Our Priorities
Early Investments, A Lifetime of Success.
Investing in high-quality early childhood education and health interventions during this critical period has the power to lift up all Ohio children, ensuring they are more likely to be kindergarten ready, graduate from high school, have higher earnings and better health. These prevention strategies also promise to keep Ohio children from being held back a grade, reliant on public assistance and engaging in criminal behavior. Investing in these earliest years pays dividends for children, families and the state.
But across our great state, there are too many infants and toddlers who lack the opportunity to access the high-quality programs, services, and opportunities they need to achieve lifelong success.
Ready, Set, Soar Ohio is a diverse statewide coalition of early childhood, education, health, advocacy, philanthropy and business organizations, community leaders, policymakers and families. This coalition is committed to ensuring that more pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families have access to the support they need to be ready, set and soar to their full potential.
Guiding Principles
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Equity: Race, rural geography, age, gender, and physical and intellectual ability, among other social factors, play a determinative role in the gaps between children in poverty and their higher-income peers and these gaps emerge much earlier than state and federal policy recognize.
Data: We use data to determine needs, measure outcomes, and evaluate impact.
Cross-System: We approach this work from a systems perspective, recognizing the whole child, to avoid the creation of or deepening of silos and gaps among the many resources, programs, and services that prenatal-to-age-three systems require.
Continuum of Support: We understand that prenatal-to-age-three interventions are the foundation of a strong continuum of services for at-risk kids that support healthy development and learning throughout childhood and beyond.
Collaboration: The State of Ohio has a vision for young children in Ohio and, through this work, we will promote a shared vision when possible.
Together, we can make Ohio the best place to be a young child.
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE?