United Way works to end America’s education crisis

Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. But with more than 1.2 million children dropping out each year, America faces an education crisis. The cost? More than $312 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes.¹ These trends are reversible, but only when communities and public, private and nonprofit sectors work together.

Our Goal

In 2008, United Way launched a 10-year initiative to cut the number of high school dropouts in half by 2018. It’s an ambitious goal, but by utilizing our core strengths — a national network, committed partners and public engagement capacity — we can achieve it.

About Success By 6™™

Success By 6™™ is a public and private partnership committed to ensuring that every child in our community is healthy, safe, nurtured and ready to succeed in school by age six. The first six years of children's lives shape their futures, and the success of our community depends on the success of our children. United Way of Pinal County is the catalyst and convener of this community initiative.

This initiative is rooted in the understanding that the earliest years are critical to human development. Ensuring that quality early childhood services are available and continued requires a long-term commitment from families, service providers, policymakers, businesses, educators and civic leaders.

The Success By 6™ initiative provides a structure to encourage people and organizations to work together for the benefit of children. This initiative offers unique opportunities for collaborations and partnerships among the public and private sectors. These collaborations and partnerships represent our community's commitment to doing what it takes to help the youngest members of our community achieve success. Monthly trainings that help parents and providers work to help and support the children and the adults in their lives.Call Frances Ortiz for information regarding Success By 6 and its trainings.

Mission Statement

Helping all children succeed for life.

Vision Statement

Success By 6™ is a public/private Initiative created to address the issue of childcare in Pinal County. Our goal is to prepare all children to succeed before entering school. We believe nurturing children within a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment promotes socially, emotionally, and intellectually prepared students who are then prepared to succeed in school. In our effort to improve the quality of childcare available, we are addressing the needs of parents, childcare providers and employers through a variety of educational and informative activities.

Success By Six 2013 Trainings

Friend, Family and Neighbor Caregivers Outreach Assistance Project

United Way of Pinal County has been awarded a $400,000 grant to recruit and provide support to Friend, Family and Neighbor home care providers. The focus is on recruiting 60 unregulated lawful home providers who are providing childcare services to 4 or less children, age birth to 5.  They must already be serving families, but are not required to be regulated or licensed by the State of Arizona. Participants will be recruited throughout all communities in Pinal County and the Ak-Chin Indian Community.
Currently, many children in Pinal County are in Family, Friend and Neighbor care for all or part of their day. The goal of the project is to provide access to resources, training, networking and professional development opportunities for home child care providers.
Participants will receive information on safety, health, child development and a myriad of other topics. Home providers will receive incentives such as books/incentives and door prizes for participating in the community trainings.

Child care will be provided for participants during networking and training events with five (5) days advance notice.

Participants may be eligible to receive up to $2,000 in environmental quality improvement supplies to improve their home child care setting and $500 is set aside for participants choosing to become a licensed or certified child care provider. As a result, the children in their care are better equipped to succeed in school and life.

The United Way of Pinal County Friend, Family and Neighbor Caregivers Outreach Assistance Project is brought to you by First Things First (FTF) (www.azftf.gov), approved by Arizona voters and works to ensure that our youngest children have access to quality early childhood experiences so they will start school healthy and ready to succeed. Across the state, FTF regional partnership councils in collaboration with local leaders identify the educational and health needs of children from birth through age five in their communities and fund strategies to address those needs. United Way of Pinal County has been providing this program through a First Things First grant since 2009.

Child Care Provider Resource Training

Do you want to learn how to promote safety, health and nutrition in a fun, hands on manner to encourage “teachable moments” in your child care environment? Home child care providers are encouraged to attend one of these exciting training opportunities in your community.

TO REGISTER CALL: 520.836.0736/1.800.390.0736

A minimum of five (5) participants must be registered in advance.

Trainings will be held at the following locations and times throughout Pinal County:

Click here to download the FFN Schedule

This program is brought to you by First Things First (FTF), approved by Arizona voters and works to ensure that our youngest children have access to quality early childhood experiences so they will start school healthy and ready to succeed.  www.azftf.gov

YAVAPAI COLLEGE TO CONDUCT NO-COST  EARLY CHILD CARE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN CASA GRANDE BEGINNING JUNE 14TH, 2013

PRESCOTT, Ariz.—Yavapai College, in conjunction with Arizona Department of Economic Security, will conduct a no-cost intensive introductory course, titled “Early Child Care Professional Training.” The class will meet on the Seeds of Hope Mondo Anaya Community Center 1487 N. Crane Street in Casa Grande beginning Friday, June 14th, 2013.
The 60-hour course is designed for those interested in pursuing careers working in child-care centers, pre-schools, Head Start programs or in-home child care. The 10 modules cover pertinent topics, such as child development, appropriate learning environments, nutrition/menu planning and early reading and math activities to encourage skill development.
The classes meet June 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 and July 5, 6, 7, 8. Fridays and Mondays (1:00pm- 5:00pm) and Saturdays and Sundays (8:00am – 5:00 pm). Seating is limited to 20 participants, and preregistration is strongly recommended. Call toll free 1-866-219-1021 or email: ccpt@yc.edu for more information.
Awarded to Yavapai College in 1999, the training enables participants to enter the workforce by providing high-quality child care and education in their communities. The grant provides for up to 15, 60-hour workshops in twelve counties in Arizona each year. Upon completion, students can earn three college credits.