LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Metro United Way has received a multi-million dollar grant to expand its services for children in southern Indiana.
The more than $3.6 million four-year grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. will help the agency build an "integrated system of care and support for young children" and meet the needs of their families in Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties.
According to officials, Indiana ranks 24th in the nation for child well-being, 38% of children are not kindergarten ready, and 67% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading.
"When children start out behind in school, they tend to stay behind," officials said in a news release on Thursday. "Early intervention is key to ensure children are on track to succeed in school and beyond."
The grant will be used to support the early detection of developmental delays or disabilities by increasing the number of children from birth to age three who are screened by Metro United Way's Ages and Stages (ASQ) Developmental Screening Hub. It will also help families with parental education and connect them to any resources and services they may need.
"Parents and caregivers are a child's first teachers and they must be knowledgeable about child development to ensure children are ready to learn when they begin kindergarten," Metro United Way President Adria Johnson said. “Developmental screenings are educational tools that help parents understand their child’s development and also promote family engagement and positive family connections, which have been linked to greater academic motivation, grade promotion, and social-emotional skills for all young children.”
Outside of southern Indiana, Metro United Way also serves communities in Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham and Shelby counties in Kentucky.
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