United Way of West Tennessee has officially merged its current education initiatives under an umbrella called the Office of Childhood Success. The organization created this classification to emphasize its increased support in the areas of early childhood development and educational programing across the region.
“We have identified four benchmarks for childhood success,” said Matt Marshall, President/CEO of United Way of West Tennessee. “Those are Kindergarten Readiness, Third-Grade Math and Reading Proficiency, Middle School Leadership Development, and High School Graduation.”
United Way programs designed to help children in West TN meet these benchmarks include: Handle With Care, a partnership with the TBI and local law enforcement which provides heads-up notifications to school administrators of traumatic events experienced by students outside the classroom; The READ Team, which recruits volunteers through local churches to provide literacy assistance to 2nd graders, while also providing access to free books through their mobile library the WOW Wagon; the West TN Afterschool Network helps ensure children and families have safe and nurturing afterschool experiences through advocacy and community support; and Mentor U is a partnership of the five higher ed institutions in Jackson, works to provide mentorship and college exposure to local middle school students.
“Positive childhood development is central to our community’s ability to succeed in the future,” Marshall, continued. “We want to help ensure that every child in West Tennessee is given the opportunities to grow holistically.”
