Norwalk Early Childhood Council

 The Norwalk Early Childhood Council focuses on getting parents to enroll their child in a quality preschool, to take them to well care visits, and to read, talk and listen to their child every day.   It has been recognized as a model for creating an integrated community plan that brings together work to address issues that impact the readiness of a child to enter kindergarten ready to learn. 

 
Efforts to reach Norwalk’s most vulnerable families resulted in the development of parent facilitators trained in EPIC (Every Parent Influences Children) Parent Circles. Parents have also received information through publications like the Guide to Preschool Programs in Norwalk and through a series of workshops on topics such as The Meaning of Children’s Plan and Kindergarten Transitions.  The EPIC Ready, Set , Read session helped parents learn how to read to their children and even more importantly it helped parents create a network with each other.
 

Results/Highlights

• Parent Engagement and early literacy awareness has been increased through the dissemination of Born Learning materials and programs like People Empowering People (PEP).
• In communities such as Norwalk access to quality child care and education is important to increase school readiness. In 2006 Norwalk had 325 subsidized School Readiness slots. Since then, the Early Childhood Council secured an additional 161 slots for an increase of 50%. 
• In 2008 the Brighter Futures program served 111 out of 905 incoming kindergarten children, half of whom were identified as needing early learning support.  This early identification helped kindergarten teachers better meet children’s needs.
• Work was done to expand the pool of doctors who accept HUSkY so that every child has their own doctor resulting in a 20% increase in children enrolled in HUSKY A
• Emphasis was placed on the early identification of behavioral health issues with doctors at Norwalk Community Health Center using screening tools during well child visits to identify behavioral and developmental issues