Services

School Readiness Services

School readiness begins with the parent, who provides the foundation their child needs to thrive in life.  What children learn to do and understand in the first five years is truly wonderful.  They are gaining physical strength, coordination, social skills, independence, problem solving and language skills to name just a few areas.

To be effective as their child’s teacher, parents need a clear picture of the major areas of a child’s development and what children typically do as infants, toddlers and preschoolers.  Knowing child development helps parents observe and get to know their child and then to help the child develop new skills.  Through everyday interactions, parents can provide their children a variety of early learning experiences that strengthen their development.

Way to Grow empowers parents with this knowledge.  Home visitors, called Family Educators, also help parents develop skills and access resources to ensure their young children are ready to succeed when they start kindergarten.

Way to Grow's school readiness services encompass three areas:

• Reach & Teach.  Parents are their child’s first and most important teachers.  Family Educators teach parents about early child development, positive parenting, early literacy skills, and how to teach their child through everyday interaction and play activities.

• Growing Strong.  Children need to be healthy to have energy for learning.  Family Educators teach parents about prenatal care and about child health, nutrition and safety.  They, of course, guide parents toward appropriate health care services.

• Dream Tracks.  Project Dream Tracks is a three year competency based program for teen parents, their children, and their extended families.  The overarching goal of the project is to ensure that teen mothers graduate from high school, become economically independent and move out of poverty, therefore reducing repeat pregnancies and generational teen parenthood.

• Family Support Services.  Sometimes economic and social barriers need to be removed before parents can focus on their child’s development and school readiness.  Family Educators connect parents with community resources as needed, such as for housing, clothing, food, education and work.  Family Educators specialize in establishing relationships with families to provide encouragement and mentoring support.