Kindergarten Readiness Assessment: Demonstrating Readiness
Current Value
32%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
The positive factors for story behind the curve is 1st year #'s are not to reliable, as it is the first year KRA was issued. The alignment of partners and stakeholder, the buy in for partners to use KRA assessment. KRA was made a priority in Garrett County. There was a two-generation approach used to work with the families. The numbers are small for KRA sampling. Early Head Start and Healthy Families was implemented to use KRA. Training for all staff to receive the same training, and communication between Head Start Staff Kindergarten Staff.
The negative factors for the KRA trend is first year implementation of the assessment teachers and child did not know how to use the assessment. Addiction, incarceration, informal kinship, kids relationship with caregiver, and loss of income for parent. Healthy Families has declined in number served since 2015. Quality Childcare is expensive and families can not afford child care leading to informal kinship.
Partners
Workforce Development, Garrett College, Families, Garrett County Public School System, Garrett County Community Action, Garrett County Department of Human Services, Dove Center, Garrett County Health Department, Health Planning Council, Department of Juvenile Services, Behavioral Health providers, Garrett Memorial Hospital, Mountain Laurel, University of Maryland Extension, and Judiciary Branch.
State Secretaries and Federal Government.
Same agencies in the room to understand and share initiatives. Utilize "My Garrett County" to share agencies information. Publicize services to the public.
What Works
Communication between partners, shared and public data, and science and national trends behind the KRA. Real time, shared data between agencies in a digital platform. No redundant in services to maximizing resources. Figuring out what two generation means. The correlation of child and adult data at the same time. There be one intake and one door rule for families to receive services. Identification of gaps in services. Parents need to be able to get into community college programs, remove barriers, and tuition. Engagement of families and agencies understand what the families need.
To include parenting classes in already existing programs such as Behavioral Health, Wic, and Early Care. The LMB would share the data on the programs.
Expand on the recovery program.
State and Federal Waivers, and graduated reductions of benefits.
Get TA on how to get waivers, and be part of leadership to make things happen.
Identify benefits that will be lost, and pilot the program.
Strategy
Action Plan
Shared Data- What does it mean to share data? Who's data are we sharing? How would the data be gathered?
Common Intake- What are key data points that are shared? What is needed for all agencies? Will need a communication strategy, and involvement in all partners.
Do the turn the curve on all Child Well Being Results and Indicators to determine funding.