luzerne County*

	In 1998, Luzerne County launched an ambitious, community-wide change initiative to improve outcomes for low-income and vulnerable children and their families. Based an a set of outcomes that have been adopted by a broad range of stakeholders, the Children's Alliance agenda combined three approaches to systems reform: community-based prevention, service integration, and fiscal reform/reinvestment. The Children's Alliance is the result of a public/private partnership between the Luzerne County Office of Human Services and the United Way of Wyoming Valley. It was created amidst a proliferation of collaborative reform initiatives that share common goals for low income and vulnerable children and families, despite differing assumptions, approaches, and funding streams.


	Goal of the Children's Alliance of Luzerne County


	To develop a comprehensive, coordinated and results-based system of support and services for Luzerne County's low-income and vulnerable families.


	Mission

	To work as a public/private partnership to improve outcomes for Luzerne County´s children, youth, and families.

	Outcomes

· Increase by 20% the number of families who develop self-sufficiency plans while being served by the family centers.
· Decrease the abuse and neglect rates of families served by the family centers by 20% by increasing the number of families served by the nurse home visitation program.
· Reduce the truancy and dropout rates by 20% in schools in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District by continuing the Functional Family Therapy and PATHS programs.
· Increase the number of Big Brothers/Big Sisters matches by 60 over the amount in Fiscal Year 2001
· Increase the number of Head Start slots from 724 to 740 and number of children in Early Head Start from 32 to 96.
· Increase the number of referrals to MH/MR early intervention for children with developmental delays by 5% since 2001.
· Conduct at least 5 Touchpoints Trainings in Fiscal Year 2002/2003
· Introduce the Kindergarten Readiness checklist to at least 15 early care and education providers to promote school readiness.


	Committees and Workgroups Coordinating Council Cross Systems Training Alliance for Children's Success (Child Care Resource Developers) School Aged Prevention Success By 6 Family Centers Workgroup Service Integration Special Needs Workgroup School Readiness Quality Care

		Contact Information Kristen Huff, Director Children's Alliance of Luzerne County United Way of Wyoming Valley 450 Citizen's Bank Building 8 West Market Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 Phone: (570) 829-6711 Fax: (570) 822-0522
United Way of Wyoming Valley 8 West Market Street, Suite 450 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18711 Phone: (570) 829-6711 Fax: (570) 822-0522