"We know we have to start early," said Ruth (pictured right), a family resource advocate at United Way partner agency Way to Grow. United Way works with partners like Way to Grow to have 80 percent of Minnesota’s children ready for kindergarten by 2012.

Created in 1987, Way to Grow serves north and south Minneapolis neighborhoods by promoting early literacy, an integral part of school success. Way to Grow supports parents and caregivers, providing free information and services during "home visits" (one-to-one meeting with parents at home, school or other location) with advocates like Ruth, Juliet and Shamsa.

All children in Minnesota must be at a certain competency level before they are admitted to kindergarten and United Way partnerships are working to increase school readiness among the highest-risk children by educating parents. Each advocate at Way to Grow makes 8-10 home visits a week, teaching reading skills to children and encouraging parents to be actively involved with their families. Advocates also make prenatal visits to get an early start on parent-child bonding.

Many of the families that Way to Grow serves don’t speak English so advocates sometimes act as interpreters, translating mail the family receives and advocating on their behalf. They may also run errands and help families connect to resources for basic needs like clothing, food, housing and medical care.

Shamsa, (pictured left), another family resource advocate said, "Most of the families want their kids to succeed, they just don’t know how." Shamsa tells parents to interact and read with their child regardless of what language they use, "If a child can learn in Somali, then they will eventually learn in English."

Children Who are Ready for Kindergarten Can:

• Count 10 items correctly.
• Match the letters in his or her name to letters in the alphabet.
• Bounce and catch a ball.
• Be able to separate from parents or caregivers.
• Follow a series of three directions.
• Listen to a story.
• Trace basic shapes.
• Recognize rhyming sounds.
• Wash his or her hands.
• Dress him or herself.

United Way’s Agenda for Lasting Change focuses on 10 measurable goals in our three focus areas: Meeting Basic Needs, Supporting Health and Independence and Nurturing Children and Families. One goal is increasing the number of third-graders reading at grade level to 80 percent by 2012 (in partner school districts).

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