Child Development Inc. of Schuylkill County moved to a new location at the start of 2019, but wasn’t quite ready to show off the new digs at 255 W. Broad St. in Tamaqua.

Instead, officials waited a few months to make sure the children and staff were comfortable with their new routine and classrooms before holding a ribbon cutting event. The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the ceremony on Monday.

Mary Ann Devlin, executive director of Schuylkill County’s Child Development program, has been with the Head Start program for 32 years, 16 in her current position.

She led a tour of the facility, pointing out the many changes that have been made since the building was formerly used as St. Jerome’s preschool and kindergarten center.

What were once large, open areas were converted into individual classrooms, each with its own restroom facilities. There’s a new kitchen area, although the breakfasts and lunches served are provided by the St. Clair Area School District.

And, in the near future, a green space play area will be created in the current parking lot, and new fencing, paving and sidewalks will complement the renovated interior.

Funding for the current and future renovations is being provided by three sources: Child Development Inc.; the federal Head Start program; and Tamaqua’s CRIZ program.

The new location caters to 85 students between the ages of 3 and 5. Before moving in January, the center was located in the former classrooms of SS. Peter and Paul’s School, to the rear of what is now St. John XXIII Catholic Church on Pine Street. The center had been located there for “close to 28 years” says Devlin. But, the classrooms were on the third floor, which is totally inaccessible for those with a physical handicap.

“Child Development started looking for a bigger, accessible location about 10 years ago. When St. Jerome’s School moved to Rush Township, their former location gave us what we needed, even though we had to do renovations. The expanded space has also given us the opportunity to add a Pre K Counts program.”

Unlike the income guidelines for the Head Start program, which is 100 percent of the federal poverty level, Pre K Counts is available to those with incomes at 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

That means the household income could be in the area of $70,000 annually and a child will still be eligible.

“Children spend five hours a day at the Child Development Center, with staggered starting and stopping times to accommodate parents’ and guardians’ different work schedules” says Jen Berkenstock, who is Tamaqua’s program manager. The Tamaqua center has “17 staff members, including family advocate Kate Lucey, and is partnered with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit to provide a mental health consultant and behavioral specialist.”

There’s even a Families Learn Together program, where adults earn a GED at the Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Devlin says, “Family engagement is a huge part of our programs. What the children learn during the day can continue through the evenings and weekends thanks to parental involvement. This is especially true when it comes to providing children with a routine. They need structure in their lives and respond better when it’s a full-time process.”

The Tamaqua center is one of eight Child Development Inc. centers in Schuylkill County.