Early education gets boost from lawmakers and law enforcement
Published on Thu, Feb 26, 2009 by Beckye RandallRead More Local News
Senator Patty Murray accompanied law enforcement personnel from around Snohomish County in a visit February 20 to an Early Head Start program located in Everett, next door to a center for juvenile offenders.
The irony of that location was not lost on Sheriff John Lovick.
"Investing in the earliest years of a child's life is one of those rare opportunities when we can prevent crime before it occurs," said Lovick. "Providing early learning opportunities helps ensure that today's most at-risk kids won't become tomorrow's most wanted adults."
Lovick and other Washington state police officials, prosecutors and violence survivors have joined an initiative, called Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, that promotes early childhood education and other youth intervention programs as a deterrent to crime.
Laura Wells, the program's state director, said in a written statement, "America's anti-crime arsenal contains no weapons more powerful than the proven programs that help kids get the right start in life."
Senator Murray was on hand to celebrate the government's renewed investment in early childhood education. The Everett Head Start center will benefit from the recent American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, which includes an increase of $1 billion for Head Start and another billion for Early Head Start programs nationally.
Murray is pushing for more help for at-risk families, and has co-sponsored the Education Begins at Home Act that would provide funding for home visitation programs.
Mellissa Cutting is a home visitor associated with the Early Head Start Program in north Everett. She is responsible for ten families, whom she visits in their homes once a week for about an hour and a half each time.
"Families love the program," said Cutting, "because it helps them learn good parenting skills and understand child development. The communal aspect is also very important. Twice a month they have play dates with other families, and they form bonds and support networks in a social atmosphere."
Cutting is one of three home visitors in Everett, serving a total of 30 at-risk families.
Juliana and Bill Nelson have two children enrolled in the Everett Early Head Start program. In an earnest dialogue with Senator Murray, the Nelsons described their children's needs and the value they place on the EHS program.
"I don't know what we'd do without this center," said Bill Nelson. "Our daughters thrive here."
Police Chief Rick Smith of Marysville echoed the sentiments of other law enforcement officials participating in the Fight Crime: Invest in Kids initiative.
"Head Start and early childhood education are key factors that can pull a community out of the cycles of neglect and violence," said Smith. "For every dollar spent on early childhood education, we can save $16 down the road on crime and justice costs."
Nancy Lay of the Little Red Schoolhouse agreed. "When we invest in families when their kids are young, it pays off for our whole society," said Lay, a partner in the Early Head Start program in Everett.
The funding included in the recent legislation is a step in the right direction, agreed Joel Ryan with the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, but much more remains to be done.
"Right now early childhood education programs serve less than 3 percent of the eligible children in our state," Ryan explained. "This is a shot in the arm to get things back on track, but the programs need more funding on a consistent basis."
Early Childhood Education Assistance Programs are funded by the state and serve children older than 3 years. Early Head Start is a federally-funded program that provides educational opportunities for children from birth to 3 years and their parents.
Two ECEAP locations serve Marysville families, at Shoultes Elementary School, 13525 51st Avenue NE, and at Grove Elementary, 6510 Grove St. The program manager, Tracy Souza, can be contacted at (360) 653-0830 or by e-mail at tracy_souza@msvl.k12.wa.us.
In Arlington, the ECEAP program at Apple Preschool is located at 315 N. French St. The school district's contact person is Pam Guilford, at (360) 618-6434 or pam_guilford@asd.wednet.edu.
The irony of that location was not lost on Sheriff John Lovick.
"Investing in the earliest years of a child's life is one of those rare opportunities when we can prevent crime before it occurs," said Lovick. "Providing early learning opportunities helps ensure that today's most at-risk kids won't become tomorrow's most wanted adults."
Lovick and other Washington state police officials, prosecutors and violence survivors have joined an initiative, called Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, that promotes early childhood education and other youth intervention programs as a deterrent to crime.
Laura Wells, the program's state director, said in a written statement, "America's anti-crime arsenal contains no weapons more powerful than the proven programs that help kids get the right start in life."
Senator Murray was on hand to celebrate the government's renewed investment in early childhood education. The Everett Head Start center will benefit from the recent American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, which includes an increase of $1 billion for Head Start and another billion for Early Head Start programs nationally.
Murray is pushing for more help for at-risk families, and has co-sponsored the Education Begins at Home Act that would provide funding for home visitation programs.
Mellissa Cutting is a home visitor associated with the Early Head Start Program in north Everett. She is responsible for ten families, whom she visits in their homes once a week for about an hour and a half each time.
"Families love the program," said Cutting, "because it helps them learn good parenting skills and understand child development. The communal aspect is also very important. Twice a month they have play dates with other families, and they form bonds and support networks in a social atmosphere."
Cutting is one of three home visitors in Everett, serving a total of 30 at-risk families.
Juliana and Bill Nelson have two children enrolled in the Everett Early Head Start program. In an earnest dialogue with Senator Murray, the Nelsons described their children's needs and the value they place on the EHS program.
"I don't know what we'd do without this center," said Bill Nelson. "Our daughters thrive here."
Police Chief Rick Smith of Marysville echoed the sentiments of other law enforcement officials participating in the Fight Crime: Invest in Kids initiative.
"Head Start and early childhood education are key factors that can pull a community out of the cycles of neglect and violence," said Smith. "For every dollar spent on early childhood education, we can save $16 down the road on crime and justice costs."
Nancy Lay of the Little Red Schoolhouse agreed. "When we invest in families when their kids are young, it pays off for our whole society," said Lay, a partner in the Early Head Start program in Everett.
The funding included in the recent legislation is a step in the right direction, agreed Joel Ryan with the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, but much more remains to be done.
"Right now early childhood education programs serve less than 3 percent of the eligible children in our state," Ryan explained. "This is a shot in the arm to get things back on track, but the programs need more funding on a consistent basis."
Early Childhood Education Assistance Programs are funded by the state and serve children older than 3 years. Early Head Start is a federally-funded program that provides educational opportunities for children from birth to 3 years and their parents.
Two ECEAP locations serve Marysville families, at Shoultes Elementary School, 13525 51st Avenue NE, and at Grove Elementary, 6510 Grove St. The program manager, Tracy Souza, can be contacted at (360) 653-0830 or by e-mail at tracy_souza@msvl.k12.wa.us.
In Arlington, the ECEAP program at Apple Preschool is located at 315 N. French St. The school district's contact person is Pam Guilford, at (360) 618-6434 or pam_guilford@asd.wednet.edu.
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