STEP established the Substitute Aide Pool Program in 2024 to provide staffing support to Early Care & Education providers in Lycoming County. Substitute Classroom Aides hired by STEP receive all necessary clearances, orientation, onboarding, and training as it relates to the job position, including health and safety topics! This innovative program was the first of its kind in our service area.
Earlier this year Meghann McBryan, Special Projects Coordinator and Administrator of STEP's Substitute Aide Pool Program (SAPP), spoke with teams from multiple Community Action Agencies about the development and implementation of SAPP in Lycoming County. During these meetings, Meghann was able to share process and procedures, best practices, and lessons learned with agencies that may be interested in pursuing a substitute pool in their area.
This week, we received news from one of those agencies, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, who have hired their first substitute aide and are set to launch their pool in Lancaster County!
Community Action Partnership (CAP) is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization focused on economic mobility. CAP offers resources that interrupt generational poverty and support families at every age and place in life. The substitute pool at CAP will be run through their First 10 programming. First 10 partners with caregivers, school districts, and community agencies to actively support and engage the children of Lancaster County, providing opportunities for learning and engagement for kids in the first 10 years of their lives, with a strong focus on programs for kids ages 0-5.
