Education
Goal: Helping Children and Families Succeed
Children Arrive at Kindergarten Ready to Learn
We know that children arriving at kindergarten ready to learn have a greater chance of succeeding in school. And that helps put them on the road to financial stability and independence for the future. In 2009, 34.5% of children in Berkshire County under the age of five were living in poverty – which is more than twice as much as the state as a whole. In April 2009 there were 800 children waiting for a subsidized care slot for early childhood education.
How does Berkshire United Way help?
- Strengthening the early childhood education system.
- Building parenting skills.
- Improving access to domestic and sexual violence services for children and families.
Click here for a complete list of funded partners and programs working to help Children Arrive at Kindergarten Ready to Learn.
Case Study: YMCA Infant/Toddler Program
In the fall of 2009 a mother came to the YMCA Infant/Toddler Program to enroll her infant daughter. She had previously used the YMCA program for her older daughter, now in the first grade, while still in college using a state voucher to subsidize the cost. Now a college graduate looking for work, the mother found the voucher program was frozen. Without a voucher, she would have to pay the entire cost to enroll her younger daughter while she was at work, which was cost prohibitive. The YMCA, however, was able to subsidize the child care slot through the grant funding received from the Berkshire United Way and other funders.
After enrolling her daughter in the YMCA Infant/Toddler Program, the mom was able to find a job. “It is so nice to be able to work and know that my daughter is in a safe, fun environment. I don’t know what I would have done if funding was not available to me.”