A Missed Opportunity
The numbers tell us we're missing an opportunity.
85% of brain development happens by the time a child turns four. But less than 4% of all public investments to support that child's education and development are made by that time.
Source: RAND Corporation
A new report from Voices for America's Children called Early Learning Left Out sought to answer the question "Are we investing enough in the learning and development of our youngest children?"
According to the report, the answer is no. It found that for every dollar invested in a school-aged child:
- 25.3 cents is invested in a pre-school aged child and
- only 6.4 cents is invested in an infant or toddler.
That is despite a growing body of research that high-quality early childhood programs can improve greatly a child's success in school and have long-term economic benefits for the community.
A study conducted by the RAND Corporation found that "well-designed early childhood interventions have been found to generate a return to society ranging from $1.80 to $17.04 for each dollar spent on the program."
The RAND study reviewed a variety of early childhood interventions. Early Learning Left Out highlights the importance of a holistic approach that includes early identification and treatment of developmental delays, quality early care and education, pre-school program experiences, parenting education, and family support.
"Parents are--and should be--their children's first and most important teachers," said Voice's for America's Children President and CEO Bill Bentley. "But public investments can do so much to build on the nurturing children receive at home, and this report shows that there's a lot of room to expand the best early learning education programs."
Please click on the link to read the full Voices for America's Children report Early Learning Left Out and other research reports about early childhood.
|
|
News & Updates
Michigan Business Leaders Support Early Childhood
"What do you look for in an employee?" A simple question asked by a 4-year-old girl reinforces the understanding that today's young children are tomorrow's workers who will fuel Michigan's economy. The compelling video "Time is Now" from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation features business leaders from across the state, including First Steps Commission member and West Michigan Whitecaps CEO & President Lew Chamberlin. Click on the link to see the full video Time is Now.
The video was unveiled at the inaugural Great Start Business Summit held in East Lansing on November 30. More than 235 business and community leaders gathered for the event sponsored by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.
Click on the link to read more about the Great Start Business Summit.
Grand Rapids Gets $100,000 Early Childhood Grant
 The Grand Rapids Public Schools received a $100,000 grant from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation as part of a project called ReImagine Early Years. The money is being used to strengthen the early learning experiences of young children through a partnership among GRPS, First Steps and the Great Start Collaborative of Kent County. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is funding the grants in 11 school districts that were identified by the Michigan Department of Education last year as Project ReImagine sites.
Click on the link to learn more about ReImagine Early Years.
|
Healthy Homes Coalition
We want to share the stories of programs and services that are working with young children and their families in Kent County. This time we are featuring the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.
When lead turned up in a wide array of children's toys a few years ago, there was a barrage of media coverage and an intense public outcry. However, another threat--one that experts say poses a much greater risk to young children--gets far less public attention: lead paint in older homes.
"There's a real temptation to deal with the low-hanging fruit, and we should" explained Paul Haan, Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan. "But we also need to deal with the bigger problem. How do we ensure that children have healthy environments and quality housing?"
Eliminating housing conditions that harm children is the mission of Healthy Homes. The organization grew out of the successful Get the Lead Out! campaign and still is focused heavily on removing lead hazards. Haan says the Healthy Homes team finds lead in about 98% of the homes it visits.
"The problem with lead is that the damage is permanent. It stops brain development," Haan said.
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable if a home is made lead safe. Despite that, hundreds of children in Kent County are poisoned every year. The threat is most significant for children in poverty who often live in substandard housing, but lead impacts children at all income levels. Healthy Homes recommends that all children in the city of Grand Rapids get tested at ages 1 and 2 and that children outside of the city get tested if they live in a home built before 1978.
While lead remains a primary focus of Healthy Homes, the organization has broadened its reach and is working to eliminate all kinds of environmental hazards. Pests--primarily cockroaches and mice--are one of the biggest problems the organization encounters. The Healthy Homes team works with families to get rid of pests then helps them develop the tools and skills they need to keep rodents and roaches out for the long term.
Healthy Homes works collaboratively with many community organizations, providing education and training on how to create and maintain healthy home environments for children. In the last four years, the organization has served more than 900 families in the Grand Rapids area. Haan recognizes that the stakes are high.
"There's truckloads of evidence that the home environment affects children physically and biologically," he explained. "If the physical development isn't happening, there's a lifelong impact. But we know how to avoid all this harm. It's done by addressing substandard housing and creating healthy environments."
Please click on the link to learn more about the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan.
|
