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What does it take to prepare a child for school and life? With so much attention on Pre-K, we can forget that most brain development occurs by age three. Many of the most important steps take place during their first months and years and even before they are born. How is WCSS supporting babies and their families? |
Babies are busy with brain growth that will drive all other learning. Researchers in the UNC Early Brain Development Study found that adult-like brain connections start to emerge in the first year of life. WCSS, through in-house and funded programs, covers the continuum of early childhood, with support focused on families before, during, and immediately after the birth of their child. Wake Connections, the WCSS-managed online service linkage system for Wake County's young children and their families, understands that positive outcomes for infants are also linked to a mother's health. The UNC report demonstrates the importance of the Wake Connections programs that provide supports at this early age, and, in fact, Wake Connections is recognized as a statewide model for this work. Wake Connections programs specifically focused on children in their first year of life and earlier, such as Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers, provide prenatal support, postpartum support, parenting skills, and child development services to those most vulnerable in our community.
Ninety-three percent of all Wake Connections applicants qualify for a service, with 78% at high risk (having one or more elevated risk factors such as poverty level or developmental disability). Within those applicants, 56% are eligible for enrollment based on their stage of pregnancy or postpartum status, with 23% having a child under one year old while 52.5% of those seeking services have a child under three. No surprise, as parenting infants and toddlers is hard work. They overwhelmingly make the effort to seek services that help support their child's development, even while facing pressing economic and other societal barriers like relying on Medicaid, SNAP/WIC, or subsidy.
Across the state, groups like Zero to Three and their ThinkBabiesNC campaign have called attention to legislative policies supporting mothers and babies with the Strolling Thunder event. In national ratings, the 2019 State of Babies Yearbook shows NC is above the national average overall in infant and toddler well-being, with room to improve in areas like infant mortality rate, adverse childhood experiences, and home visiting access. We know doing our part here in Wake helps improve the well-being of young children across the state, and, more importantly, it helps each child, in every Wake County community.
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Sarah is a mother about to be reunited with her child after working with Wake Connections. How did she go from losing custody of her child to reclaiming her motherhood?
Sarah was a single mother in the third trimester of her pregnancy, in substance abuse recovery, living in Wake County without housing after relocating to be near her three-year-old son, who had been placed in kinship care. She was motivated to change her life and reconnect with her children, but she didn't know how to begin what seemed like an insurmountable challenge. Her home visiting nurse, assigned to work with Sarah during her high-risk pregnancy, referred Sarah to Wake Connections to connect her with services that could help.
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When ReadyNation, a national organization of CEOs, and its associated organization of retired military leaders, Mission:Readiness, shared their NC report: Want to Grow NC's Economy? Fix the Child Care Crisis, WCSS was proud to partner in support of their findings. |
Just like the collaboration needed to make sure our young children are ready for school and life, many community partners came together to make this important conversation happen. We extend our thanks to these community partners: City of Raleigh, North Carolina Partnership for Children, NC Early Education Coalition, and NC Early Childhood Foundation. We also extend special appreciation of the business voices present and contributing: TradeMark Properties, District C, Innovate Raleigh, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, R!ot, French-American Chamber of Commerce, and WithersRavenel.
Resulting advocacy work in the NC legislature has led to movement on several bills targeting early childhood and education, including H882, a bipartisan bill that passed the NC House unanimously and would strengthen the early education workforce.
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Your support of WCSS made sure Sarah had support as she worked to regain custody of her child and learn the skills she needed to reclaim her motherhood. It brings home visits and group programs to families and their babies in need across Wake County. And it can make sure each child, in every community, is ready for school and life.
Visit our website today to make a difference.
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Questions? Contact us today 919-851-9550 |
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