What is Success By 6?

Success By 6 is a partnership of local businesses, community social service agencies, and county government that is focused on building a comprehensive early childhood system to address the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of children birth to age 6.

Success By 6 is not a program - it is a community-wide initiative, that depends on people in our community (i.e. you) to develop strategies based on local needs to ensure children are ready to learn when they enter school.

Success By 6 is raising awareness about early childhood development. It is improving the delivery of critical services for very young children and their families. It is advocating for public policy that supports the community's youngest children.

United Way of Wyoming Valley's flagship initiative in support of Success By 6 is our participation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free, high quality books to area children from birth to age 5. The program encourages parents to read to children from an early age, allowing them to develop skills and enjoy reading, which makes them ready to learn when they begin school.

Success By 6 is also structured around community events, hunger prevention initiatives, educating the community about the importance of early learning, coordinating volunteer reading programs and providing free professional development workshops for local child care providers to boost the quality of their child care centers.

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Why is this important?

Children learn best when they have proper health and nutrition, a safe and stable family and home life, and activities that stimulate creativity, curiosity, and all the skills they will need to succeed in school and life. Research has taught us that the earliest years of childhood are critically important to children's long term development. When children are thriving, their parents can provide for and support a more stable family. Quality education for our children today prepares them for high quality jobs tomorrow. A high quality workforce empowers Pennsylvania to compete nationally and globally, improving the quality of life for all.

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