FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — This week United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County gave out over $10,000 in early learning items to child care centers and families throughout the community. 14 child care centers across the city received these supplies to distribute to their families, reaching 524 families in total.
Each family received a bag full of developmental toys, books and other items that can enhance their child’s learning. While fostering quality education at home for children ages 0 to 5, these items will also promote positive interaction between children and their caregivers.
Part of United Way’s Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) initiative, these supplies will help families with children ages 0 to 5 foster learning. HOPES provides a variety of support to families with young children with the intent of increasing family well-being. Support includes home visiting services and services that build protective factors including parent support groups, maternal depression screening, early literacy promotion, parent education and more.
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County used both the Early Development Instrument (EDI) and child maltreatment risk data to identify centers to target for this outreach effort. The EDI is used to identify areas of vulnerability in the areas of children’s health, development and kinder readiness at the community level. Child maltreatment risk maps, developed through a collaboration between the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, UT Tyler Health Science Center, and University of Texas System Population Health, draw on five different data sources to provide an overview of community-level risk for maltreatment.
For video and photos of United Way staff assembling the supplies and distributing them to child care centers throughout San Antonio, please visit this link.
For more information on HOPES and other United Way programs, please visit uwsatx.org. If you are a parent with young children and would like to learn about support services near you, please call United Way’s 2-1-1 Helpline.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Kevin Femmel, Director of Communications, 210-836-8616, kfemmel@unitedwaysatx.org.
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About United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County
United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County launched its first campaign in 1940 and has grown into the largest private investor in health and human services programs in San Antonio and Bexar County. United Way focuses on preparing children for school and life, helping students graduate and succeed, strengthening the well-being of individuals and families, and providing safety net services. United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County also operates the 2-1-1 Helpline, Mission United and fosters volunteerism through the Volunteer Center at United Way. Check our newsroom online for more United Way news.
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Categories: Press Releases |
