Prenatal and Neonatal Care: Kindergarten Readiness Strategy Spotlight
Kindergarten Readiness Playbook: Strategy Spotlight
Overview
A strong start sets children up for future success. Kindergarten readiness is linked to later outcomes, like third-grade reading, high school graduation, college attendance and earnings. Communities can improve early outcomes through high-quality early learning, engaged caregivers, access to health care, and safe, inclusive schools.
Kindergarten readiness starts before birth. In Fresno, California, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, Cradle to Career Network members are making sure families and babies get the care they need from the very beginning. In Spartanburg, the Hello Family initiative offers prenatal and maternal health services to every family with a newborn, leading to improvements in birth weight and fewer emergency room visits. In Fresno, home visitation participants had 36.4% lower preterm birth rates than the county average. Through investments in maternal health, early learning and family support, 398 more children in Spartanburg are on track for kindergarten readiness, showing what’s possible when communities invest early.
Playbook ChaptersKindergarten Readiness Playbook
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