2022 Impact
The experiences and early learning opportunities of infants and toddlers greatly impact their later development and success. Brains are built from the bottom up, with basic circuits and skills providing the foundation for more advanced circuits and skills. Scientists know that a strong foundation increases the likelihood of positive outcomes, while a weak foundation does the opposite. Prolonged and persistent stress in early childhood weakens the developing brain, which can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.
The most significant benefits of early childhood investments are realized as children get older, first with improved school performance and reduced need for remediation, later as they are more likely to graduate from high school and contribute to the local economy.
First Steps Kent is working to strengthen a coordinated and accountable early childhood system for families, partners, and early educators in Kent County. By elevating policies, programs, and resources that support and empower all families in Kent County, we are working with partners to close inequitable gaps in services and resources, so all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready for learning success.
For children to thrive, it is important that families are thriving. In 2022, First Steps Kent partnered with Stanford University's Center for Early Childhood to survey parents and caregivers across the country – including 1,500 people in Kent County who care for children ages 0-5. Through this project we have gained timely, actionable information about the needs of families, the challenges they face, and their successes.
What we learned is no surprise – the uncertainty of the last few years has added stress to families' daily lives. Many parents report having more anxiety than ever before. They are worried about having stable housing, employment, and income, and they are concerned about their children’s social-emotional development and learning loss.
These findings about Kent County highlight the importance of services funded by the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. Ready by Five-funded partners are working together to guide families to community resources that are available – everything from housing support to food access, to quality child care and early learning.
Like many communities, Kent County continues to experience challenges and unmet needs within child care – both for families and early childhood educators. There are not enough quality child care spaces to meet the community’s demand – in part due to chronically low wages and benefits for providers who work in the profession. First Steps Kent is working with partners to identify strategies that will stabilize the industry, because offering early learning opportunities, including quality child care, is vital to the success of our community. More information about those efforts can be found on page 8.
Starting earlier is better. Every dollar invested in high-quality birth-to-five early childhood education for children facing economic disadvantages delivers a 13 percent annual return on investment, significantly higher than the seven to 10 percent return that comes with preschool alone. (www.heckmanequation.com)
"A mother was struggling with finding services for her child who has a delay in speech. We were able to connect her to Early On and she is now in the pipeline to be connected to an early education school program at three years old. "- Family Futures, Healthy Communities Coach