Partnering for Our Children

My phone kept vibrating this morning as emails poured in from our partner agencies across the state. An early Associated Press report stated that Massachusetts was shortlisted as one of nine states to receive a portion of a $500 million competitive Race to the Top grant.

Not only was this terrific news, it was also recognition for all of the work that has been done in the Commonwealth and our future plans for strengthening early education. Massachusetts has been at the forefront of reform for early care and education for many years. The Mass Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has provided vision and leadership for our young children in the Commonwealth, and the next chapter of their work will be supported through today's Race to the Top funding.

At United Way we recognize that young children will become the future drivers of our local economies; thus it is essential that every child grows up healthy, curious, and able to read.

Early childhood is a critical and cost-efficient investment. Our approach to promoting the development of young children focuses on engaging the public, supporting organizations serving children and championing Massachusetts' Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).

As we engage the public it is important to consistently bring new information to the forefront. To that end United Way, with EEC, has launched the Brain Building in Progress campaign (www.brainbuildinginprogress.org).

It is also crucial to take action if we expect true change to take place. We support 50 high caliber organizations serving over 33,000 children ages 0-5. These organizations provide families and children with high quality early care and education, screening for developmental delays, mental health services and family strengthening programming.

Driving much of this action forward is Massachusetts' Quality Rating and Improvement system (QRIS). United Way supports this data and research-driven method for supporting early care and education programs to measurably improve the quality of services young children and families receive. Last year, United Way, on behalf of EEC, awarded $2.8million in grants to 449 sites across the state, to support programs in advancing on the QRIS Standards. We have again undertaken this invaluable work with EEC.

By forging public-private partnerships we bring more resources to bear on persistent problems like child poverty and gaps in reading proficiency at third grade. United Way has been a steady partner with EEC, and looks forward to continuing to work together to implement the vision articulated in our Race to the Top.