Starting Line: Thrive by Five Coalition

Description

The first 1,000 days is a period of rapid growth in a child’s development – the  most critical time to support their physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing. For our youngest children living in under-resourced and heavily burdened families facing racism and other forms of discrimination, life begins behind the starting line and on a trajectory to trail behind their resourced peers. Research shows that investments in early childhood have the highest rates of return because of their impact on future educational and economic outcomes throughout the lifespan. Setting a strong foundation for healthy growth and development pays life-long dividends for children and their families.

The Starting Line Thrive by 5 Coalition launched in 2023 to bring together early childhood stakeholders from across Erie County representing child care providers, school districts and higher education, government entities, community-based organizations, health care providers, and faith-based partners. All are committed to strengthening early childhood systems and community supports that promote all aspects of early learning and development. We work collaboratively to support parents and other caregivers as first teachers and improve the quality of child care and early education to maximize the learning potential of children. Core to our mission is to reduce inequities by addressing systemic barriers in the early learning sector.