Strategy 1:
Expand quality out of school programming
What this means:
Many children depend on non-academic support services that help in the development of healthy behaviors. This can include access to food, extracurricular activities, mentoring, and early intervention for exposure to trauma.
Desired Community Outcomes
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Increased educational enrichment when school is on break
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Reduced risky behaviors in youth and young adults
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Increased year-round food access for youth and young adults
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Increased staff trained in Trauma Informed Care/ Evidence Based Programming
Strategy 2:
Build social, emotional, and language skills
What this means:
The social and emotional health of children age 0 to 6 is directly linked to school success and future mental health. We support high-quality affordable childcare and other programs that help young children become ready to learn.
Desired Community Outcomes
Expanding affordable early childhood programs was ranked a high priority by 88% of organizations on the Cape.
Bridgewater State University: Community Needs Assessment. 2014
45.5% of Barnstable, 50.8% of Martha’s Vineyard, and 45.3% of Nantucket children fall into the “high needs” category, meaning they are either low income, economically disadvantaged, an English language learner, or a student with disabilities.
Massachusetts Department of Education. School and District Profiles, 2018
Programs for early intervention to address behavioral and developmental Issues have a 63% gap in service delivery.
Bridgewater State University: Community Needs Assessment, 2014
The average yearly cost of care for an infant in a childcare center in MA is more than $20,000, compared to a year of public university tuition of $12,000.
ChildCare Aware of America, 2018
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Increased access to high-quality affordable childcare
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Increased school readiness
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Increased early literacy supports
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Increased staff trained in Trauma Informed Care/ Evidence Based Programming