image of a bell and words BELL Newsletter
Coming to Philadelphia Shelters:
Everyday Learning Play Spaces
by Guest Columnist Ileen Henderson
An Everyday Learning Play Space (ELPS) is just what it sounds like. It is a place to play every day and to find the joy of childhood and the connection to loved ones during the challenging time when a family is experiencing homelessness. The new three-year ELPS initiative, coming soon to 11 agencies involved in the project, is a collaboration between housing support agency People’s Emergency Center, Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network (PLLAN)TM and My Baby’s First Teacher.  
TAKE ACTION:
The United States Senate Has a Choice
by Joe Willard, Vice President of Policy, PEC

Last month, the United States House of Representatives approved legislation improving services to young children in its ”Build Back Better” proposal. These are considered once in a lifetime opportunities to advance children’s early childhood education and family supports. These proposals are projected to reduce child poverty, let adults get to work, and will end homelessness for many Pennsylvanians.
BrainGain@PEC: 9,382 Children Ages Birth through Kindergarten Experienced Homelessness in Pennsylvania in School Year 2020. 

by by Joe Willard, Vice President of Policy, PEC

The number of children and youth who experienced homelessness in school year (SY) 2019- 2020 was 9,382, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This is a decrease of 1,554 children, or 14%, compared to the previous year. People’s Emergency Center (PEC) summarized this report to inform policy makers about young children experiencing homelessness
PA Agency Helps Children Struggling with Behavior and Caregivers 
by Guest Columnist Tracey Duarte

Are you looking for support with: Helping a child who is struggling with behavior, attachment, peer relationships or emotion regulation? Helping teachers and families with self-care, stress, and coping, but not sure what to do next? 
Coming in January:
Children’s Work Group Early Childhood Conference 

Our next conference will be Friday, January 21, 2022, 9:30 to 11:00 AM 
with guests Sarah Lytle and Ally Masters of the Playful Learning Landscape Network. They will present about PEC's Everyday Learning Play Spaces projects. PLLAN works with communities, researchers, architects, and designers to implement playful learning across the United States and internationally.

In addition, we will discuss the topic of homeless young children who are not in shelter and how to reach them, the Children Cannot Wait Campaign and recent reports on young children experiencing homelessness.
Take the CWGEC Survey:  
What do you want to talk about in 2022 at the CWGEC Conferences? Over the last two months, we have organized focus groups with the CWGEC participants to identify these topics. From an original list of 45 topics, meeting participants in November identified their top priorities within different categories of topics.  Now we are asking you to let us know your thoughts.
PEC's Building Early Links for Learning (BELL) project is supported in part with funding from by Vanguard Strong Start for Kids (r), William Penn Foundation, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.