YWCA of the City of New York

The YWCA of the City of New York has been providing quality, licensed child care in our four city-funded Early Learning Centers (ELC) for women and their families since 1971. Each center is a nurturing learning environment that focuses on the social, emotional, physical and academic development of a child.

By providing mothers access to educationally-based child care, the YW offers valuable opportunities for women to continue their education, move ahead in their careers and provide a more stable income for their families. While the average cost of child care is easily one of a woman’s leading expenses — more than rent for many — the YW has been able to provide these services for a flexible fee.

Support YW Early Learning Centers Today

All ELCs serve children from two to six years of age and provide three meals a day. All teachers are New York State certified, each staff member has undergone background checks and each site is licensed by the New York City Department of Health and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The Creative Curriculum

The most important component of the YW’s early learning practice is The Creative Curriculum, a proven method of helping the children develop multiple intelligences through creative exploration and hands-on materials. The YW’s goal is to help children develop their highest potential cognitively, creatively, emotionally, physically and socially.

• Cognitive: To help the children grow intellectually through age appropriate and developmental activities. To help them with life skills, problem solving and development skills.
• Creative: To help the children become creative through hands-on materials and creating an outside world inside the classroom.
• Emotional: To help the children feel good about themselves, their environment, their community and their family, and to instill self-confidence.
• Physical: To help the children develop small and large motor skills through developmentally appropriate activities and materials.
• Social: To help each child make friends and develop self-confidence and self-esteem. To help children know and appreciate other cultures through multicultural events.

The Early Learning Centers’ success is primarily dependent upon the generous contributions from individual supporters. Please consider making a donation.

Program Sites

Brownsville Early Learning Center

1592 East New York Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212
718.342.2905

Polly Dodge Early Learning Center

538 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
212.757.2047

Richmond Early Learning Center

159 Broadway, Staten Island, NY 10310
718.727.6660

Roberta Bright Early Learning Center

3001 West 37th Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11224
718.266.5333