ParentChild+ Launched 2024 About A child born today has only 1,800 days to prepare for kindergarten. School readiness has a critical impact on long-term personal and academic success, yet in too many communities it is under-developed and under-resourced. ParentChild+’s strength-based approach emphasizes supporting and empowering parents to enhance their engagement in their children’s early learning, building children’s foundational competencies and social-emotional skills to set them on the path to educational success. Across the country, their practice of cultural and linguistic alignment and hiring from the communities in which they work supports both native-born and immigrant populations in building a foundation of school readiness, family engagement, and lifelong learning. With 50% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland not enrolled in any educational program (Maryland Family Network) and GreenLight’s conversations with community members during the selection process, the need for expanded services and resources to help families prepare young children for success in school was elevated as a priority need. Through their One-on-One and Home-Based Child Care models, ParentChild+ facilitates bi-weekly home visits from trained Early Learning Specialists (ELS) who share a community connection with families. ELS’s support parents in preparing their children for academic success by providing parental coaching, books and educational toys to enhance the child’s early literacy and cognitive development. With the support of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, ParentChild+ will identify local replication partners that are already embedded in the community to implement ParentChild+’s evidence-based models. ParentChild+ works with 150 local partner agencies across 17 states and in five other countries. Their implementation model is designed to be highly replicable, successful, and scalable across diverse communities and cultural contexts and in multiple languages. ParentChild+ local replication partners include schools, housing authorities, community-based organizations, social service agencies, immigrant, and refugee aid organizations, and home-based child care networks. Within the City of Baltimore, they will partner with early learning centers and other child development institutions to execute their model. They have established an inaugural partnership with New Song Learning Center in the Sandtown-Winchester Community and plan to scale their partnerships across Baltimore. CEO Sarah Walzer Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Malkia Singleton Ofori-Agyekum National Headquarters Mineola, NY Email Contact [email protected] Website parentchildplus.org ParentChild+ : Equal Possibilities from the Start ParentChild+ Local Goals 75% of children exiting the program will be school ready 95% of Home Based Child Care Providers will implement best practices for adult-child interaction 75% of Home Based Child Care parents will engage in school readiness activities with their children What Our Community is Saying “Far too often, families living in under-resourced communities experience limited access to quality early learning supports… I’m excited to bring this program to my hometown to partner with organizations, families, and caregivers to offer a path to school and life success for Baltimore’s children.” Malkia Singleton Ofori-Agyekum Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, ParentChild+ “New Song Community Learning Center is proud to partner with ParentChild+ to strengthen early childhood education and family engagement. Data shows that 93% of our Pre-K students enter New Song Academy below the poverty level—6 percentage points higher than the Baltimore City Public Schools Pre-K enrollment average. This means we are serving young learners at a higher level of vulnerability. However, our data also demonstrates that by the time students complete 8th grade at New Song Academy, they are well-prepared for high school and show significant improvement in state test scores. Our education model proves most effective the longer students remain with us. Through our partnership with ParentChild+, we can intervene earlier—supporting families with children ages 16 months to 5 years. By equipping both children and their caregivers with the tools they need for Pre-K and Kindergarten readiness, we help close achievement gaps before they start and create a stronger foundation for lifelong success.” Jayson J Green Executive Director, New Song Community Learning Center “The ParentChild+ program is vital to New Song Academy and the Sandtown-Winchester community, providing families with early learning resources, school readiness support, and a foundation for lifelong academic success. By fostering strong parent-child interactions through home visits, the program empowers caregivers with the tools to nurture their children’s development, bridging the gap between home and school. Families have shared their initial engagement, whether through receiving their first set of books or learning new ways to encourage their child’s language development. The program has transformed their confidence as their child’s first teacher, creating a ripple effect of learning and growth within their homes.” Trenae Davis Early Learning Specialist “At first, I wasn’t sure how to help my child get ready for school, but ParentChild+ gave us books, activities, and the confidence to learn together. Now, my child gets excited to read, and I feel like I’m setting him up for success.” Johnson Family “The home visits changed the way I connect with my son. I never realized how much simple things like talking and playing could help him learn. Now, he’s asking more questions, and I see him growing every day.” Nobles Family “I used to think learning started in school, but ParentChild+ showed me that it starts at home. Now, my child recognizes letters, loves books, and I feel more involved in his education.” Phillips Family “My Early Learning Specialist didn’t just bring books and toys; she brought encouragement and support. She helped me see that I am my child’s first and most important teacher.” Smith Family “Since starting the program, my son’s vocabulary has exploded! He’s more confident, talks more, and is even teaching his friends what he’s learned.” Shipman Family “ParentChild+ gave us more than just learning activities; it gave us bonding time. My granddaughter and I have grown so much closer, and I know she’s on the right path for school and beyond. She has a joy for learning and her curiosity has been sparked thanks to our Early Learning Specialist.” Boykins Family Join our work in Baltimore We rely on a community of champions and supporters who believe in the power and possibility of community-driven change Follow Us GreenLight Fund Baltimore Get In Touch
