Network highlights kindergarten readiness
The Network’s Kindergarten Readiness Week shined a light on early childhood education in the 24:1
As another school year approaches, we are celebrating some of our Network members who prepare children for kindergarten. Throughout the final week of July, the Network highlighted some of the organizations that work in the early childhood education space and shined a light on the fantastic, important week they do.
Studies overwhelmingly show that effective early childhood education programs can reduce gaps that often put children at a disadvantage, and children are more likely to have positive educational and professional outcomes if they enter kindergarten ready to learn.
From pre-natal care to support for parents to developmental screenings at a young age, Network members are doing everything they can to set 24:1 children up for success. The Network supports coaching and training for childcare directors, screenings to help catch developmental delays early, support for mothers and families, speech and language therapy, parent education and more.
Learn more about our efforts in the kindergarten readiness space and which organizations support this vision here. Learn more about Network members working toward kindergarten readiness below.
Belle Children’s Services of St. Louis Arc
Every child develops at their own pace. If a child misses a step, it can weaken the foundation for their development of higher-level skills. Belle’s approach helps children develop higher skill sets for future learning and growth in their life.
Belle Early Learning Specialists are embedded in 14 childcare centers around the 24:1, and they identify students who are falling behind. They draw up action plans for those children, and assist teachers in pursuing that action plan and helping get the child caught up so they’re ready to enter kindergarten at the same level as their classmates.
Learn more about Belle here.
Nurses for Newborns
Healthy pregnancy and infancy build the foundation for a lifetime of wellness. When babies are born too early or too small or in rough conditions, the dream of a healthy, vibrant life can be shattered before they have a chance to reach their first birthday.
That’s where Nurses for Newborns (NFN) comes in. They work for every baby to be as safe and healthy as possible, using a home visitation program that educates families and reduces infant mortality, child abuse and child neglect.
NFN nurses provide health and developmental assessments, education to improve parenting skills, cultural competency training, and materials including diapers, formula and safety equipment.
Learn more about NFN here.
Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers (PAT) uses proven methods to help caregivers connect with their child’s early development and build a lifetime foundation for academic success.
Parent Educators conduct in-home visits (both in person and virtually) to accomplish the following goals:
- Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve positive parenting practices
- Provide early detection of developmental delays and connection to services
- Improve parent, child, and family health and well-being
- Prevent child abuse and neglect
- Increase children’s school readiness and success
- Improve family economic well-being
- Strengthen community capacity and connectedness
To enroll in Parents as Teachers, get started here.
United 4 Children
When caregivers feel confident and competent, children are given the best care possible and every opportunity to succeed. United 4 Children aims to prepare educators through comprehensive services to childcare and after-school programs.
U4C strives to meet community needs where other resources don’t exist and build relationships through aligning shared values and creating equitable partnerships. They meet caregivers where they are and guide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure that children feel safe, engaged, supported and challenged by qualified and caring adults.
Learn more about U4C and its programs here.
See a full calendar of U4C trainings here.
Urban Sprouts
At Urban Sprouts Child Development Center, children lead the way. Inspired by the Reggio-Emilia approach, children have the right and the ability to construct their own learning with the support of teachers and parents. Urban Sprouts is dedicated to providing children with a nurturing environment that fosters lifelong learning, following the children’s leads on interests, activities, projects and more.
Urban Sprouts, which serves children from infants to pre-kindergarten, cultivates curiosity and imagination in every child. The program is designed to meet the intellectual and emotional needs of children, and Urban Sprouts educators work closely with parents to connect the home environment with the care environment.
Learn more about Urban Sprouts here.
S.T.A.R. for Early Childhood Educators
All children, regardless of race or socioeconomic background, deserve access to high-quality childcare with well-trained early childhood educators. S.T.A.R. for Early Childhood Educators brings an innovative approach to the 24:1, meeting educators where they are. Through informal education and real-life scenarios, S.T.A.R. aims to increase educators’ knowledge base and skillset while providing hands-on experiences to effectively engage with young children.
S.T.A.R.’s goal is to collaborate with both private and non-profit programs providing Missouri state-approved training that satisfies licensing requirements and align with the core competency areas for the CDA credential.
Learn more here.
