United Way’s education goal is to ensure that youth gain the knowledge, skills and credentials so that they are prepared for workforce and able to obtain family-sustaining employment. The evidence clearly demonstrates this can only occur if a solid foundation has been laid; school readiness is predictive of early grade proficiency which is in turn predictive of graduation. Thus, the ultimate goal of Childhood Success is to ensure that children are developmentally and academically prepared for secondary education.
Without question, it takes entire communities working together more collaboratively than ever before to co-create community-based, comprehensive solutions that support children and students along the education continuum from birth through elementary school, high school and career readiness. Families, schools, early care providers, government, service providers, business leaders and the community all have roles to play. The strategies here provide guidance to optimize the role of families, learning environments and the extended community in guaranteeing that children are on track for success.
The United Way of Pettis County provides funding and support to the following Agencies/Initiative that focus on childhood success in education:
- Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, and Show Me Christian Youth Home provide comprehensive character development.
- Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are community-based programs that focus on our youth.
- Boys and Girls Club assist with academic success.
- Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Sedalia Civil Air Patrol, and Show Me Christian Youth Home provide character and leadership development.
- CACTUS assists with providing needed school supplies.
- Sedalia Civil Air Patrol- Cadet Flight educates young people about aviation, science, technology, aerospace, and emergency response with the goal to develop informed citizens and STEM leaders.
- Child Safe assists with providing age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention education "Stay Safe with Child Safe" regarding safety, prevention, and treatment.
- Retrieving Freedom assists with placing dogs in classrooms where they are incorporated into the curriculum.
- Blind of Central MO and Association of Persons with Disability assist by providing needed adaptive equipment.
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library delivers a brand new, age-appropriate book to children residing in Missouri every month from birth until five years of age, creating a home library of up to 60 books and instilling a love of books and reading from an early age.
United Way has also partnered with the NFL to offer the Character Playbook to schools across the country. The Character Playbook is a digital social emotional learning program. To find out more information, just click! https://characterplaybook.com/