PITTSBURGH (06/16/2006) - Jessica Bocsy is a 20-year-old single mother working to improve her life. She just finished her GED training, and is now preparing for a nursing career. She also has a six-month-old daughter, Jaylionna, so she can't attend classes unless child care is available and affordable.

Today, Ms. Bocsy is getting both her training and her child care at the same place: the new Braddock Employment and Training Center (BETC) at 849 Braddock Avenue. BETC, run by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, houses multiple programs designed to help people who are unemployed, under-employed, or receiving welfare, so they can improve their skills and enter (or advance in) the workforce.

Because many who use BETC's services are, like Ms. Bocsy, the parents of young children, child-care responsibilities make it difficult to take full advantage of the services offered. That problem has been solved by the child care drop-in center housed at BETC. The center is operated by the 4 Kids Early Learning Network, a nonprofit organization providing excellent early education to young children at several facilities in the Mon Valley. 4 Kids is a program of Heritage Health Foundation, Inc., which also manages the BETC building.

Speaking about the drop-in center, Ms. Bocsy said, "I just wouldn't have been able to take the GED classes if it hadn't been there. Now my teacher is helping me prepare for nursing school, and I know Jaylionna is safe and well cared for while I'm studying. She's usually shy with strangers, but she loves her teacher. It's a great service, and it's free."

Dave Kopolovich, who manages BETC for the county's Department of Human Services, said, "BETC is a great concept. There are several programs under one roof, all offering complementary services. Community College of Allegheny County, Hill House, Forbes Road, CareerLink, and the Low Income Heating Assistance Program all offer programs here that help people change their lives for the better. The drop-in center makes it easier for people to take advantage of this great opportunity." The BETC programs are free of charge to those who meet income requirements.

The importance of workforce development is the benefit singled out by Bob Grom, President and CEO of Heritage Health Foundation, Inc. "Lack of child care is one of the major obstacles to getting and keeping a job," he said, "especially for people who are low-income or transitioning out of welfare. Our location at BETC means that people preparing to join the workforce have easy access to quality child care at no cost. In addition, our staff helps parents apply in advance for the child care subsidies available to low-income workers—often, parents wait until they're actually starting their jobs, and then miss work because their subsidy applications aren't yet approved and they don't have any child care. We're pleased to help these parents, and to join the Allegheny County Department of Human Services and the other BETC organizations in this unique community service initiative."

The drop-in child care center staff members are trained by 4 Kids; they have served approximately 80 children from 62 families since opening in early spring. The center provides safe, age-appropriate care for up to four hours a day to children from 6 weeks to 12 years old, as long as a parent is in the building and participating in one of the BETC programs.

The county's Dave Kopolovich sums it up: "The aim of all the organizations working here is to give the people we're serving a great start as they better themselves. You can't have a more worthwhile goal!"