May 2010 Newsletter

United Way Adams County Ready 2 Learn celebrates "The Week of the Young Child".

Advocates for children across America celebrated young children during the 3^rd week in April. In Adams County we focused on the importance providing quality early care and education for all children. We reached out to citizens for their support of continued state funding for programs such as PA Pre-K Counts, Child Care Works, Keystone STARS, Head Start and Early Intervention. Programs such as these offer quality early learning opportunities for all children, particularly benefiting those who are at risk of failure as they enter elementary school and beyond.

Research has proven that children affected by risk factors such as poverty are at higher risk of entering school behind their peers, struggling in school, or dropping out altogether. Nearly two thousand children under the age of five in Adams County are living in low income households. When these same at-risk children have access to quality early education, they tend to enter school on a more level "playing field" with their peers and this permanently changes their course toward success.

"The Week of the Young Child" gave UWAC R2L coordinator Judi Reuwer an opportunity to enhance community awareness by joining various "guest readers" in visiting early learning centers to read to children. With a copy in hand of the children's book, "What a Treasure!" by Jane and Will Hillenbrand, Representative Dan Moul read to children at St. James Childcare Center. Senator Richard Alloway visited Little Life Enrichment Center as their guest reader. Ruthmary McIlhenny, board member of the UWAC was on hand to read to children at Wee Care Learning Center. MJ Duffy of UWAC Ready 2 Learn read to children at Childcare Unlimited, while Vicki Corbett and Erin Messinger of UWAC visited the YWCA's early learning program at Commerce Park. The

celebration continued when Todd Klunk and Frank Miller of the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning came from Harrisburg to visit Adams County. Joined by Kathy Nelson of UWAC, they read to children at Gettysburg's Growing Place and the YWCA of Gettysburg & Adams County.

Adams County is fortunate to have a variety of quality early learning programs for children, as well as many dedicated and nurturing home based providers, and we encourage you to thank the teachers and early care and education providers that you encounter for the important role that they play in the lives of our youngest citizens.