TrainingGrounds很高兴有机会与您分享在幼儿教育领域获得更多关注的重要性和潜在的社会需求. In New Orleans there is a lack of free accessible parenting education programs that cater to the 父母, 护理人员, 和 early childhood 教育工作者 of the 42% of children that live below the US Census declared poverty rate. 除了, there is a limited number of quality early learning childhood seats for children under the age of 3. 在过去的一年里,TrainingGrounds在新奥尔良的景观中工作,使用研究和经过验证的技术,采取独特的方法来改变我们最小的孩子的轨迹.
教育研究一直证明,儿童早期经历的质量与后来的学业成就之间存在很强的相关性. (路易斯安那州从出生到五岁的早期学习和发展标准问题在于缺乏有效的家长教育计划,这些计划旨在减少儿童虐待和忽视的发生率,提高儿童的身体素质, cognitive 和 emotional development in children. The National Parenting Education Network (NPEN) describes the goal of parent education as “strengthening families by providing relevant, effective education 和 support 和 encouraging an optimal environment for the healthy growth 和 development of 父母/护理人员 和 children.”
(http://www.childwelfare.gov / pubPDFs父子关系.pdf)
All 父母 in New Orleans have a right to see their children develop cognitively, socially 和 emotionally in such a way they are ready for a life of learning 和 overall success. 然而, there is a lack of easily accessible programs for minority 和 low income 父母 to learn about child development, 最好的育儿实践和早期大脑发育都将极大地提高父母的能力,为孩子的发展奠定坚实的基础. 各种非营利机构, community action groups 和 city assistance programs are designed to address poverty in our city. 然而, 父母, 照顾者和幼儿教育工作者在制定有效的策略为儿童创造高质量的学习经验方面继续需要大量援助.
除了, in New Orleans there are over 3500 infants 和 toddlers on a waiting list for an early head start seat. 这是不可接受的,因为研究表明,高质量的早期学习经验可以对弱势儿童的智力和社会发展产生重要的长期改善. 如果不给这些孩子提供其他选择,他们最终将成为每年进入幼儿园的60%的美国孩子中没有准备和缺乏语言的孩子, numeracy 和 social emotional skills necessary to be successful in the school 和 beyond.
The urgency stems from knowing 80% of a child’s brain is development by age 3. Dr. 赫克曼, 美国经济学家, suggest that without resources such as “parent-coaching” 和 early childhood education programs, many at-risk children miss the development growth that is the foundation of success. They will suffer for the rest of their lives – 和 all of us will pay the price in higher social cost 和 declining economic fortunes.
According New Orleans Early Education Network, “ The K-12 school system in New Orleans transformed in the post-Hurricane Katrina era, 和 made many impressive strides in student outcomes. 然而, one critical element of a high quality education system has been missing: early childhood education” .
In Addition, New Orleans 和 that State of Louisiana face some challenging statistics:
The organization received its 501(c)(3) determination letter in April of 2017.
使命: 协助家庭, 教育工作者, 和 communities in strengthening the foundation on which children can succeed.
愿景: All children have the solid foundation needed for future success.
TrainingGrounds公司. 帮助父母, 护理人员 和 professionals with providing children with rich learning experiences, positive adult-child interactions 和 social emotional skills that will contribute to success in school 和 beyond. We use the following three approaches:
影响:
*The We PlAY Center is currently open 3 days a week for 2 hours each day 和 continues to deliver programming
吸引新的家庭.
支持:
TrainingGrounds participated in three competitive venture startup programs. 螺旋桨,4.0 Schools 和 Camelback Ventures each provided one-on-one weekly mentorship, access to high-level networks 和 investors, 无偿技术支持, 还有免费的办公空间. We received financial support in the amount of $10,000 和 $40,000 from 4.0 Schools 和 Camelback Ventures respectively. 2017年秋季, Traininggrounds won the Pitch 诺拉 Education Competition for their We PLAY Center 和 received $5500. We have received grant funding for the 2018 year from the GPOA Foundation as well as the Institute for Mental Hygiene. 科珀斯克里斯蒂社区资源中心继续支持我们的倡议,为我们的“玩耍中心”和“家长学习机会研讨会”捐赠空间. 也, the families that utilize our free We PLAY Center show their support by donating money 和 refreshments.
Collaborative Organizations:
Corpus Christi Community Center provides free space for our We PLAY Center 和 parent learning opportunity courses. 2017年秋季 we co-hosted with Propeller Incubator a Race 和 Equity in Early Childhood convening to bring awareness of the challenges facing New Orleans. We have conducted professional development workshops for Kingsley House, 社区行动, Hoffman Early Learning Center, Families in Need of Services, Primary Colors Learning Centers, 和 professional organizations.
我们的团队
Melanie Richardson, MSW, LMSW
Melanie Richardson is a native New Orleanian who has been working in the fields of mental health 和 adult education for over 20 years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame 和 her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Since returning to New Orleans, Melanie曾担任青少年精神病住院治疗机构主任和社区精神健康康复机构项目主任, securing Joint Commission 和 COA Accreditations respectively.
As the start-up operations director for both agencies, Melanie aided in turning ideas into fruition 和 was instrumental in providing much-needed services to the community. Her years of working with students, 不同环境下的家长和社区成员为她提供了宝贵的洞察力和对服务类型的理解,这些服务将使社区和选民蓬勃发展. Melanie is married 和 has one teenage son.
克里斯汀·尼利,m.s.Ed
Christine Neely在教育领域工作了20多年,一直致力于提高标准,为家庭和学生提供资源. 克里斯汀已经 spent over 15 years serving as lead teacher in grades PK-3rd while working closely with administration to mentor new teachers, develop curriculum 和 make the switch to Common Core. 克里斯汀已经
presented at national conferences 和 conducted workshops about literacy development, 教育实践, Brain Architecture 和 Mind in The Making Seven Essential Skills. She is an active member of P.E.O International which promotes educational opportunities for women worldwide. She has been married for over 21 years 和 has two teenage boys.
梅兰妮和克里斯汀都在广泛的主题上获得了路易斯安那路径认证,并且都通过了班级观察培训.
Our board provides a proficient mix of skills in both the education 和 business community.
雪莱储料器
董事会主席
School Talent Grant Director
新奥尔良新学校
米歇尔Frentzos
财务主管
业务经理
路易斯安那儿童博物馆
Dr. 布丽姬特雷伊
秘书
Child Development Consultant
洛杉矶部门. 的教育
The advisory board is composed of an Attorney, 注册会计师, School Psychologist 和 the former 董事会主席man of Brooklyn Kindergarten Society. These additional members have offered consultation, 反馈, 和 recommendations 和 are full supporters 和 champions of TrainingGrounds.
关闭
TrainingGrounds is positioning itself to make a profound impact on early childhood outcomes in New Orleans. 我们期待着继续就如何共同努力加强从出生到五岁的管道进行对话:这是持续改善新奥尔良教育系统的关键因素.
To gain further insight into our company, please visit our website www.mytraininggrounds.org 或者访问我们的网站 脸谱网. You can also watch the latest media coverage of our We PLAY Center by clicking on the following links: Pitch诺拉教育奖得主, MyStartupStory:TrainingGrounds, TrainingGrounds: Taking A St和 Against Violence 和 诺拉.玩和学.
真诚地,
Melanie Richardson, MSW, LMSW
TrainingGrounds公司
Co-Founder 和 Executive Director
melanie@mytraininggrounds.org
504.408.0506