The Private Industry Council (PIC) was pleased to serve as a valued partner to the Western PA Operating Engineers, beginning with preparation coursework on January 10th & 17th, 2026 and concluding with testing held from January 21st - 27th. Operating engineers are...
The Private Industry Council (PIC) Afterschool Program, funded through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, and administered by the state of PA made a meaningful impact on students and families in Fayette and Westmoreland...
The holiday season is a time of joy. However, it also comes with busy schedules, gift shopping, and year-end deadlines. Taking care of yourself is essential not just for your well-being, but so you can truly enjoy the holiday season. Here are some cheerful self-care...
Families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start of Fayette County were invited to “Alphabet Safari” held at the Lemont Furnace Head Start Center on November 19, 2025. The theme of the event was to focus on language and literacy skills from the program’s school...
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Head Start / Early Head Start FAQs The Private Industry Council discusses frequently asked questions for Head Start and Early Head Start students. Private Industry Council operates the Head Start / Early Head Start program for Beaver and Fayette Counties in the...
The Head Start/Early Head Start of Beaver County was fortunate to be contacted by AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania to offer a donation to support a small community garden. AmeriHealth Carita is a Medicaid managed care organization which began in 1983 in a West Philadelphia hospital. AmeriHealth is interested in expanding services in Western PA. The kick off for the community garden would provide an opportunity for them to introduce and promote their services.
The donation of $200 was used to purchase soil, a raised bed, and plants including tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, pumpkins, and bell peppers. Lowes, located in Monaca, also contributed allowing us to expand the garden by providing additional soil and plants. However, the donations did not stop there. Mr. Vinnie Lima, Managing Member at GetBlok Farms, donated an additional 4 raised beds, seeds, soil, and peatmoss.
A kickoff was held on June 18, 2024, at the Beaver Falls Head Start center located on 6th Avenue. Joni Cairns, AmeriHealth’ s Community Health Educator, was there with their state-of-the art Mobile Wellness and Opportunity Center. The purpose of the mobile center is to help Medicaid members overcome the social, economic, and environmental barriers to achieving and maintaining a healthy life by delivering health care services and resources to where they live, work, shop and socialize. The mobile center is open to members and the public and offers a variety of services such as health education workshops, fitness and nutrition classes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (S.N.A.P.) benefits counseling, and opportunities for members to complete their health risk assessments.
Dr. Kenya Johns (Mayor of Beaver Falls), Charles Jones Jr. (City Manager), and many members of Beaver Falls law enforcement attended the event. The Early Head Start children also attended the event. The children showed excitement for the pumpkin and strawberry plants.
The garden is beginning to produce crops and the Early Head Start children regularly visit the garden and have even picked some of the vegetables, some a little prematurely.
It is our plan to continue the community garden at Beaver Falls and perhaps expand to other locations in the coming years.
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