The key to Michigan’s economic success? Invest in early childhood development.

Annemarie Harris
Director, Early Childhood Education at United Way for Southeastern Michigan

How deep is the skepticism pool now?  First, I state that high school turnaround begins at birth and now I go off and claim that the region’s economic vitality is determined by early childhood experiences.  It’s understandable for you to pooh-pooh my position, but bear with me at least until the end of this blog.

States, cities, regions, measure success by how many residents are employed in high-paying, high-skilled jobs.  Everyone wants Fortune 500 companies to base their operations in their hometown.  They also want the next Mark Zuckerberg, the next Bill Gates or the next Steve Jobs to come from and set up shop in their city, county or state.

That desire is palpable here in Metro Detroit and Michigan.  Governor Rick Snyder was elected – on a landslide – because of his vision that Michigan was entering “an era of innovation that transforms our society into a vibrant source of innovators and entrepreneurs who can compete in the global economy.”

Great, so we all agree! The way to transform a city, a region, a state, is to create an environment for companies and entrepreneurs to take root and grow.  Unfortunately, I can guarantee you that the various government agencies, civic groups and thought leaders that are considering this opportunity, are not coming to the conclusion that “we should focus on preparing young children, birth to age 5, for lifelong success.”

And that is a missed opportunity.

If you asked the CEOs and entrepreneurs of companies of what they were looking for when hiring talent, how do you think they would answer?  Nine times out of ten, employers would answer:  “I need someone who can communicate, can problem solve, can work collaboratively.” That’s what Tony Wagner, the Harvard-based education expert and author of The Global Achievement Gap, found out when he conducted surveys and interviews with employers of companies representing wide ranging industries.

I bet you thought the answer would be the greatest talent need is for employee s with technical (math – science) degrees. Me too.

Josh Linkner, founder of ePrize, a local 21^st century enterprise, says, “The world has changed dramatically over the last few years, and a new set of critical skills has emerged as the currency for success: creativity, original thought, and imagination. These are the only functions that can’t be outsourced. In today’s ultra-competitive, incredibly complex environment, creative problem-solving trumps rote memorization. Fresh ideas beat rigid processes.”

Okay. So, if we know then that the greatest opportunity for economic success is through companies and entrepreneurs requiring 21^st century skills, then how do we as a community support that environment?

90% of the brain is developed by the time we turn 4 years old.  It means that early childhood, birth to age 5, is the best time – albeit the only time – to establish the skills we need to be successful, in school and in life.

So, let’s go.

Our conduit, our facilitators, our champions – for this economic success – are the parents, providers and teachers who have the greatest influence over a child’s future success. They must understand and practice positive, nurturing, language-rich relationships with the children in their lives.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan is helping to ensure that environment through the Early Learning Communities program, which provides training, networking and resource opportunities aimed at improving the knowledge and practice of parents and caregivers to prepare their children for lifelong success. We are measuring and monitoring our progress through evaluation.  We are refining our strategy with input from our parent and caregivers involved.

I know it sounds crazy.  Economic success relies on how we prepare our youngest and our most vulnerable.  But we know that skills beget skills and that motivation begets motivation.  We must build the right foundation for economic success.

It starts at birth.  It starts now.

The Governor knows it.  United Way and our stakeholders know it. I invite you to join us in our effort to support the era of innovation, where our economy is transformed by innovators and entrepreneurs. You can start by commenting below with your feedback.

High school graduation starts at age 0

Annemarie Harris
Director, Early Childhood Education at United Way for Southeastern Michigan

I could have just as easily titled this blog post, “You can’t get to high school if you don’t enter kindergarten ready to learn.” Both are equally true and both will probably elicit a response of, “What?” from you. After all, what does a child’s experience, right out of the womb, have to do with their ability to succeed in high school?

To put it mildly, everything.

This past week, United Way for Southeastern Michigan and General Motors shared their progress in increasing graduation rates.  Our model enlists high schools with exceptionally low graduation rates – deemed “drop out factories” by some – to enter into turnaround plans that enable students to have the best learning environment to achieve success.  As Michael Brennan, United Way SEM president and CEO, stated, “When you really look at the research that looks at academic success, it is based on the quality of the teacher-student relationship,” he said. “The turnaround process allows us to improve the environment and increase that relationship.”

And all that is true. But what is even more important I dare say, is that those quality  relationships and learning environments are in place way, way , way before a student enters the 9^th grade.  It starts before a student enters school at all.  It starts at the womb. At birth. And it builds from there.

Ninety percent of our brain is developed before we reach age 4.  So, in effect, establishing a quality learning experience at age 13 or 14 years old, is simply too late.  You might be able to change the trajectory at that time, but then again, you might not.  But if you start earlier, if you start at birth, you’re guaranteed the greatest return in terms of productive citizenship, workforce and community.

“Who children are is largely determined by how they live their first 1,000 days. How they do in school is largely determined by how prepared they are at the beginning,” wrote Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press columnist on Friday.

If that’s true (and it is – just review the science and research), then parents, caregivers, child care providers and preschool teachers must rise up and move us forward.

And if the leader of a nonprofit, a newspaper columnist and I still haven’t been able to persuade you, I offer up these words from Noble Laureate, James J. Heckman, of the University of Chicago.

“Skill begets skill. Motivation begets motivation. If a child is not motivated and stimulated to learn and engage early on in life, the more likely it is that when the child becomes an adult, it will fail in social and economic life.” Heckman further states that “the deterministic factors of genetic, parental and environmental resources can be overcome through investments in quality early childhood education that provide children and their parents with the resources they need to properly develop the cognitive and character package that drives productivity.”

Just like in high school turnaround, a quality learning and development environment is determined by the quality of the relationship and interaction between the adult and child.  Nurturing, positive relationships that occur in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life determine the outcome of that child in school and in success.  To help effect that change, that environment, United Way for Southeastern Michigan is leading a community-based effort, known as the Early Learning Communities, which provides training, resources and ongoing support to parents and caregivers to better prepare their preschool children for school and life success.

This base platform of services, called the “Early Learning Communities” (“ELC”) model includes the following five core elements:

1. a 30-module, evidence-based training curriculum developed by HighScope Educational Research Foundation aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of parents and caregivers
2. on-site high-quality childcare offered during training sessions;
3. lending libraries that enable low-income parents and caregivers to keep books and educational toys in the home
4. micro-coaching that provides caregivers with more individualized, one-on-one support;
5. access to literacy materials, providing children with an age appropriate book, mailed to their home, every month until the age of five.

Universal characteristics of this platform are that all services are provided in accessible neighborhood-based locations; all services are free to the participant; staff and materials are culturally appropriate for participant demographics; and all services are welcoming, with minimal restrictions or barriers to participation. To date, this platform has served as an entry-point for over 4,800 caregivers, reaching an estimated 19,200 children.

This is an adult issue.  We have the ability and opportunity to change the trajectory of the educational and ultimately the economic outcomes for our region.  It starts with a newborn.  It is determined by the actions of the adults in that child’s life.  It is doable and it is transformative.

I invite you to join us in our efforts to increase graduation rates.  Let’s start by spreading the word that learning begins at birth.

In Detroit: Kindergarten = Crowd Control

From Annemarie Harris, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives

My son, Tommy, is 5 and in kindergarten at Monteith School in the Grosse Pointe School District. This week, I learned that the School Board approved all day kindergarten for all students, beginning in 2010-2011. That’s a good thing – studies show that all day kindergarten improves academic outcomes for students beyond kindergarten. Grosse Pointe Schools isn’t perfect, but it does provide a quality learning experience for children. Tommy is in a class with 22 other children. His teacher, Mrs. DiVirgil has an aide, Mrs. Farnsworth, who supports the classroom throughout most of the day. The children follow high curriculum standards (Tommy can count to 100 by 2!), time for play, specials (library, art, gym, music) and access to high quality learning materials.

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Shareable.net: Building "We Space" in Michigan

Shareable.net
http://shareable.net/blog/building-we-space-in-michigan

We’ve highlighted many examples of open office plans that try to encourage collaboration and democracy in the workplace, from an innovative office design in Utah to the open plan of Menlo Communications in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Shareabe.net reader Annemarie Harris writes to tell us about yet another exciting open source office in Michigan:

I work for United Way for Southeastern Michigan. As you may be aware, United Ways throughout the country are in a phase of transformation, changing their business model from one that primarily advances workplace campaigns and one that fosters social change in a collaborative way. We don’t necessarily control how social change occurs, but rather, we serve as the platform for the community to foster and achieve social change, on behalf of all.

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Michigan Realized $1 BILLION in Savings through Early Childhood Education

Investments in school readiness over the past 25 years helped Michigan realize cost savings and revenue of $1.15 billion, according to the Wilder Research Study, “Cost savings analysis of school readiness in Michigan,” commissioned by Early Childhood Investment Corporation.

Where did we see those savings? In K-12 Education ($221 million), Reduced Govt Spending and Increased Tax Revenues ($594 million), and Reduced Social Costs to Public ($347 million).

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Panera Bread Promotes Early Childhood Education in Metro Detroit

Panera Bread is supporting United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s Early Learning Communities program by hosting FREE Family Fun Days on the second Saturday of each month during the school year.

From 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on select dates, children will participate in educational crafts and reading activities. While the children play, parents will have the opportunity to learn about the Early Learning Communities program and how to best prepare children for school. The events are open to all ages.

The Early Learning Communities is a network of neighborhood-based hubs providing free training and resources to parents and caregivers of children aged birth to five. Research shows that the first three years of life are critical to a child’s ultimate success in school and in life, making it an important time to intervene to guarantee long-term achievement. The Early Learning Communities was started to ensure that all children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan is Panera Bread’s Operation Dough-Nation® partner in metro Detroit. For all donations made to Panera’s Community Breadbox, located near the registers, Panera matches a portion back to UWSEM.

Panera Family Fun Day dates and locations:

Feb. 13 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera location:
Rochester Hills, 2508 S. Adams Rd.
[Download a flyer: PaneraFeb.pdf]

March 13 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera location:
Southgate, 13665 Eureka Rd.

April 10 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera locations:
Dearborn Heights, 26580 Ford Rd.
Sterling Heights, 36808 Van Dyke Ave.
Livonia, 37091 Six Mile Rd.
Farmington Hills, 37611 Twelve Mile Rd.
Allen Park, 3112 Fairlane Dr.

May 8 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera location:
Roseville, 31960 Gratiot Ave.

June 12 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera location:
Southfield, 23719 Greenfield Rd. (between 9½ Mile and Greenfield, located in a shopping plaza)

Sept. 11 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera locations:
Woodhaven, 23061 Allen Rd.
Troy, 823 East Big Beaver Rd. (located in the Troy Commons Plaza)

Oct. 9 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera location:
Livonia, 28551 Schoolcraft Rd.

Nov. 13 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera location:
Farmington Hills – KT Plaza, 34635 Grand River Ave.

Dec. 11 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Panera locations:
Orion, 4804 S. Baldwin Rd.
Canton, 41950 Ford Rd.

Who’s caring for and educating Metro Detroit’s children?

In Michigan, 65,000 children in poverty are supported by the child care subsidy program. 65% of these children are being cared for by family, friends and neighbors. In Metro Detroit, we have about 15,000 FFN subsidy providers.

They (FFNs) have an important job – providing high quality early learning development opportunities for the children in their care, setting the foundation for success in both school and life. The problem is, most of them aren’t aware of this most important role. They see themselves as helping out their daughter, friend or neighbor who’s looking for or is working. In addition, they are at a significant disadvantage – in poverty, undereducated, in crisis – to focus on being a quality caregiver.

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Early Childhood Investment Corp. gives $2.8 million to United Way

By Sherri Begin Welch

The Early Childhood Investment Corp. has awarded a $2.8 million grant to United Way for Southeastern Michigan as part of $10 million in federal pass-through funding to improve the quality of early childhood care providers in the state.

ECIC is a public entity created in 2005 by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to coordinate an early childhood system for the state that would provide better access to professional development for providers of early childhood care.

With the grant, United Way plans to expand the early childhood provider professional development programs it launched in July, 2008.

“This is allowing us to fully cover Metro Detroit and increase the number of caregivers served, and ultimately, the number of children in their care,” said

Annemarie Harris, director, early childhood initiatives at United Way.

United Way will serve as one of 10 resource centers for early childcare providers in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, providing them with ongoing training in first aid, CPR, early childhood development and other relevant topics through subcontract with a number of community agencies.

The centers will host training to help early child care providers meet state requirements, along with further professional development goals, Harrison said.

United Way currently is subcontracting professional development for providers from five community agencies: Starfish Family Services Inc., Southwest Solutions in Detroit, Detroit-based Development Centers Inc., Leaps & Bounds Family Services in Warren and Oakland County Childcare Council.

United Way plans to subcontract five additional community agencies to expand its training across the region.

The new state grant builds on $1 million United Way has secured for early childhood provider training this year from a number of foundations: Ford Fund, General Motors Foundation, High Scope Educational Research Foundation, PNC Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Skillman Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Help improve access to food for young children

From the blog of Annemarie Harris:

I just emailed Senators Stabenow and Levin asking them to improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides young children with access to nutritious meals. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation that would improve young children’s access to nutritious meals in child care centers, family child care homes, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs. With your help, we can gain support for the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009 (S. 2749). Please take action yourself and spread the word! For more information, check out National Women’s Law Center.

How to close the achievement gap for Hispanic kids: Start early

There’s a great study that was released this week by the University of California, Berkley and covered by the New York Times, Hispanic Immigrants’ Children Fall Behind Peer Early, Study Finds.

What researchers discovered is that while Hispanic children are born healthy and on par with other American children, by age 2 they fall behind – and stay behind academically. What makes this so? Poverty is, of course, a factor. Another is that Hispanic mothers tend to have less formal schooling.

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