Many young children in our community are entering kindergarten and they're just not ready. A kindergarten readiness study by the Minnesota Department of Education finds that children in low-income families and children whose parents have little formal education are more than twice as likely to be unprepared for kindergarten than their more advantaged peers. Children's development from birth to 5 years lays the foundation for what follows. When children start out behind, they tend to stay behind. Regardless of family income, childcare is expensive. Child care is the second greatest expense for families in the Metro area after housing.
Since 2003, state funds which help low-income working families pay for child care and education have been reduced 50%. As a result, over 10,000 children have been cut from child care programs due to changes in income eligibility.
The Caring for Kids Initiative believes we can do better for the
youngest citizens in our community.
Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners, Kids' Care Connection, and the Wayzata School District Family Learning Center have all joined as partners in the Caring for Kids Initiative. CfKI wants every child to get a good start. We also want our community to know exactly who benefits when we invest in young children’s quality care and education programs. Turns out, everyone benefits — children, families, schools, businesses and neighborhoods – and little kids are the cutest economic development program ever.
Did you know that every $1 invested in high quality preschool or child care has a return of up to $12 in less remedial education, lower crime, and better economic productivity?
The well-being of our children is a crucial indicator of the well-being
of our whole society. When one child suffers, the whole
community will suffer.
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Taste of a Caring Community
Support child development scholarships for working families in our community!
Come to the 4th Annual
Taste of a Caring Community
Oct. 25, 7–9:30 p.m., Wayzata Bay Center
Sample hors d'oeuvres and desserts, wines, gourmet coffee and tea, listen to live jazz
Silent auction items include a big screen TV,
I-Pod, Condo in Florida, tickets to the Timberwolves and the Vikings/Packers game, full set of cotton bedding, and MUCH MORE!
$75/person
DISCOUNTS FOR GROUPS
of 8 or more
Proceeds from the event will support Kids' Care Connection and Caring for Kids Initiative scholarship programs.
Make a difference in the life of a young child! Do your holiday shopping at Barnes & Noble, Minnetonka, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Choose from wide selection of movies, CDs, games, cards, magazines, and books! Free gift wrapping.
Jean Illsely Clark will discuss how to avoid overindulging kids during the holidays—10:30 a.m., coffee included!
Want to volunteer?
Print and bring a copy of this voucher so your purchases help support Kids' Care Connection and Caring for Kids Initiative scholarship programs.
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