Item:
Title
Durham PreK and Early Childhood Action Plan Implementation Update (45min)
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: February 3, 2025
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to receive and discuss an annual update on County early childhood initiatives and the impact in Durham County.
This annual update is centered on the County's commitment to nurturing the youngest members of our community through the collective efforts of Durham's Early Childhood Action Plan (ECAP). ECAP, developed through a three-year process led by the community-based Grown in Durham Steering Committee, reflects community strengths, challenges and opportunities.
This update shares a significant milestone with the initial phase of implementation of this plan to support early childhood initiatives that align with the 5-to-Thrive priorities from the ECAP, including cash payments to families with young children, social emotional health of our children at home and in schools, and places where families are welcomed and connected with early childhood services through peer support. Local efforts are aligned with the updated state Early Childhood Action Plan (ECAP) and its four priority areas: Healthy Babies, Food Security, Permanent Families for Children in Foster Care, and High-Quality Early Learning. The County partners with various organizations that implement this work in our community, and the presentation will highlight implementation efforts and impact.
The presentation additionally highlights the County's work and investment ($7.3 million in 2024-2025) in Durham PreK-through which Durham is moving towards a goal of high-quality universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds, an effort which began and continues as a collaborative model led by CCSA, now Early Years, in the fall of 2019 along with other key partners, including Durham's Partnership for Children (NC PreK), Durham Public Schools, and Families and Communities Rising (Head Start). The program is now in its sixth y...
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