At United Way, we believe that all children, families and adults in our region should be safe, and able to reach their full potential. Through numerous programs and agencies, United Way provides a continuum of services that support individuals and families - from infants to seniors. That means that children and youth have the basic supports they need. Here are some examples of how we work to achieve that.
Early Childhood
Thousands of children in Philadelphia enter kindergarten each year unprepared – they don’t have the language, social, or cognitive skills needed for school success – and many of them never catch up. Research has shown that children are literally “wired” to learn from birth and that a rich environment, including reading, talking, and playing with children early in their lives, has an extraordinary impact on their future school readiness and success. Early to Learn: Partners for School Readiness, is a five-year, $17.5 million United Way initiative that provides support and technical assistance to 32 preschool programs throughout the city in the areas of curriculum, child development, literacy and business operations.
Less than 5% of Philadelphia early care and education centers have earned National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, and less than 10% of early care and education centers nationally have received this accreditation. NAEYC accreditation is a powerful tool for raising the quality of early childhood education, and it is the highest credential that can be given to a preschool program.
Through a focus on strengthening the delivery of early care and education programs, encouraging the healthy development of children, and providing parental support, Early to Learn is addressing the crisis of achieving school readiness for young children.
Children benefiting from accredited child care facilities are better prepared to succeed in life. Just one qualified and trained teacher influences countless numbers of children and generations, and impacts their futures in a big way. And, improved teacher retention gives child care facilities stability and consistency, and the ability to provide solid starts to young lives.
Older Youth and Teens
Did you know –juvenile crime peaks between 3 PM and 8 PM?
United Way partners with many organizations throughout our region to provide safe, stimulating, and enriching afterschool programs to keep kids safe, off the streets, and out of trouble. Our programs provide help with homework, supervised sports, positive role models, and lots of opportunities to engage in activities.
Last year, United Way connected over 52,000 children and youth to enrichment programs. When kids are involved in afterschool programs, they do better in school and have a better chance to become more successful, self-sufficient adults. With a helping hand, our youth will avoid risky behaviors that can lead to compromised futures.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – the social cost of not providing afterschool programs takes a high toll on our region in the form of crime.
Where would you be today if you didn’t have positive role models while you were growing up?
United Way recognizes that children and youth need positive role models to foster their growth and success in the world. We partner with thousands of volunteers and hundreds of organizations each year to provide information and training about mentoring. By matching children and youth with caring adult role models, we increase the chances that they will grow to be contributing members of our community.
Last year, United Way recruited 1,168 new mentors, and worked with 248 partner organizations in our network, to provide mentoring services. United Way and our partners provided mentoring to services over 16,000 young people in our region last year.
By supporting United Way youth development programs, you invest in a stronger community.
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