What is Child’s Way?

What: Child’s Way is a Pediatric Extended Care Center (PECC) which offers an alternative or supplement to in-home nursing and therapy care for medically fragile children.

Who: Child’s Way is for medically fragile children ages birth to 21.

Where: Child’s Way is located at The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh at 5324 Penn Avenue, in the Bloomfield section of Pittsburgh.

When: Child’s Way is open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

How: Like a typical day care center, Child’s Way is divided into five classrooms: infant, younger toddler, older toddler, preschool, and school-age. Each classroom is led by a team of experienced pediatric registered nurses and teachers who work together to provide children with necessary medical care simultaneous to educational, developmental, and social activities. As a part of its commitment to educational excellence, Child’s Way participates in the Keystone STARS program, a voluntary quality improvement initiative for early learning programs in Pennsylvania, and is proud to have 4/4 Keystone STARS. The average staff-to-child ratio is 1:3 (above state standards) to ensure that each child receives all of the care and individualized attention they require. Children who require speech, occupational, physical, and early intervention therapies may have those services delivered on site and incorporated into their day.

Why: The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh saw the need for a program like Child’s Way in the community, as children requiring medical care had very limited options for day care: attend a traditional day care (where it was challenging to monitor and meet medical needs); receive nursing care at home (isolating them from early childhood experiences); or have family members provide full-time care (adding much burden and taking away ability to work outside the home.) After several years of planning and legislative advocacy, The Children’s Home opened Child’s Way in 1998 as the first PECC in Pennsylvania.

If you think Child’s Way could help your child or your client, learn more about the Referrals and Admissions process.