School Readiness
VPK
Family Portal
Provider Portal
Childcare Resources
Provider Services
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.
******************************************************************
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.
Satisfaction Survey
All families receiving School Readiness Services, Voluntary Prekindergarten Services, or Child Care Resource and Referral Services...
Providers, Beware of the Following Scam!
If you received an email claiming to be DCF asking you to verify and/or update your license information, DO NOT REPLY. DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS. It is NOT DCF.
Special Olympics Florida: Young Athletes Program
Are you a child care provider looking to encourage the development of the children in your center aged 2 to 7? Special Olympics Florida: Young Athletes is an inclusive sports play program for children 2 to 7 years old, with and without special needs, aimed to introduce them into the world of sports.
(OVER) Annual Thanksgiving Food Giveaway
City of Fort Pierce and Treasure Coast Food Bank Presents: Annual Thanksgiving Food Giveaway. Takes place on Saturday, November 19 from 8am to 12pm (or until supplies last). Will be at Percy Peek Gymnasium (2902 Avenue D). Other county locations included in post.
One St. Lucie Youth Con
Roundtable’s One St. Lucie Youth Con FREE event has been rescheduled for December 10th from 10am to 3pm at IRSC, Pruitt Campus – STEM Center! Perfect for middle and high-school aged youth. Register today – space limited! Important and “youth-approved” break-out sessions, teen talk, fun activities, prizes, and more!
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.