Jun 8, 2026 By Conner Goetz 2 min read

PathWays is set to further expand its early-intervention capacity thanks to recently awarded grant funding.

The $5,000 grant was awarded by the Washington Greene Health Foundation’s 2026 Community Grants Pilot Program, which will fund a new social-emotional learning curriculum and a related staff training program to improve early-intervention capacity.

The Washington-based non-profit provides support and specialized services to individuals with disabilities across Southwestern Pennsylvania, including through two Rainbow’s End Learning Centers for children located in Washington and Greene counties.

According to Rachel Raber, Rainbow’s End Learning Center Greene County program director, early intervention programs help identify developmental needs in young children, saying that the sooner these needs are met the better.

By providing appropriate supports at a young age, the long-term outcomes for these children offer a greater chance at success later in life.

This project will focus on strengthening developmental growth for children from birth to age 5 by integrating Early Intervention (EI) and behavioral supports with social-emotional learning (SEL) practices, according to a release from PathWays.

Through developmental screening and referral, educator training, family resources and enhanced connections to Early Intervention services within early learning environments, the initiative will help connect children and families to critical supports while advancing preventative care, early identification, mental health outcomes and overall access to services throughout the region, the release states.

“The true magic of this project is that it allows us to bring essential early intervention and mental health resources directly into the classrooms at Rainbow’s End Learning Center, ensuring our youngest learners receive the immediate, hands-on support they need to thrive,” said Amanda Kelly, SVP of Organizational Strategy and Business Development. “Thanks to the Washington Greene Health Foundation, we are able to take an important step toward removing barriers to care and embedding critical social-emotional and early intervention resources where children, families and educators need them most.”