Early Childhood
Our Vision
Families with children under five who are experiencing poverty have coordinated access to cross-generational supports to meet their needs in the areas of education, income and health.
Our Goal
Build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children under five and the adults in their lives together.
Why It Matters
Research and community input consistently point to similar strategies for family stability and mobility from poverty: coordinated holistic programs and policies that help meet children and caregivers’ goals simultaneously. For example, high quality education and housing partnered with public policies that support benefits and thoughtful data use and tracking.
Currently, 10.7% (3,216) of Dane County children under the age of five are experiencing poverty – however, 29.9% of Black children and 28.5% of Hispanic/Latino children are experiencing poverty (2016-2020 U.S. Census 5-year estimates).
Impact on Local Families in 2021
489
families received holistic, family-centered wraparound services from multiple agencies.
96%
maintained housing (161 families).
100%
of children achieved developmental milestones (138 children aged 0-5).
How We Invested in 2021
Investment: $1,659,434
Agenda for Change Programs: 17
Solutions Team Volunteers: 12
Program Participants: 715
Strategies
Strengthen family outcomes through 2Gen collaborative programs that improve family well-being through the areas of income, education and health.
Cultivate and strengthen partners within 2Gen collaborations to provide more comprehensive services for families and support quality improvement of programs.
RISE Wisconsin
RISE Wisconsin provides care coordination, home visiting and therapeutic support to children and families to help them achieve success at home and in the community. Their ParentChild+ Program is an early literacy home visiting program that helps parents and caregivers prepare their children for 4K. This year, RISE helped Tasha, a single mother of two, by providing her children with educational resources and teaching her how to take an active role in their early education. Now, Tasha feels much better prepared to be the best parent she can be! And her kids are better set up for long-term educational success.
United Way of Dane County Invests in Education Programs at These Agencies
Anesis Center for Marriage and Family Therapy
Children’s Hospital of WI
Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin
Goodman Community Center
Madison Children’s Museum
Northside Planning Council
Porchlight
RISE Wisconsin
The Playing Field
The Rainbow Project
The Road Home Dane County
YWCA Madison