|
Early childhood investments "reduce income inequality"
Can early childhood education lift people out of poverty and close the gap  between the poorest and richest Americans? That question is getting more attention after a column published in the New York Times last month said expanding early childhood education is "the single step that would do the most to reduce income inequality."
In his column titled "Occupy the Classroom," Nicholas Kristof cited an impressive body of research documenting the economic and societal benefits of investing in children from birth to age 5.
Economist Tim Bartik with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, offers more evidence to bolster Kristof's claim. Bartik estimates that "even a preschool program that lasts only for one school year at age 4, and is a half-day program, can, if it is a high-quality program, raise the future income from earnings of the lowest income quintile by over 6% of their expected future income."
Bartik says more intensive programs can do more - increasing by 35% the future income of the poorest children. (Click on the link to read more of Bartik's research).
A few weeks before the column appeared in the New York Times, the Detroit Free Press published an editorial that called for fully funding the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) to fight childhood poverty. GSRP is a state-funded preschool program that serves more than 47,000 at-risk 4 year olds - and the results are impressive. As stated in the editorial, graduates of GSRP "are 85% more likely to finish high school on time. They are also less likely to go to prison where they would cost taxpayers $35,000 a year each."
Even with such compelling outcomes, Michigan only provides funding for about half of eligible children to attend GSRP. In Kent County, more than one-quarter of low income 4 year olds - more than 1,000 children every year - do not have a spot in GSRP or the federally funded Head Start. That leaves most without any preschool at all. And that figure doesn't include children who are eligible for public preschool due to risk factors beyond economics - like not speaking English in the home or limited education of their parents.
As Kristof concludes in his column, "... the question isn't whether we can afford early childhood education, but whether we can afford not to provide it. We can pay for prisons or we can pay, less, for early childhood education to help build a fairer and more equitable nation."
|
| National accreditation for Kent County Healthy Start
When it comes to health, the keys to prevention are well known: eat right, exercise, don't smoke, get regular check-ups. The public hears a lot less about how to prevent child abuse and neglect, but it's something the community has been addressing for years, and with good results.
"By providing information, education and support to parents, we can help prevent many problems," explained Sue Toman, Chief Operating Officer of Family Futures. "It's less expensive to address things early on, and you get better outcomes. Children who've been abused or neglected can be healed, but often there's a permanent scar. "
 Kent County Healthy Start is a free service that focuses on first-time parents and young mothers under age 25 with any number of children, providing support and information through home visits and phone calls. It is managed by Family Futures, in partnership with Catholic Charities of West Michigan, Arbor Circle, and First Steps. Healthy Start is supported, in part, by the Kent County Prevention Initiative - an investment by county government in services focused on prevention and early intervention.
In September, Healthy Start was accredited as a Healthy Families America program. Healthy Families America is an evidence-based, nationally recognized home visiting model that works with families facing multiple challenges. Healthy Start has followed the model since it started in 1995 and sought the formal accreditation to demonstrate that it's meeting national standards.
"It's like a report card for agencies to let us know how well we're performing," Toman said. "It says that the community can be assured this is a quality service that meets the needs of families."
Healthy Start is a voluntary program with services tailored to meet the needs and desires of individual families. Parents who do not participate in home visits can receive information and support through regular phone calls, during which a trained volunteer talks to parents about things like how to care for their baby, stages of child development, and what to discuss at the child's next doctor's appointment.
First-time mom Renee Morris said of Healthy Start, "It allowed me to ask questions of another mom and hear practical advice or feedback. It helped affirm what I was doing and gave me courage in the next phases of infancy since I could ask questions before I tried something."
Click on the link to learn more about Healthy Start.
|
|
Check it out!
The Grand Rapids Press recently published a guest commentary from PNC West Michigan Regional President Sean Welsh. In it, Welsh explains why local business leaders are investing in early childhood and applauds the opening of Michigan's Office of Great Start. Click on the link to read more.
The science of early brain development was on display at NBC News' Education Summit earlier this fall. Harvard University's Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., presented "Stimulating Minds and Protecting Brains," explaining how early development affects learning, behavior, and health for a lifetime. Click on the link to view Dr. Shonkoff's presentation.
|
