Along The Way is committed to providing the absolute best service we can to every family we can. All of our child caregivers are qualified professionals who have passed all PA Background checks required to work with children and are certified in Pediatric CPR/First Aid/Relief of Choking. Additionally, all of our team members undergo training in child development and best practices in child behavior management, as well as complete the following trainings through Lakeside Global Institute: Trauma 101 and 102, & Bridges Out of Poverty. Click here for more information on our caregiving approach.
Child care Program
Along The Way determined through relationships within the community, that an area of unmet need for single mothers is child care during nights and weekends. Those service hours are on Monday - Friday from approximately 3:00pm to 7:00am the following day and 24 hour services on Saturdays & Sundays.
HOW DO I QUALIFY?
You must meet the following requirements to qualify for our program:
You must be a single mother (no other adult in the home)
You may have up to three children under the age of 13 at home
Your annual income must be less then 2x the poverty level based on the number of persons in your home. We follow the 2021 Federal Register Guidelines. For example your annual income must be under:
Mother + 3 Children = $53,00 ($26,500 x 2)
Mother + 2 Children = $43,920 ($21,960 x 2)
Mother + 1 Child = $34,840 ($17,420 x 2)
You are employed, going to school, or attending a training during hours of approximately 3:00pm to 7:00am the following day on Monday-Friday and 24 hour services on Saturdays & Sundays.
HOW DO I APPLY?
We have a three-step process:
1. Application: Fill out our application form. Once received, we will review your application and respond within 10 days.
2. Home Visit: If you qualify for services, we will schedule a home visit.
3. Completing Application: If you are accepted into the program you will complete additional paperwork to ensure that we know everything we need to care for your child(ren)!
HOW MUCH WILL I PAY FOR SERVICES?
Our services are free!
WHAT CAN I EXPECT OF YOUR CHILD CARE SERVICES?
1. Your caregiver will have all the necessary background checks & clearances to work with children, be trained in Pediatric CPR & first aid, and have experience working with children.
2. Your caregiver will arrive on time, keep a record of your child and your child's activities while you are away, and provide age appropriate assistance with needs, such as homework, feeding, bathing, bedtime routine, etc.
Case management services
Case Management Services provides high-quality education, resource coordination, advocacy, service facilitation, and support to clients who are in need. Our case managers address the needs and challenges of our served population and work with them one on one to find solutions to these instances in a timely fashion. The case manager assists the client with developing a support system, independence skills, and completing their short-term and long-term goals.
Community Connections Program
Along the Way offers wraparound support through our Community Connections Program. We refer our clients to local organizations in Bucks and Montgomery County to offer assistance in food, clothing, housing, financial literacy, job training, legal aid, health clinics, and domestic violence. We provide parenting support groups, free legal consultation, career counseling & mentorship as apart of this program. While mothers are waiting for a spot to open up in our child care program, they are eligible to receive the ever-growing support from this program. For more information about what services are available in your area or to apply to receive our case management and holistic support services, click on the link below!
In the state of Pennsylvania, there are an estimated 325,000 single mothers that are solely responsible for providing for their children. Of these single mothers, approximately 40% have an income level below the poverty line. For the last 25 years, families in poverty have spent roughly four times the percentage of their income on child care as other families (30% vs. 8%). In addition to the economic hardship, trying to find reliable and quality child care, when working hours outside of a standard day shift, often results in a patched together assortment of child care arrangements, which are not ideal for the children or the mother.
Along the Way is hoping to changes these statistics. We are currently servicing five single mom and their children with the help of our fantastic caregivers.
THANK YOU to everyone who donated, prayed for us, and for words of wisdom! We are endlessly grateful for your continued support because your support is vital. We cannot do this without your financially support.
It costs us $80,000 a year to run our program. We have low overhead cost and most of the dollars go straight to our program providing reliable, quality, in-home child care. We need approximately $7,000 to run each month!
Please help make a difference in our community by contributing to the expansion of Along the Way’s services. How can you help us meet this goal?
We are excited to see where God leads, how He will provide the funds and the right people to help us Along The Way! We know it will be better than our wildest hopes and dreams. No amount is too small! Partner with us today!
We want you to know where your money goes if you partner with us…
Direct - this area is our programming. This allows us to send child care workers into our client’s home, helps women in need, training for our staff and everything it takes to run the program.
Fundraising - this area covers all our fundraising needs.
Indirect - this area covers administrative costs and marketing.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at info@alongthewaypa.org. We will do our best to answer any questions you might have and provide any information for you. Our goal is to be transparent to our donors.
WHO ARE WE?
Along the Way is a non-profit organization. We provide affordable, reliable, high-quality in-home child care services to the children of single mothers working or attending school/training during nights and weekends. A mother qualifies for these services based on financial need. Read more about our Services to see if you qualify or if this might interest someone you know.
In addition to in-home child care services, we will offer and/or partner with other organization to provide holistic wraparound services. We strive to make your life as a single mother a bit easier by increasing access to services you need to get ahead!
Our founders surveyed their community, and the community spoke — child care during nontraditional work hours was desperately needed and not offered by any other entity, and Along The Way was born!
Our Vision
We fulfill our mission by providing listening to the voices of our clients and carrying out programs and services that meet their needs.
Our Mission
Our mission is provide community, acceptance, and hope to women along life’s journey.
Our story
In 2013, our three co-founders felt a call to serve women — a passion fueled by their commitment to live out their Christian faith by “Learn[ing] to do good, to be fair, and to help the poor, the fatherless, and widows” (Isaiah 1:17). They surveyed their community, and the community spoke — child care during nontraditional work hours was desperately needed and not offered by any other entity, and Along The Way was born!
EMPLOYMENT
We are a non-profit organization in the Souderton area dedicated to providing free, in-home quality childcare on the nights and weekends to single mothers working or going to school. We can't accomplish what we do without a group of wonderful volunteers and committed team! If you are interested being part of our team, you are in the right place. You will find job descriptions and applications below. Just take a look, fill out an application and we will be in touch!
In-home Child Caregivers (click for full description)
We are seeking caregivers who will love and nurture children in the mother’s home and promote a safe and healthy environment.
AMAZON SMILE
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. Select Along the Way, Inc. as your charity in Amazon Smile and on the Amazon app and support our organization with every purchase! Watch the tutorial above to see how easy it is to set up.
VOLUNTEER
We can't accomplish what we do without a group of wonderful volunteers! If you are interested being part of our team, being a mentor to our moms, or if you have a special talent you would like to share with us, you are in the right place. Just fill out the form by clicking on the button below.
QUILTS
We have two easy ways for you to join our quilting project: buy one, give one or help us make quilts. For every quilt sold, a child we provide care for will receive a quilt. We are always looking for interest in donating fabric, making quilt block, sewing blocks and putting the quilts together. Click the button for more details.
SHARE YOUR STORY
We are looking for you to share your stories with us. Are you a single mother? Were you raised by a single mother? Please submit your story to us and we will post them on our blog.
