Dr. Joyce Miller is the woman who started it all in 1975.

She created Northwest Institute of Research Inc. with a primary focus on conducting social science research.

It's grown into helping families across 18 counties find and utilize needed childcare.

“We help over 5500 families access child care and early learning programs. We support 300 child care providers,” COO Elana Como said.

She's one of nearly 55 people on staff at the main office on 12th Street in Erie and a secondary office in DuBois.

The Early Learning Resource Center is one of the programs that finds the right spot for children and provides support for those working with the kids.

There's also the Northwest PDO that helps teachers access higher education opportunities like associate's and bachelor's degree programs in partnership with

regional colleges and universities. 

Over the past year, there's been an effort called the Rapid Response Program.

It's a partnership with the Barber National Institute and Zion Early Learning Center. It's to keep struggling students with behavior issues in class.

“So far we've had about 75 children able to maintain successful spots in their childcare,” Ann Shaac of the Rapid Response Team said.

That's just over the course of one year.

Safe measures also include identity services within NWIR, which provides fingerprinting.

There's a whole host of other programs within NWIR, and they will all be highlighted at a 50th anniversary gala in November.