History of the
Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance
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Prior to 1993, there were loose groups of administrators and providers talking about school-age child care scattered throughout Pennsylvania. Many of these groups were in some way connected to the regional School-Age Projects. The Western Region had the only Pennsylvania affiliate to the National School-Age Child Care Alliance (NSACCA), the Western Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance.

  • Fall 1992
    A proposal is submitted on behalf of Pennsylvania to sponsor the 1994 National School-Age Child Care Alliance Conference. Diane Barber is notified that Pennsylvania's proposal to host the conference in Philadelphia is accepted.
  • July 1993
    A statewide Leadership Institute was held in Philadelphia with trainers from the Wellesley School-Age Child Care Project. Forty-two people from across Pennsylvania attend. The group discusses the formation of a statewide SACC organization. Tracey Ballas & Betty Gehring are the trainers.
  • October 14 & 15, 1993
    Tracey Ballas and Steve Rosen from the National School-Age Child Care Alliance (NSACA) were invited to conduct SACC coalition building trainers as a track at the annual Pennsylvania Association of Child Care Agencies Conference in Harrisburg
  • November 1, 1993
    The SACC Coalition Committee meets and adopts the name Pennsylvania School-Age Child Care Alliance (PENN SACCA) and christens the group the PENN SACCA Strategic Planning Committee.
  • January 1994
    Using the regional School-Age Project's mailing lists and newsletters, a survey was mailed to 3,000 names. 219 surveys were returned to the Lancaster Recreation Department who tallied the results. To the question, "Would you be interested in becoming a member of this organization?" 75% of the respondents answered yes.
  • April 1994
    The 1994 NSACCA Conference is held in Pennsylvania. Overall attendance is 1,200 with nearly 400 people from Pennsylvania. Conference provides PENN SACCA with a nest egg of over $28,000. ($5,000 is later donated to the New Jersey SACC Alliance for their help with the conference) .
  • May 25 & 26, 1994
    The PENN SACCA Strategic Planning Committee conducts a day and a half strategic planning retreat to set direction and organizational structure for PENN SACCA. The committee develops a mission statement for the organization and three year strategic plan with objectives and action steps.
  • October 19, 1994
    By-Laws are adopted, membership fees are set, and the group elects an interim Board of Directors. Diane Barber, Chair; Suzanne Zanella, Vice Chair; Sharon Schweningers, Secretary; Linda Mapes, Treasurer.
    Spring 1995 PENN SACCA distributes first membership brochures through the regional School-Age Projects.
  • Fall 1995
    PENN SACCA publishes first newsletter PENN SACCA Reports.
    October 1995 PENN SACCA membership elects first Board of Directors. PENN SACCA holds first annual meeting.
  • June 1995
    PENN SACCA incorporates as a non profit corporation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • September 1995
    PENN SACCA amends its by-laws.
  • January 1996
    Resource Bank survey results presented by Nancy Schall provided a "snapshot" of our members, including a listing of respondents and their expertise in SACC.
  • February-March 1996
    PENN SACCA launches "High Five" campaign in support of school-age child care training and subsidy funding. The Public Policy committee delivers 5,000 traced hands to state legislators with messages from children, parents, and staff describing the importance of school-age child care services.
  • Summer 1996
    PENN SACCA submits a proposal to host the 2000 National School-Age Child Care Alliance Conference in Pittsburgh. The proposal is accepted.
    October 1996 Second Annual Meeting is Held in Harrisburg.
  • Winter 1997
    PENN SACCA awarded advanced determination by the IRS of 501 (c) (3) status. 2nd Board of Directors election held.
  • Spring 1997
    PENN SACCA files for official affiliate paperwork with NSACA.
  • April 1997
    PENN SACCA holds first statewide SACC Conference -- The SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together -- over 150 people attend. The conference was held at Millersville University. Carol Broderick and Carmen Weachter were co-chairs.
  • April 1998
    PENN SACCA holds second statewide SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together Conference at Millersville University. Valerie Clark and Nancy Schall were co-chairs.
  • April 1999
    PENN SACCA holds third statewide SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together Conference at King's College in Wilkes-Barre. Joyce Lang chaired.
  • April 2000
    PENN SACCA hosts NSACA National Conference in Pittsburgh, with over 2000 conferees. Suzanne Zanella was Conference Chair and liason to the national board.
  • May 2001
    PENN SACCA holds fourth statewide SACC Quilt: Piecing it all Together Conference at Millersville University. Lauren Haag chaired.
  • October 2001
    PENN SACCA sponsors NSACA Endorser Training , resulting in fourteen trained endorsers from four different states. Nine PENN SACCA board members (Kathe Trimble, Sharon Schweninger, Leslie Roesler, Brenda Rochester, Nancy Schall, Lynn Karavanich, Mary Jane Hostetter, Valerie Clark and Diane Barber) were a part of that group. Endorsers support the final step for programs seeking accreditation through NSACA.