Seeking to have all children prepared as they enter first grade.
What all is being done to better our community?
Parenting/HOPE (Helping Our Parents Excel) programs include parenting classes for the following:
- Pregnant teens in the Etowah County, Attalla City and Gadsden City school systems to show them games and activities that will help stimulate brain development in children birth to 3 years old;
- High School Consumer Science classes and Co-op programs;
- Even Start classes and Gadsden Regional Medical Center pre-birth classes;
- In-home visitations to new mothers provided through a contract with the Family Success Center using Parents As Teachers and Brain Train curriculums.
Better Beginnings:
- Volunteers are recruited to read, rock, sing, and play with children in local daycares. We model behavior to emphasize early brain development in children spending 8-12 hours a day in a childcare center.
Book programs promoting literacy and school readiness:
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - Children in Etowah County, ages birth to 5 years, enrolled in the program, receive one age-appropriate book each month until their fifth birthday.
- Freebie Reads: Books are given to children age birth to 6 years.