Mommy's
Imagination Station™
Community-Base early Learning Institute
Where Imagination Meets Excellence
Every child deserves a golden ticket.
Every family deserves a golden path. Every dream deserves a place to grow. Your child can grow here, you can too!
Mommy's Imagination Station (MIS) is a NAEYC Nationally Accredited, Keystone STARS 4-rated, Pennsylvania state-licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Black woman-founded community-based early learning institution serving Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Founded in 2020, MIS delivers three interconnected programs: high-quality early childhood education; out-of-school time enrichment, including before- and after-school care and summer camp; and a Pennsylvania State-Registered Paid Apprenticeship Program that creates professional pathways into the early childhood education workforce.
Beyond the classroom, MIS strengthens families through community-based resources, family engagement, and educational opportunities that address barriers to success.
Rooted in a historically under-resourced community, MIS combines nationally recognized early learning standards, trauma-informed practices and prevention, workforce development, and family-centered support to expand educational access and economic opportunity.
More Than Childcare. We're Building Futures!™
✦ Ages 2–12 & Up to 13 with Active IEP
✦ Mon–Fri | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
✦ Year-Round
✦ Early Learning + Community Resource Center
✦ Hilltop-Rooted | Allegheny County-Wide
✦ Incorporated Jan 2020 Operating Since February 2020
✦ 300+ Families Served
✦ 500 Brownsville Rd, Suite 3 | Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Where All Kids Are Family
Award-Winning Excellence
Ranked Built on Trust. Recognized by Families.
At Mommy's Imagination Station™, excellence is more than a promise. It's reflected in the relationships we build, the standards we uphold, and the confidence families place in us.
As a NAEYC Nationally Accredited, Keystone STARS 4-rated early learning institution, MIS combines nationally recognized educational quality with the personal attention of a community-rooted organization.
Our growing visibility through Google and family reviews reflects something we value deeply: families are discovering an institution committed to giving every child a strong educational foundation.
The Golden Ticket isn't about being the biggest. It's about giving every child an opportunity to become their best.
Who We Are
We Are Not
Your Average Childcare Center
At Mommy's Imagination Station™, we understand that raising a family takes more than finding a safe place for your child. It takes trust, flexibility, understanding, and a community willing to meet families where they are. We don't just enroll children. We build relationships with the families raising them.
Located in Pittsburgh's Hilltop corridor, we welcome children ages 2 through 12, with services available through age 13 for eligible children with an active Individualized Education Program (IEP), subject to licensing requirements. While our roots are on the Hilltop, our doors are open to families throughout Allegheny County.
We operate Monday through Friday, year-round, from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, because working families need reliable care that reflects their real lives.
We accept Child Care Works subsidies, Children, Youth and Families (CYF) referrals, and private-pay enrollment. When families encounter enrollment barriers, confusing requirements, or unfamiliar systems, we help them navigate the process. We believe paperwork should never be the reason a family stops asking for help.
More Than Education. A Community That Cares.
MIS also serves as a community-based family resource and prevention support hub, connecting families with information, educational resources, early intervention referrals, and community partnerships that help address challenges before they become crises.
Our prevention-focused approach emphasizes family engagement, social-emotional well-being, healthy relationships, protective factors, early identification of needs, and connections to appropriate community services.
We recognize that children's learning and family stability are deeply connected. By strengthening family relationships, improving access to resources, and helping caregivers navigate challenges early, we work to create safer, healthier, and more supportive environments for children to grow.
We don't wait for families to reach a breaking point before offering a helping hand. We believe prevention begins with connection, and stronger families build stronger communities.
More Than Childcare. We're Building Futures!™
Pittsburgh's Only Center of Its Kind
MIS is more than an early learning institution. We unite nationally recognized educational excellence, trauma-informed practices, and grassroots community support with a mission rooted in lived experience. Founded by a Black woman who grew up in the very community we serve, MIS was built to close opportunity gaps, empower Black and Brown children, strengthen historically underserved families, and create lasting generational change.
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Rated #1
Excellence Isn't Claimed. It's Earned.
Recognized as Pittsburgh's #1 childcare provider in January 2026, MIS has achieved what fewer than 10% of early learning programs nationwide attain: NAEYC National Accreditation. We didn't build MIS to meet the minimum. We built it to raise the standard.
STAR 4
Highest in Western PA
Feb 2020
Operating Since
1,762+
Operating Days & Counting
300+ | 450+
Families | Children Served
2–13
Ages Served (IEP to 13)
6A–6P
Mon–Fri Year-Round
Our Founder
Tashanna Hall-Middlebrook
Founder & Executive Director | Mommy's Imagination Station™
Pennsylvania State Advisory Council — Child Care Certification & Quality Rating Subcommittee Member
Educator • Advocate • Community Leader • Workforce Development Innovator
A Golden Ticket. A Mother's Legacy. A Mission to Build Futures.
Tashanna Hall-Middlebrook knows what it means to grow up in a community where resources are limited, but dreams are not.
Raised in a marginalized, low-income Pittsburgh neighborhood, she was one of five children raised by a single mother who often worked two jobs to provide for her family. Despite the challenges, her mother instilled one message that would shape Tashanna's life:
"You have a golden ticket."
Those words became more than encouragement. They became a belief that no child's circumstances should determine their potential or future.
In February 2020, Tashanna turned that belief into action by founding Mommy's Imagination Station™ (MIS) — not simply to provide childcare, but to build the kind of educational opportunity and family support she knew communities like hers deserved.
Under her leadership, MIS has become a Pennsylvania state-licensed, Keystone STARS 4-rated, NAEYC Nationally Accredited, award-winning community-based early learning institution serving Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Building More Than Childcare
Tashanna understands that children thrive when their families have opportunities to thrive, too.
That belief led her to establish a Pennsylvania State-Registered Child Development Specialist Apprenticeship Program, creating paid career pathways for aspiring early childhood educators, parents, and caregivers.
In many ways, she is building opportunities for the same hardworking individuals whose lives remind her of her mother's sacrifices.
Her commitment to strengthening early childhood education extends to statewide leadership. Effective November 1, 2026, Tashanna began a three-year appointment to Pennsylvania's State Advisory Council Child Care Certification & Quality Rating Subcommittee, bringing the perspective of a community-based provider to discussions about quality, accountability, and equitable access.
Rooted in Community. Building for Generations.
For Tashanna, success is not measured solely by awards or recognition. It is measured by the children who discover their potential, the families who find support, and the adults who gain opportunities to build better futures.
What began as a mother's message to five children has become the foundation of an institution committed to creating opportunity across generations.
Tashanna is building what she once needed, creating what her community deserves, and ensuring that more children and families have the opportunity to discover their own golden ticket.
More Than Childcare. We're Building Futures!™
Mommy's Imagination Station™ — Every Child Deserves a Golden Moment.™
We Were the Grass Before They Called Us Grassrooted.
“My mother raised five children alone, working two jobs and making sure we never confused our circumstances with our worth. She told us we each had a golden ticket.
I grew up on the very ground where people now discuss poverty, equity, and opportunity. We played on that grass. We watered that grass. We survived on that grass. We didn't study the struggle from a textbook. We lived it.
Too often, Black and Brown children, families, and community-rooted organizations are the last invited to the table, yet the first expected to overcome the barriers created by generations of underinvestment.
If you want to change outcomes in historically underserved communities, invest in the people who know those communities beyond the data. The ones who were once those children, who came back, stayed, and are now walking alongside the next generation.
Because real change doesn't begin with who has the biggest budget, the most polished proposal, or the loudest voice in the room. It begins when lived experience is respected, grassrooted leadership is funded, and opportunity reaches the children who have been waiting for it.
I didn't come back to tell children how to climb over hurdles. I came back to walk beside them, remove the barriers I can, and make sure they know their golden ticket was theirs all along. One child. One family. One generation at a time.”
— Tashanna Hall-Middlebrook, Founder & Executive Director
Year-Round
“Small by Design. Exceptional by Standard.” GOLD
From This Community. For This Community.
We don't define community needs from behind a desk. We listen, we show up, and we deliver.
At MIS, families are not statistics, and community investment is more than a promise. Our grassroot approach puts relationships, accountability, and real community needs at the center of every decision. We believe the strongest solutions are built with the people they are intended to serve—not simply for them.
Because lasting change isn't measured by how much an institution promises. It's measured by what that investment makes possible for the people it serves.
Our Mission
Why We Exist
To expand equitable access to exceptional early childhood education and out-of-school learning experiences that foster academic achievement, social-emotional development, and lifelong success.
Through workforce development, prevention-focused education, and family support services, we strengthen the foundation for children to thrive, empower families to overcome barriers, and create pathways to educational advancement and generational economic mobility.
Our Vision
Where We Are Going
A future where a child's zip code never determines their potential, families have the support and opportunities to thrive, and education becomes a lifelong pathway to independence, economic opportunity, and generational progress. Educating Children. Developing Educators. Empowering Families. Strengthening Communities.
Why MIS Stands Apart
Credentials That Back Every Claim
We do not ask you to take our word for it. Here is the proof.
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NAEYC National Accreditation
The gold standard in early childhood education. Less than 10% of programs in the U.S. ever achieve it.
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STAR 4 Rating — Pennsylvania DHS
The highest achievable quality rating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Western PA's finest.
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PA State Licensed — Operating Since 2020
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services licensed. Full staff clearances. Documented safety procedures.
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Child Welfare & Protection — HarvardX
Certification through Harvard University Online Learning. We understand the systems and circumstances children come from.
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Trauma-Informed Practice — CPD
Certified in trauma-informed practice. We respond to every child with consistency, structure, and compassion — not punishment.
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Human Rights Education — USIDHR
United States Institute for Diversity in Higher Education and Research certified. Every child is treated with dignity.
✅
PA EITC Approved — Pre-K Category
Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Tax Credit Division under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Pre-K program. Businesses and individuals can direct Pennsylvania tax dollars to support MIS — and receive significant tax credits in return.
✓ The first $10,000 donated is matched dollar-for-dollar in tax credits — a $10,000 donation = $10,000 tax credit; a $5,000 donation = $5,000 tax credit.
✓ Any donation beyond $10,000 receives a 90% tax credit — a $20,000 donation = $19,000 tax credit.
✓ The Pre-K donation cap is $221,111 , yielding a maximum $200,000 tax credit
✓ This is one of the most powerful corporate giving opportunities in Pennsylvania. Contact us to learn how your business can invest in MIS and receive your full EITC benefit.
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Child Care Works Subsidy Accepted
Financial hardship will not determine whether your child receives quality care. CCW approved.
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Referrals, Partnerships & Community Investment
Mommy's Imagination Station™ accepts referrals from Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and welcomes partnerships, grants, charitable contributions, sponsorships, and government contracting opportunities.
We collaborate with community organizations and pursue funding opportunities through private foundations, state agencies, and federal programs, including HHS and ACF.
Invest in Education. Strengthen Families. Build Futures.™
Inside MIS
See The Imagination Factory
Real classrooms. Real children. Real learning. This is what gold-standard early childhood education looks like every single day at Mommy's Imagination Station™.
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📍 500 Brownsville Road, Suite 3 | Pittsburgh, PA 15210 | Schedule a visit — 412-532-4750, Ext. 1
Our Three Programs
One Center. Three Pathways. Unlimited Potential.
Where Little Minds Discover Big Possibilities.
Step inside The Imagination Factory™, the heart of Mommy's Imagination Station's early childhood education program. Here, purposeful learning, creative exploration, and social-emotional development come together in a safe, nurturing environment where every child is encouraged to discover, grow, and thrive.
Every activity has a purpose. Every child has potential. Every day is an opportunity to build a brighter future.
Inside The Imagination Factory™ 🎫
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🎫 Age-appropriate curriculum supporting early learning and developmental milestones
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🎫 Structured daily routines that build confidence and independence
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🎫 Hands-on STEM, literacy, creative arts, and play-based learning
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🎫 Sensory-friendly classrooms supporting social-emotional development
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🎫 Dedicated educators who recognize every child's unique strengths
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🎫 Nutritious meals and snacks that fuel growing minds
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🎫 Safe, engaging learning experiences offered year-round
Child Care Works + Child CARE subsidy accepted + Private pay
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🎫 Children ages 2–12, and eligible children up to age 13 with an active IEP
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🎫 Private-pay families
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🎫 Families receiving Child Care Works subsidies
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🎫 Children referred by Allegheny County CYF
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🎫 Children in foster care and kinship care
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🎫 Families navigating life transitions
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🎫 School-age children needing summer, holiday, and out-of-school-time enrichment
Year-Round Learning. Year-Round Support.
Monday–Friday | 6:00 AM–6:00 PM
Open year-round, including summer and school breaks, except scheduled closures.
Working families don't get summers off. Neither do we.
Program 01
The Imagination Factory
Gold-Standard Early Learning for Children Ages 2–12 & Up to 13 with Active IEP
"Where every single day is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and lay the foundation for a lifetime."
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Every child deserves a stable, nurturing, high-quality learning environment, regardless of the challenges their family may face.
Through education-centered support, social-emotional learning, family engagement, and community partnerships, The Golden Ticket Initiative™ prioritizes educational access and continuity for:
Who We Serve - Removing Barriers to Education. Creating Pathways to Success.
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🎫 Children in foster care and out-of-home placements
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🎫 Children in kinship care with grandparents, relatives, or approved caregivers
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🎫 Children and families referred by or involved with Children, Youth and Families (CYF)
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🎫 Children affected by domestic violence, family disruption, or safety-related transitions
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🎫 Children experiencing homelessness or housing instability
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🎫 Children whose parents or caregivers are participating in substance use treatment or recovery
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🎫 Children of adolescent parents and young families navigating social service systems
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🎫 Children experiencing trauma-related social, emotional, developmental, or behavioral challenges
Our priority is education. Our approach recognizes the whole child. Our commitment is to ensure that adversity never becomes a barrier to learning, belonging, or opportunity.
What Makes Us Different - How We Support Every Child's Educational Success
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🎫 Staff trained in trauma-informed practices and child welfare and protection, including HarvardX professional development
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🎫 Predictable daily routines that promote emotional security, stability, and readiness to learn
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🎫 Consistent educators who build trusting relationships and support educational continuity
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🎫 Sensory-friendly learning environments and calming spaces that encourage emotional regulation
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🎫 Positive behavioral guidance that strengthens social-emotional skills without punitive discipline
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🎫 Collaboration with authorized caseworkers, families, and behavioral health professionals to support educational needs
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🎫 Attendance, developmental progress, and behavioral observations documented to support individualized learning and accountability
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🎫 A welcoming, inclusive educational environment where every child experiences dignity, belonging, and respect
Our Commitment: Every Child Is Seen. Every Child Is Supported. Every Child Is Given the Opportunity to Learn.
To the Grandparents, Relatives & Kinship Caregivers Who Stepped Up — We See You. 💜
You stepped up when a child needed you most. Without a roadmap, enough resources, or recognition. We see you.
Now let us stand beside you. The Golden Ticket Initiative™ helps children in kinship care access quality education, stability, and support.
You showed up for them. We're here for you. 🎫
Program 02
The Golden Ticket Initiative
A Specialized Track Within The Imagination Factory for Children in Foster Care, Kinship Placement & CYF Referred- & Involved Families
"Every child deserves their golden ticket."
🎫
You are already showing up for your family. Now let us help you show up for your future. The Golden Path Apprenticeship Academy is a full-time, paid, Pennsylvania State-Registered Apprenticeship Program developed in partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . You earn a competitive wage while you train. You graduate with nationally recognized credentials. You leave with a career.
What You Earn Upon Completion
✦ Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential — the most recognized credential in early childhood education nationwide
✦ 12 Transferable College Credits through CCAC — applicable to any degree program of your choosing
✦ Competitive starting wage — paid from day one
✦ Direct hire opportunity at MIS — full-time or part-time
✦ Placement support with regional employer network upon completion
Program Includes
Paid PA Registered Apprenticeship - Child Development Specialist
✦ Classroom instruction through CCAC - Online or In Person
✦ Hands-on training inside MIS- a License, NAEYC Nationally Accredited, STAR 4 Instititute
✦ Professional workshops and development sessions
✦ Mentorship from credentialed professionals
Paid PA Registered Apprenticeship-VETERANS
Empowering Veterans & Community Members Through Paid Career Pathways, Financial Literacy, Peer Support, Life Skills, Resilience & Community Reintegration
A Pennsylvania State-Registered, U.S. Department of Labor-Recognized Apprenticeship Program, separately approved for Veterans Education benefits through the Pennsylvania State Approving Agency (PA SAA), in partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).
Workforce Development • Paid Apprenticeship • Financial Empowerment • Life Skills • Peer Support • Community Reintegration
Serving Pennsylvania Residents, Veterans, Eligible Dependents & Military Families | Applications & Program Inquiries Welcome
Your Path — Your Choice
What Your CDA + 12 Credits Opens
Path A
Early Childhood Leadership: Use your CDA + 12 college credits to pursue the Pennsylvania Director Credential — qualifying you for directorship and leadership roles in licensed childcare programs across the Commonwealth.
Path B
Go Anywhere: Your 12 college credits are fully transferable to CCAC or any participating institution. Apply them toward any degree or career pathway — human services, healthcare, business, education, or beyond. The credits move with you.
⚠️ If You Receive Government Assistance — Read This
MIS is a licensed and registered apprenticeship and workforce development training center recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Participation counts as a qualifying workforce development activity to maintain TANF, SNAP, cash assistance, and other state benefits. You do not have to choose between keeping your benefits and building your career. You can do both. Here.
🏠 The Parent Advantage
If your child is enrolled at MIS, they can remain in care while you complete your apprenticeship — in the same building. Child Care Works subsidy accepted. You are not choosing between childcare and career development. You are doing both at once. That is by design.
Program 03
The Golden Path Apprenticeship Academy
Pennsylvania State-Registered & VA-Approved Apprenticeship | Veteran Workforce Development & Support Services | In Partnership with CCAC & the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Now Accepting Applications — Summer 2026 Cohort
"Start here. Go anywhere." | Adults 18+ | Full-Time | Paid from Day One
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As Seen In
Press & Recognition
Mommy's Imagination Station™ has been recognized by Pittsburgh's most trusted media outlet for our commitment to quality, affordable, community-rooted early childhood education.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Featured Coverage · August 12, 2022
"Tashanna Hall's Affordable Childcare Service – Mommy's Imagination Station INC™ Offers Quality Care In Pittsburgh Hilltop Area"
Recognized as the first and only organization providing Early Childhood Education in the Pittsburgh Hilltop Area — and praised for staying open through the COVID-19 pandemic to serve families when they needed it most.
What Sets MIS Apart From Every Other Center in Pittsburgh
There are other childcare centers in Pittsburgh. There is only one that combines NAEYC National Accreditation, STAR 4 quality rating, and certified trauma-informed practice — while rooting every program in grassroots, lived community experience, not just textbooks. MIS was built from the ground up to give back to Black and Brown children, to strengthen Black and minority families, and to serve as both an early learning center and a community resource hub — because our families deserve both. No other center in Pittsburgh holds this combination. None.
Governance
Board of Directors
Mommy's Imagination Station™ has been recognized by Pittsburgh's most trusted media outlet for our commitment to quality, affordable, community-rooted early childhood education.
⚖️
Governed with Integrity
MIS is guided by a Board of Directors whose collective experience spans education, law, community development, and nonprofit leadership. Our board provides independent governance oversight, fiduciary accountability, and strategic direction — ensuring MIS remains mission-focused, compliant, and positioned for long-term growth.
Organizational accountability matters. MIS maintains active board governance in full alignment with Pennsylvania nonprofit regulations and our 501(c)(3) status. Our board meets regularly to review financials, approve policies, and uphold the highest standards of community stewardship.
What Families Say
Real Families. Real Impact.
★★★★★
"Great childcare near me on Brownsville Road. Our daughter receives caring interaction from certified professional teachers, plenty of peer play, and fun learning every day."
Carlos Merez
Google Review · Translated from Spanish · 5 months ago
★★★★★
"Mommy's Imagination Station has been such a blessing. My son comes home excited every day, and the staff truly treats him like family. Best childcare center in Pittsburgh, hands down."
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Jasmine Roberts
Google Review · 5 months ago
★★★★★
"We love this STAR 4 center! The routines, homework help, and communication are amazing. Our daughter has grown so much socially since starting here."
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Michael Brenton
Google Review · 5 months ago
★★★★★
"As a grandmother, I feel completely at peace knowing my grandson is safe, happy, and learning every day. The staff is warm, professional, and patient."
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Denise Winston
Google Review · Grandmother & Kinship Caregiver · 5 months ago
The Movement
Turning Waiting Rooms
Into Golden Ticket Moments
The Movement
MIS was built on the belief that no family should have to wait in line for quality care. And the data proves the need is real.
Right now in Allegheny County, 2,134 additional children could be served today if child care programs were fully staffed. There are 302 unfilled positions across 126 local programs, and wages so low they cannot keep up with the cost of living. Across Pennsylvania, 21,917 children are without a seat because the system cannot sustain itself. Nationally, 12.6 million children are missing out on the summer programs their parents want for them — and affordability is the number one reason why. That burden falls hardest on Black, Brown, and low-income families every single time.
MIS exists because someone has to show up for those families. Whether you are navigating the welfare office, a CYF referral, or simply searching for the best start for your child, your golden ticket is here. ELRC and Child Care Works accepted. No line. No barriers. Just gold-standard quality care — backed by the credentials to prove it and the community to show for it.
This is not just childcare. This is a movement to ensure every child and every family across Pittsburgh's Hilltop and all of Allegheny County receives what they deserve from day one. Every background. Every zip code. Every family. Welcome here.
Sources: Start Strong PA Child Care Crisis Survey, Allegheny County and Pennsylvania, April 2026. Afterschool Alliance America After 3PM Summer 2026
Non-Discrimination Policy
Mommy's Imagination Station ensures childcare and employment in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to an individual's race (including hair type, hair texture, or hair style), color, sex (including pregnancy status, childbirth status, breastfeeding status, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, and differences in sex development), age, religious creed (including all aspects of religious observances, practice, and belief), national origin, ancestry, disability, or retaliation.
As a licensed provider, MIS maintains non-discrimination in all services, referrals, and admissions without regard to an individual's race (including hair type, hair texture, or hair style), color, sex (including pregnancy status, childbirth status, breastfeeding status, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, and differences in sex development), age, religious creed, national origin (including Limited English Proficiency), ancestry, disability, or retaliation.
Complaints of discrimination may be directed to: Mommy's Imagination Station — info@mommysimaginationstation.org
Get Started Today
Give a Child Their
Golden Ticket
There are two ways to give. Both make a direct impact. Know the difference — and choose what works best for you.
✅
PA EITC Approved Pre-K Contribution
Approved by the PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development, Tax Credit Division under the EITC Pre-K program.
• First $10,000 = dollar-for-dollar PA tax credit
• Beyond $10,000 = 90% PA tax credit
• Cap: $221,111 donation = $200,000 tax credit
⚠️ State document required. EITC contributions must use the official PA state contribution document. Email us directly — we will send you the form. MIS will issue your official receipt upon completion.
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General Donation — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
MIS is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 84-4202264). Give with confidence — no state form required.
• Up to 100% tax deductible to the extent permitted by law
• Any amount welcome — every dollar matters
• No state document needed
• Receipt auto-generated to your email immediately upon completion via PayPal
👇 Scan the QR code or click Donate Now below
Not sure which option fits your situation? Email info@mommysimaginationstation.org and we will help you choose.
Mommy's Imagination Station™ is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN: 84-4202264
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
We believe access starts with clarity. Here are the answers to what families, caregivers, and partners ask us most.
Enrollment & Hours
We serve children ages 2 through 12, and up to age 13 for children with an active Individualized Education Program (IEP). If you are unsure whether your child qualifies, contact us directly — we will work through it with you.
Yes — we are open Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, year-round. That includes summers, holidays, school breaks, and OST periods. Working families do not get summers off. Neither do we.
Yes. We are a Child Care Works approved provider. Subsidy is accepted without barriers or differential treatment. All families receive the same gold-standard care regardless of how they pay. Contact your Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) to begin the CCW process, then reach out to us to begin enrollment.
Yes. We accept referrals from Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and all partner placing agencies. Caseworkers can contact us directly at 412-532-4750, Ext. 1 or info@mommysimaginationstation.org to coordinate placement.
Please let us know about any medical conditions when you contact us. This is important — it allows us to determine the best course of action for your child and ensure we have everything in place before their first day. We want every child to be safe, seen, and fully supported from day one.
How to Register on Our Parent App
We use Brightwheel — a free parent app — to register children and get them placed in our system immediately. Follow these steps exactly:
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Step 1: Click our registration link: Register Your Child on Brightwheel →
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Step 2: Set up a username and password.
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Step 3: Enter your first name, last name, phone number, and email address.
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Step 4: Register your child — include their first name, last name, age, and date of birth.
Registering more than one child? Sign completely out after completing the first child's file, log back in, then select "Add Child." Do not attempt to add a second child from inside an existing child's file — the system will prompt you for a code. You do not need a code. You simply need to follow the steps in the correct order.
Already registered at another facility and transferring to MIS? You must have your previous facility remove your contact from their Brightwheel file before registering with us using the same email. If that is not possible, create a new email address for your MIS registration.
Questions? Call us at 412-532-4750, Ext. 1 and we will walk you through it.
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Programs
The Golden Ticket Initiative is our specialized early learning program for children in foster care, kinship placements, CYF-involved families, domestic violence recovery situations, and family crisis. Our staff hold certifications in Trauma-Informed Practice and Child Welfare & Protection through Harvard University. We coordinate directly with caseworkers, foster parents, and behavioral health providers. CYF referrals and Child Care Works are both accepted.
The Golden Path Apprenticeship Academy is a full-time, paid, Pennsylvania State-Registered Apprenticeship Program open to adults 18 and older. You earn a competitive wage from day one while training to become a certified early childhood professional. Upon completion you earn your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and 12 transferable college credits through CCAC — which can be applied toward the PA Director Credential or any degree program of your choosing. If your child is enrolled at MIS, they can remain in care in the same building while you complete your training.
Yes. MIS is a licensed and certified workforce development training center recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Participation in the Golden Path Apprenticeship Academy counts as a qualifying workforce development activity for TANF, SNAP, cash assistance, and other state benefits. You do not have to choose between keeping your benefits and building your future. Contact us for documentation support.
Giving & Investment
MIS is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Tax Credit Division under the EITC Pre-K program. Pennsylvania businesses can direct their tax dollars to MIS and receive the following credits:
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The first $10,000 donated is matched dollar-for-dollar — a $10,000 donation = $10,000 tax credit.
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Any donation beyond $10,000 receives a 90% tax credit — a $20,000 donation = $19,000 tax credit.
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The Pre-K donation cap is $221,111, yielding a maximum $200,000 tax credit.
Contact us at info@mommysimaginationstation.org to discuss EITC giving and how your business can partner with MIS.
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Scan the PayPal QR code in the Donate section of this website, or click the Donate Now link. Every gift — at any level — goes directly toward ensuring children in our community receive gold-standard early learning regardless of their family's circumstances. MIS is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-4202264). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Get Started Instantly
Register Your Child
Right Now
Use our free parent app — Brightwheel — to register your child and get them placed in our system immediately. No waiting. No phone tag. Just follow the steps.
Step-by-Step Registration
Click the registration link below and set up your username and password.
Enter your first name, last name, phone number, and email address.
Register your child — include their first name, last name, age, and date of birth.
Registering more than one child? Sign completely out, log back in, then click "Add Child." Do not add a second child from inside an existing child's file.
⚠️ Important: If the system asks for a code — you do not need a code. You simply need to follow the steps in the correct order. Start over from Step 1 if prompted.
Transferring from another facility? Have your previous center remove your contact from their Brightwheel file before using the same email here. Or create a new email for your MIS registration.
Medical conditions: When you contact us, it is important to let us know if your child has any medical conditions so we can determine the best course of action before their first day.
Questions? Call 412-532-4750, Ext. 1 — we will walk you through it.
Let's Build Together
We Are Always Networking
Mommy's Imagination Station™ is more than an early learning center. We are a community anchor, a workforce pipeline, and a family stabilization hub. And we are always open to connection.
✅ EITC Tax Credit Approved by the PA Department of Community & Economic Development, Tax Credit Division — Partnering with MIS positions your organization to leverage one of Pennsylvania's most impactful corporate giving tax credit programs.
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Referrals
We accept referrals from caseworkers, social workers, foster agencies, behavioral health providers, family courts, domestic violence organizations, transitional housing programs, recovery centers, and all community partners. If you work with children and families, we want to be on your resource list.
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Sub-Partnerships
We are open to sub-recipient partnerships, collaborative service agreements, and coordinated care arrangements with organizations whose work aligns with ours. If your mission touches early childhood, family stability, workforce development, or child welfare — let's talk.
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Collaborations
Grant collaborations, community initiatives, research partnerships, advocacy coalitions — we are at the table and we bring something real. NAEYC accreditation. STAR 4 quality. A registered apprenticeship program. A proven community presence. We are a credible and capable partner.
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Networking
We are always building. Always looking for the next right connection — whether that is a funder, a fellow provider, a corporate partner, a government agency, or a community organization. If you see alignment, reach out. We will respond.
At Mommy's Imagination Station™,
every child gets their golden ticket.
Every caregiver gets their golden path.
Every partner gets a community that shows up. We are ready. Are you?
Language & Culture
Every Family Understood
While English is the primary language of instruction at MIS, we are committed to ensuring that every family — regardless of background, nationality, or language — can communicate freely, ask questions, and be fully heard. We utilize an electronic translation device supporting over 100 languages to facilitate open dialogue between families and our team.
Culture is not a barrier at MIS. It is a bridge. We believe that when a family can speak and be understood in their own language, trust deepens — and when trust deepens, children thrive. Our multilingual communication tool allows us to honor every family's cultural identity while maintaining the consistent, gold-standard care every child in our program deserves.
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100+ Languages Supported — because diversity and inclusion are not policies at MIS. They are practice. Every voice matters. Every family belongs.
Accessibility
MIS Is For Everyone
Mommy's Imagination Station™ is committed to full accessibility for all families, children, and community members — including individuals with disabilities. We work to ensure our programs, communications, and services are accessible to everyone we serve.
If you require accommodations to access our programs, communicate with our team, register your child, or participate in any MIS service or event — please contact us directly. We will work with you to ensure your needs are met without delay.
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For accommodation requests, please contact us at info@mommysimaginationstation.org or call 412-532-4750, Ext. 1. We are here to help.
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We proudly serve children with active IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) up to age 13 and coordinate with special education teams to support developmental goals within our program.
Mommy's Imagination Station™
500 Brownsville Rd, Suite 3 | Pittsburgh, PA 15210
412-532-4750, Ext. 1 | info@mommysimaginationstation.org | www.mommysimaginationstation.org
NAEYC Nationally Accredited ✦ STAR 4 ✦ PA DHS Licensed ✦ EITC Pre-K Approved ✦ CYF Referrals Accepted
© 2026 Mommy's Imagination Station™. All Rights Reserved.