The first five years of life represent a critical period of growth and development. It is a time when walking, talking, self-esteem, character, and moral foundations are established. By age 5, children's patterns for learning, interacting with others, and understanding their world are set. Quality early childhood education programs harness the possibilities during this window of opportunity by approaching young minds with a comprehensive range of tools designed to foster strong social, emotional and physical growth.
When children are given the benefit of quality early childhood education, risk factors can be identified and addressed early and positive early life experiences created so children enter school eager and ready to learn.
For families of young children, the questions about child care are paramount. Most any gathering of parents with young children naturally turns to the topic of child care - how to find it, pay for it and be sure it is of high quality. However, in Oakland County almost 9,000 children under the age of five are living in poverty (12%). When families are struggling to pay their bills, this conversation becomes stressful because options are now limited and often are not in quality settings. In addition, the average annual cost for child care in Oakland County for a three- or four- year-old in full time center based preschool is $8440.00. This is over $1000 more than the state average for preschool.
Last summer Great Start Collaborative-Oakland was awarded $150,000 toward child care scholarships for a year's worth of tuition for three year olds living in poverty-a chance to provide quality early learning experiences to a few families in our county. With this funding, we were able to support 21 families!!
These scholarships have made a huge impact for these families.
For the children, the early learning setting has allowed them to learn how to cut with scissors, play with other children their age and be potty trained!! For example, because of the high cost of care, one child stayed with his grandparents while his mom was at work. The scholarship has allowed him to attend a high quality preschool and his mother reports that she has seen him grow both in his ability to do things (like cutting with scissors) and how happy he is to be around other children his age.
For the families, the scholarship has brought financial relief and allowed them to worry less about changes in work or school schedules. For example, one single mother has been able to take more credit hours at school which will allow her to finish quicker than she originally thought. Another family was faced with a sudden change in amount of reimbursement they would receive from DHS child care subsidies. Faced with the impending possibility of having to quit their job or look for another location for child care, the scholarship made up the difference and their child was able to stay where she was at.
These are just a few examples of how the support these families have received from the scholarships have helped their young children get on the road to success.
