History of the Oberlin Early Childhood Center

The Oberlin Early Childhood Center (OECC) was founded in 1968 as a summer program for low-income families.  It later became a full year childcare program housed in a community church.  Thirty-one years later, OECC continues to serve low-income families by offering comprehensive services to families of all income levels.  OECC enrolls children from three months to eight years of age.  In addition to before and after school care, the school age program also provides a fourteen-week summer enrichment camp on the 3-½ acre site.

In 1973, it was clear that the growing program needed its own space.  With the interest and influence of Evan Nord of the Nordson Corporation, the Nordson Corporation Foundation agreed to build a facility on East College Street.  The support for the facility and the program has continued with the Nord family establishing the Oberlin Early Childhood Center Fund and the Oberlin Early Childhood Building Fund-Nord Family Foundation to offset the cost of building maintenance and utilities.  In 1973 OECC received an United Way grant and is still an United Way funded agency 26 years later.

The OECC mission is to provide childcare of the highest quality for children that nurtures the healthy growth of young children and their families.  The Center is the recipient of the Ohio Department of Education, Early Childhood Divisions 2000 Irene Bandy-Hedden Early Childhood Award. In addition, OECC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  This accreditation is awarded to early childhood programs that meet the Academy and NAEYC criteria which includes:

• Qualified staff with degrees/credentials in early childhood or child development,
• An enriched, safe, healthy learning environment which supports all areas of a child’s growth and development: physical, social-emotional, intellectual/cognitive, language/communication, and creative,
• Respect for the diversity of children and families and inclusion of diversity in all aspects of the program, and
• A meaningful partnership with families, including family participation in program decision-making and support for their primary role in the lives of their children.

The parent involvement is evident in the makeup of the 15 member Board of Trustees, which includes 5 parents of children currently enrolled.

Population Served:

The Center has the capacity to serve 125 children at any one time ages from three months to eight years of age. With part-time as well as full-time enrollments 135 children received childcare services at OECC during the 1999 program year.  Annual incomes of OECC families range from below $5,000 to $75,000. The following data provides further information about OECC family demographics:

• 52% of the children come from single parent homes
• 55% of the families receive government subsidy for child care expenses
• 6% of the families are recently off of government subsidy
• 56% are from households with incomes less than $20,000
• 100% of the custodial parent(s) or guardian(s) are employed
• 11% of the employed parents/guardians are also in school, training, or college
• 66% of the families live outside of the City of Oberlin

OECC Staff

The staff of 27 includes an Executive Director, Assistant Director, Office Manager, Maintenance Supervisor, Cook, Assistant Cook, 7 Head Teachers, 9 Assistant Teachers, 3 part time aides and 2 part time bus drivers.  All OECC Head teachers have degrees or credentials in early childhood education or development.  In addition, the Center hires work study students and volunteers come from Oberlin College, retired citizens and interested persons from the community.