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Announcements
Emergency Cold Weather Shelter Notification
In partnership with St. Lucie County and the City of Fort Pierce, In the Image of Christ will be operating an emergency cold weather shelter at the Percy Peek Gym, located at 2902 Ave. D.
The National Weather Service is estimating that temperatures across the Treasure Coast will drop below 40 degrees for a period of at least four consecutive hours overnight on Monday, Nov. 10. The emergency cold weather shelter at Percy Peek Gym will be open at 5 p.m. and close at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
For individuals who need transportation to the temporary shelter, the Area Regional Transit (ART) will have free vehicles providing transportation at the locations below starting at 6 p.m. and tentatively ending at 8 p.m.:
- Port St. Lucie Intermodal Station, 395 SE Deacon Ave. in Port St. Lucie
- Prima Vista Crossing Bus Stop on Prima Vista, east of U.S. 1
- Pinewood Park, 820 Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Pierce
- Kilmer Branch Library, 101 Melody Lane in Fort Pierce
- Publix Plaza at Taylor Creek, 1851 North U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce
- Percy Peek Gym, 2902 Avenue D in Fort Pierce.
For more information about the emergency cold weather shelter at Percy Peek Gym, contact Pastor Hazel Hoylman with In the Image of Christ at 772-359-9653. In the Image of Christ is a community-based, 501c3 nonprofit organization that partners with St. Lucie County to operate an emergency cold weather shelter when temperatures drop below 40 degrees for more than four hours.
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NEED INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD BANKS?
ATTENTION ALL SCHOOL READINESS PROVIDERS
The FY 2025-2026 School Readiness (SR) Reimbursement Rates can be found on the provider portal under the SR Reimbursement Rates Tab.
Contracted Out- of- County Providers:
Please note: There has been a change to SR Reimbursement Rates for out-of-county providers. For contracted providers in counties outside of St. Lucie, your reimbursements rates are based on the county where you are physically located. Your new reimbursement rates can also be found the provider portal under the Reimbursement tab.
November is Family Engagement Month!
Engagement ideas for each day of the month, right at your fingertips…
Save the Date: FAMILY FUN FAIR!
Saturday, April 15, 2023 is our Family Fun Fair!!!
System-Generated Email Glitch Updates!
UPDATE: Should be resolved! If you continue to experience issues with the family portal, please contact Family Services at 772-595-6464 or email Michele at ghorbam01@elcslc.org
23rd Annual Evening for Education Gala
Education Foundation of St. Lucie hosts the 23rd Annual Evening for Education Gala “An Evening in Paradise” on Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 6pm to 9pm at the Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club. Visit their website for tickets: www.efslc.org or call 772-429-5505
Take the 2022 Family-Friendly Florida Birth to 5 Survey!
Are you a parent/primary caregiver of a child age birth to 5 years old and want to have your voice heard to help improve early childhood resources?
Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County currently has 2,930 children enrolled in School Readiness programs alone.
Interested in seeing if your family qualifies? Call Family Services at 772-595-6363! We’d be more than happy to talk with you about enrolling your child in a participating providers School Readiness or VPK program. We are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Does your family have a success story they’d like to share? Please contact Jules Cherney at cherneyj01@elcslc.org
Upcoming Events
LOOKING FOR QUALITY CHILDCARE?
Childcare Resource and Referral is available to assist all families seeking quality and affordable childcare option and local community resources.
If you are interested in this free resource, please contact our Family Services Team at 772-595-6363.
We are available M-F from 8 AM to 5 PM.
FOR PROVIDERS: The ELC supports potential and current providers. We are available to offer information about starting a new childcare business and enhancing your program and are also eager to assist providers with questions about the VPK and School Readiness Program, at 772-595-6363 or 772-595-6424.
Hable Espanol?
Si está interesado en hablar con un especialista en recursos del cuidado del niño que hable Español, por favor llame al 772-595-6363 y pregunte por asistencia en Español.
Suspected Fraud
Public Assistance Fraud is any person who knowingly:
- Fails, by false statement, misrepresentation, impersonation, or other fraudulent means, to disclose a material fact used in making a determination as to such person’s qualification to receive public assistance under any state or federally funded assistance program;
- Fails to disclose a change in status in order to obtain or continue to receive any such public assistance.
If you suspect fraud, please contact either the Florida Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Public Assistance Fraud’s hotline at (866) 762-2237 or call the Compliance Manager at 772-595-6424 or email: compliance@elcslc.org.
Mission & Vision
The Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County is committed to providing a collaborative delivery system of quality child development programs and services to ensure our children become competent and productive individuals.
All of St. Lucie County’s children achieve educational success and become productive members of society.