Promise Neighborhood Early Learning Network

Center For Family Services (CFS) is a nonprofit human services agency with more than 90 years of experience serving youth and families in southern New Jersey. Its mission is to support and empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve a better life through vision, hope, and strength, with a vision for all people to lead capable, responsible, fulfilled lives in strong families and healthy communities.

This project supports an Early Learning Network that serves children ages 0-5 years and their families in the four neighborhoods that comprise the Promise Neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey. The Network brings together organizations dedicated to improving outcomes for vulnerable children through increasing use of high-quality early childhood programs, creating strong linkages between home visiting programs and early childhood care, sharing data to improve quality of care, and strengthening relationships between providers and families in Camden. A key component of this network is the Neighborhood Ally Outreach Corps, made up of community-based allies who establish trusting relationships with families, spread awareness about early childhood programs, and connect families to services. The allies receive intensive training and use a block-by-block, building-by-building organizing strategy.

A comprehensive data system also is being developed to establish baseline data on the participating children and families, identify interventions, and measure progress.

Learn more: Center for Family Services