In order to promote the academic achievement and success of all students and address the holistic needs of children and families living in poverty, we recommend the establishment of Family Engagement/Comprehensive Community in Schools Models in Clarke County Schools with high poverty rates.
This model would include a family support center with a full time coordinator in every high poverty school. These centers would support the wellbeing of parents and families as well as their participation in every facet of their child's education and development from birth to adulthood.
Providing ongoing professional development to staff working with families to understand how to engage fathers and male caregivers within complex and diverse family configurations.
Result in higher student achievement.
Educate the community about the need for quality early care and learning programs for all children.
Increase financial assistance for child care.
Advocate for increased federal funding for child care.
Create "Hope" Scholarships for Babies.
Seek employer support for child care for their employees (collaborate with the PPA-Work Force Committee regarding employer support for child care, research ways in which employers can do this, support development of child care center at UGA for employees/faculty).
Provide training followed by on-site technical assistance to improve quality.
Ask UGA and Athens Tech to find faculty and graduate students willing to volunteer free professional development for child care settings serving low income children.
Encourage civic clubs and faith communities to "adopt" early care and learning centers and homes and provide resources to improve the program/facility and to cover costs of seeking accreditation.
Preserve and expand government-funded programs (Early Head Start, Head Start, pre-K) to serve all eligible children in the community.
Educate the community about the need for opportunities for parents to enhance their parenting skills and for adult education.
Expand the adult education, family literacy, and parenting skills components of Early Head Start, Head Start, and other early care and learning programs.
Write a grant for the new federal Reading First Program and supplement the best practices it excludes by partnering with others in the community to offer adult education and family engagement.
Build a core of advocates who will work to secure funding for adult education and parenting skills programs.
Increase supply of effective programs for addressing challenges to parenting such as lack of education and job skills, homelessness, chemical dependency, teen parenthood, mental illness and domestic violence.
Develop a Family Mentoring Program with emphasis on supporting parents from birth.
Develop a nurturing environment in Clarke County for young children and their families through provision of mentoring and faith-based initiatives.