The Early Childhood Councils in Ansonia and Derby just launched a website to spread information about resources available for families with young kids.
The MyFirst8.org website is targeted to families with kids up to 8 years old. It contains information on local child care and preschool options, including a downloadable list of licensed childcare providers in the lower Naugatuck Valley.
In addition, the site links to the My First 8 Years Facebook page.
Jenny Tropia, the Derby Early Childhood Council coordinator, hopes the Facebook page becomes a place where families can share information and ask questions.
Research shows preschool education is critically important for kids, especially kids from low-income families. Both Ansonia and Derby have pockets of low-income families.
Kids from “at risk families” who enter kindergarten without preschool education are more likely to fall behind in classes — and never catch up.
They are 25 percent more likely to drop out of high school, and 40 percent more likely to become a parent while still in their teens, according to An Ounce of Prevention, a non-profit group that funds, operates and researches early childhood programs.
A study locally found that 53 percent of Derby students were entering kindergarten without preschool education, while 45 percent of Ansonia kindergarten students lacked preschool education.
The same study found several possible contributing factors, including expense, a lack of awareness about the importance of preschool, and a shortage of affordable preschool slots.
The achievement gap in Ansonia and Derby schools is well known and is part of the reason both school districts receive extra state funding through the state education department’s “Alliance District“ grants.
Tropia said while part of the new website’s goal is to stress the importance of early learning, it’s also meant as a place where parents can go for support or to get ideas.
In addition, My First 8 Years is aimed at all families in Ansonia and Derby, regardless of household income.
“The reason for setting up the website is to engage parents. We want to provide information on parenting issues. For example, we want to promote the importance of early literacy, to talk to your baby, to read to your baby. Things like that,” Tropia said.
The new website has a section titled “articles” that takes parents to a ton of new stories on education issues in Connecticut, along with links to local family events.
The My First 8 Years Facebook page, as of June 20, contained links to recalled products and a guide to costs connected to the state’s birth through 3 program.
Tropia said she’s anticipating hearing from parents so the website and Facebook can better serve Ansonia and Derby families.
“We want it to be community. We want there to be fun stuff on there, activities you can do with your children. People will have the ability to contact each other or to contact us if they want more information or want to get involved,” she said.
Karen Hicks is Tropia’s counterpart on the Ansonia Early Childhood Council.
The Early Childhood Councils of Ansonia and Derby are supported by competitive grants awarded from The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund and The Katharine Matthies Foundation.
Click here to learn more about the need in Ansonia and how the early childhood councils are working toward improving the lives of local families.
