ALLISON RUPP Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Monday, April 21, 2008 12:00 am
The first five years of a child's life are the most formative, say officials with the Coalition for Wyoming Children.
It is imperative children are ready to start school, said Jan Lawrence, chairwoman of the coalition. They must be healthy, have good family support and possess the language and behavioral skills needed to enter kindergarten.
Agencies across the state work to give children the start they need, but Lawrence said it is a "scattered" effort in which they "accomplish a little more" each year.
To bring these agencies together, the state received a "Smart Start" technical assistance grant valued at about $150,000.
"The Smart Start grant will set up a system," Lawrence said. "We will get all organized and lined up so we are not missing anything."
Lawrence said the state needs to deal with shortages of child care providers and pediatric health care professionals.
The child care center Lawrence owns, Best Beginnings in Laramie, has a waiting list of 118 for infants.
Also, the state needs to address the quality of these centers "so parents can choose the best place instead of being stuck with one because that's all they could find."
The Smart Start initiative began in North Carolina about 15 years ago, said Dean Clifford, a consultant who is helping Wyoming set up its infrastructure for children's programs.
Wyoming is the 12th state to receive the grant. Clifford said the grant offers a state resources and training instead of money.
Two weeks ago, Clifford met in Laramie with child care, family support and pediatric health care providers to discuss what is already in place and where children could use help.
"There are a lot of strengths in Wyoming," Clifford said. "There are a lot of good programs and passionate people. There is demonstrated political support."
She mentioned a good economy and a coordinated effort to serve children with special needs as other strengths.
Like other states, Wyoming faces the challenge of trying to coordinate programs that are used to competing with one another, Clifford said.
Wyoming also faces geographic and work force issues.
She said Wyoming needs to empower the Coalition for Wyoming Children to manage this comprehensive effort, bring together the strategic plans of each organization involved and create community coalitions to address local needs.
Lawrence said the coalition chose to seek this grant because of its focus on communities.
"The needs in Gillette are very different from children's needs in Thermopolis, which are different from those in Cheyenne," Lawrence said.
The coalition has hired a full-time director to travel the state talking to communities.
The John P. Ellbogen Foundation gave the coalition a matching grant of $150,000 to start running this system once Smart Start helps the state decide what it will look like.
"As a foundation, early childhood development is the most important thing we could get involved in," said Mary Garland, president of the foundation. "It's the first step to success before they move into K-12."
Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.