Three Years Later, Still Growing to Meet the Needs of the Mohawk Valley
UTICA, N.Y. – It takes a big heart to help shape the minds of children, and in just three years, Academics First, has not only helped the children that have gone through its programming flourish, but the non-profit is in its own process of expanding.
Three years ago, with leadership from United Way of the Mohawk Valley (United Way MV) and funds from Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative, and the partnership with Deliverance First Ministries, the region's one and only licensed extended-day childcare center, Academics First, opened its doors. The road to bringing the first-of-a-kind center to the Mohawk Valley was a labor of love long before and took an entire community to make it happen.
“Academics First is an entrepreneurial venture, while also being a local community-based entity,” said Dietra Harvey, United Way MV’s Director of Strategic Impact. “Startups are hard, and without the support of United Way MV, the success and current expansion of Academics First would not have been possible. United Way has been integral in helping a dream based on a critical need in the Mohawk Valley become a reality.”
Most recently, through a Regional Economic Development grant applied for by United Way MV on behalf of Academics First, the childcare center was able to install a new sprinkler system. With this new system in place, the center has grown to accommodate more children of the infant and toddler ages, which is a tremendous need in the community. This addition is also allowing Academics First the opportunity to continue to grow their workforce as well.
Developing a Childcare Workforce
Growing the workforce in childcare doesn’t just mean taking a course or some on-the-job training. It is a continuation of education and learning that takes place at Academics First, and something that the center takes very seriously. The training and professional development, growth in the field, is bar none. A person can come in with a want and desire to learn and grow in the childcare field and some may leave as a leader in the end. The center encourages staff to obtain their Child Development Associate credential (CDA), by weaving studying into work time, and helping employees stay on track to be able to be successful in the field.
“One of the greatest barriers for childcare in the Mohawk Valley is having a qualified workforce – and Academics First is looking to better flourish and meet the needs of the community by having employees come in at one level and growing to another in their career,” said Stacy Hill, Academics First Executive Director. “I am the perfect example of how the center is helping to grow our community in more ways than one.”
Stacy began her career 16 years ago in the childcare field and during that time earned her bachelor’s degree. She went through the same steps as the teacher’s aids and teachers take to become leaders at Academics First. As the executive director, Stacy helps motivate and encourage her staff through her story to become the educators she knows they can be.
How Academics First Broke the Mold
The journey to bring a childcare center like Academics First to the Mohawk Valley began in 2016 when ESPRI (Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative), a multi-million-dollar effort to fight poverty in New York State, was announced. The city of Utica was one of 11 cities awarded funds to begin a process in identifying the barriers to getting out of poverty in local communities. United Way of the Mohawk Valley was chosen to lead this effort locally, as an expert in identifying and solving our community's most pressing challenges.
Phase One of United Way MV’s work on this project was conducing community input and research including hundreds of focus groups, meetings, and conversations with those struggling to overcome poverty, alongside collaborations with local government and leaders. Through the community conversations, five priorities were identified, the top being safe and reliable childcare beyond the typical Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. workday. This type of childcare would help bring stability to the workforce, allowing families to have flexible work schedules.
From this problem, was born a solution with Academics First Childcare Center. The task of operating the center once opened was taken on by Deliverance First. During Phase Two, the childcare center revitalized a portion of the Desales Center on Genesee Street in Utica to create a state-of-the-art facility. In 2020, Academics First opened and United Way MV moved into Phase Three as a start-up incubation support for the center and Deliverance First. United Way MV’s support included funding, grant writing, advocacy for the childcare field, and administrative and leadership guidance.
What’s Next for Academics First
As Academics First enters Phase Four, United Way MV continues to provide administrative and leadership support working towards cultivating a sustainable business model to meet the community’s needs.
“Our goal has always been to provide the best childcare and education for our area’s children,” said Pastor Kathy Hughes of Deliverance First Ministries. “The hard work of our staff, their perseverance, persistence, and resilience coupled with the support of United Way MV, this community, and the parents that are utilizing Academics First have helped us continue to grow over the last three years.”
Academics First currently operates Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM offering care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. Academics First additional waddlers and toddlers’ classrooms are now open, helping care for more children 12 to 24-months-old, to meet the increased need for care in this age group locally.
For more information about Academics First, including career or childcare availability, visit www.academicsfirstutica.org.
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About Academics First
Academics First is Mohawk Valley’s first and only New York State Licensed extended-day childcare center. They provide an affordable, quality, safe, and reliable educational environment with operating hours to fit the modern family’s needs. The non-profit organization is led by local clergywoman Pastor Kathy Hughes of Deliverance First Ministries.
Established in 2020, Academics First is the product of the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative-Utica (ESPRI-U), as an investment in combatting poverty and creating economic mobility for residents in the City of Utica. United Way of the Mohawk Valley led the project, starting with convening the community to identify a solution to create mobility for residents and advancing the common good for all. United Way MV and Deliverance First Ministries worked hand in hand to launch this one-of-a-kind childcare center.
For information about Academics Frist visit www.academicsfirstutica.org. For information about Deliverance First Ministries visit www.dfmministries934.com.
About United Way of the Mohawk Valley
Since 1921, United Way of the Mohawk Valley (United Way MV) has been a human service leader helping thousands of local individuals and families by bringing people and organizations together to solve our community’s challenges. As one of the area’s top funders, dozens of programs rely on United Way MV funding each year.
United Way MV is a leader in innovation through projects and initiatives addressing crucial community issues in the impact areas of health, education, and financial stability. For information about United Way of the Mohawk Valley, to donate or to get involved visit www.unitedwaymv.org, or call 315.733.4691
