Epiphany Parent-Child Center Site Supervisor Lynette Jones

CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

 “The first thing I noticed after walking in the doors of Epiphany Center was the calm, peaceful atmosphere.”

“I thought to myself, ‘I like this place,’” says Lynette Jones when describing her initial introduction to the agency.

Lynette is the Site Supervisor overseeing Epiphany Center’s Parent-Child Center (PCC) since 2015, helping prepare little ones to enter preschool happy, healthy, and eager to learn. She is dedicated to supporting the mission of Epiphany Center and keeping families together. It is so important to give all children the opportunity to succeed. Lynette has a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology and Child Development and more than 35 years of experience working in the field.

“I really appreciate the values of Epiphany Center,” says Lynette. Indeed, the vision of Epiphany is to create a safe environment that reflects the belief that each person is unique and worthy of respect.

Epiphany’s Parent-Child Center (PCC) provides early intervention and relationship-based care for children 0-3 years, including developmental assessments, infant massage instruction, and parent-child interaction groups. Additionally, parents receive parenting support in group and individual sessions. 

INHERITING A GREAT PROGRAM

“I inherited a great program.”

“Sister Estela Morales and Sister Fran Kearney paved the way for us,” says Lynette. PCC originated in 1986 when, at the request of the San Francisco Department of Human Services, the agency began a residential program for infants prenatally exposed to drugs to support reunification with their parents. The program changed services from residential to day care in December 2001 and continues today to provide licensed, therapeutic care to infants and toddlers. Epiphany Center, formerly known as Mount St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth’s, was founded by the Daughters of Charity who have been serving San Francisco’s most marginalized women and families since 1852.

After a year of preparation and training, the Epiphany Parent-Child Center has been accepted into the City of San Francisco Early Learning Scholarship Funding program. The center will receive some financial support from the City through Children’s Council of San Francisco. This is a tremendous help financially. Costs for providing care to infants and toddlers has risen dramatically in the last few years. “We also receive much needed donations from a variety of community supporters. We rely on donations for diapers, formula, baby food and clothing for our children. The generosity of our supporters is amazing,” says Lynette.

Having worked with several longtime organizations offering early childhood education including Mission Neighborhood Center and TEL HI Neighborhood Center, San Francisco’s first settlement house, Lynette understands that Epiphany’s programming is influenced by the settlement movement. Begun in 1886 in the United States, the settlement movement derived its name from the fact that the resident workers “settled” in the poor neighborhoods they sought to serve, living there as friends and neighbors. The focus was the amelioration of the cruelty, exploitation, and bleakness found in city life. Often led by women, San Francisco settlements were staffed with resident social workers who managed day care for children of cannery workers and ran a health clinic, while nurses were sent into the neighborhood to teach immigrant mothers new health and hygiene practices.

“I already understood the basic philosophy of Epiphany’s Parent-Child Center before coming to work here. The childcare curriculum is based on the highly reputable Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC),” says Lynette. Located in Emeryville and offering training nationwide, PITC considers a relationship-based approach to caring for infants and toddlers essential. PITC’s founders believe responsive, respectful care in a relationship is key for supporting early learning, rather than developing lessons for infants to master. 

“Sister Fran knew everyone in the field. She taught and was actively involved with PITC and San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education,” she says. “Anytime I attend an industry meeting and mention Epiphany, inevitably someone will smile and enthusiastically ask about Sister Fran,” adds Lynette. “I was handed down a great reputation.”

ADAPTING TO THE PANDEMIC

Over the last few years, in light of the pandemic, Lynette helped PCC’s Infant Toddler Teachers adapt to difficult and ever-changing circumstances to continue providing the highest quality services to Epiphany’s children and families.  “Since the start of COVID-19, parents are no longer allowed into the building when they arrive to drop off their children,” she notes. “Getting the parents more involved in the classroom, inviting them into class to read to their kids, and holding regular in-person parent-teacher meetings really enriched the program and gave parents a sense of ownership,” said Lynette. “I look forward to getting parents more involved when regulations allow us to do so.”

On a positive note, the babies quickly acclimated to seeing adults in masks. “The eyes really are the window to the soul,” says Lynette. “Despite the face coverings, the babies can still connect with adults. They can see kindness in the eyes,” she adds.

CONTINUUM OF CARE AT EPIPHANY CENTER

Lynette recounts a recent visit to a grocery store running into a former student. “The boy, now four years old, was born addicted and spent 30 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). He had every symptom,” recalls Lynette. “In the store, the child walked right up to me and shouted, ‘Hi!’. He’s doing great now. And mom is healthy and has had three more boys since graduating from Epiphany Center! This is what keeps me inspired. There is potential for each woman who comes here to Epiphany Center. I feel the majority who come to Epiphany Center do get what they need here and become strong enough to go on as loving, successful families.” says Lynette.