C3 Presentation

Early Relationships:
Building a Strong Foundation
   An update on our Community’s
     Early Childhood Initiative
      Who Are We?
                Mission:
C3 fosters and promotes a collaborative
system of services and supports to
empower young children and families.

                   Vision:
Colchester’s children and families are
thriving within a nurturing community.
           Who Do We Serve?
           Families with Children Birth to age 8
              (including pregnant women)

● Birth Rate of 159 in 2019 (CT DPH)

● Children 0-5 years ~ 795

● Children in grades K- 3 (~636)

● Total population
  ~ 1,431 children
     When to Invest in People?
Typical Investment   Return on Investments
         What Does Thriving Look Like?

Knowledge                            Able to
and Skills                         Communicate




     Strong
Social-Emotional
                                      Secure
      Skills                       Relationships



   Good
                   Healthy Peer    Able to get
  Physical         Relationships   needs met
   Health
     Children and Families having a hard time…


 Chronic
                                   Lower
  Health
                                 paying jobs
Conditions


                                  Increased
 Retention/
                                    Social
Remediation
                                   Services


 Special          Juvenile        Increased
Education       Delinquency       Jail Time
    How Do We Thrive?
Children are more likely to thrive
 when their families have the
      support they need.
       How Do We Support and Empower?

Strengthening Families framework:
  ● to increase family strengths,
  ● enhance child development, and
  ● reduce the likelihood of child abuse
    and neglect.
  ● Work to engage families, programs,
    and communities in building the five
    protective factors.
     5 Protective Factors
● Parental resilience
● Social connections
● Knowledge of parenting and child
  development
● Concrete support in times of need
● Social and emotional competence of
  children
      What is Our Reach?
Last Year 2020-2021
● 82 families participated in 99 sessions of
  programming
  ○ Virtual Parent workshops
  ○ Virtual Village Support Group
  ○ Outdoor Play and Learn Groups
  ○ Monthly Stroller Walks
● 31 School Readiness families
● 3 Early Care and Education Professional
  Development sessions
Financial Picture
What Do Families Say?




  From Beth Tiezzi
   Questions or comments?
   For more information, please contact
Cindy Praisner, Early Childhood Coordinator
                860.537.0717
    cpraisner@colchesterct.org

          www.ColchesterC3.org