Childcare Providers Across Chester County to Receive Free Behavior Support

West Chester, PA – [Sep 30, 2024] – As teachers are well aware, classroom management has become increasingly challenging over the past decade. In response, the YMCA of Brandywine (YGBW) has launched a county-wide Rapid Response Team (RRT) to provide immediate support to childcare and early learning centers serving children at risk of expulsion.

YGBW’s efforts are funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) as part of a statewide initiative to support the needs of early learners and their families.

“When teachers are managing challenging behavior in the classroom, they have less time to teach and invest in the entire class,” explains Erin Lacotta, Senior Association Director of Behavior Support and Adaptive Programs. “All students suffer as a result - and so do their families.”

Sharing Behavioral Expertise
Chester County’s Rapid Response Team is comprised of Behavioral Specialists and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who have specialized training in applied behavior analysis (ABA). Their training and experience is focused on understanding and modifying behaviors across various settings and developing evidence-based behavior intervention plans. The team, employed by YGBW, meets both rigorous state and national board standards, and delivers services to licensed childcare centers across the county.

“It is a great honor to receive the trust of the state and the county to provide this critical service to early learning centers in Chester County,” says Bertram L. Lawson II, President & CEO of YGBW. “We recognize that behavior support is no longer optional but is a requirement of a modern classroom. We are happy to share our expertise with other childcare providers for the betterment of our community.”

YGBW has been on the cutting edge of Behavior Support, employing Behavioral Specialists to support their early learning classrooms and summer camps since 2019. The team has expanded over the past three years as the need for behavior support continues to grow.

Requesting Support from Chester County’s Rapid Response Team
The Chester County Rapid Response Team is standing by to provide support to classrooms across the county. Each request will be answered within 48 hours and a YGBW Behavior Specialist will be deployed to your center for observation and support.

Request support for a student or class online at YGBW’s website. https://ymcagbw.org/rrt

Chester County Rapid Response Team: https://ymcagbw.org/rrt

About the Rapid Response Team Grant: https://www.pakeys.org/pdg/rrt/