Family Outreach

Early Brain Development

Family Outreach

SCI has two programs that reach out directly to parents.

Since July 2017, SCI’s Parent Outreach Program has focused on helping parents use the power they have to build their babies’ brains through words.

For one hour each week, SCI staff offers tools, training and strategies in early learning initiatives for parents of children under 4 years old in underserved neighborhoods. SCI formed a partnership with the Area Housing Commission to lead parent groups for residents in eight housing campuses with children under 4. Nearly 300 families with children under 4 out of a total of 1,000 families reside in properties managed by Area Housing.

These children, when they age up to elementary school, primarily attend C.A. Weis, Global Learning Academy, Warrington and O.J. Semmes elementary schools. These neighborhood schools are traditionally among the lowest graded elementary schools in Escambia County School District, according to state standardized test scores (Florida Standards Assessment).

These weekly, one-hour sessions guide parents through the importance of talking and interacting with their young children.

SCI Sibling Brain Builders helps children learn how to form lifelong connections with their siblings and encourage academic achievement and personal development. 

Launched in Escambia County elementary and middle schools in 2019, SCI Sibling Brain Builders promote literacy interactions between siblings in innovative ways that are both educational and maintain an element of choice that generates new links between home and school. 

At Bellview Middle School, students with siblings ages 0 to 5 will take home lessons, worksheets and books to share and use with their younger brothers and sisters at home. The learning environment promotes brain building in babies while improving kindergarten and school readiness. 

At Montclair, Weis, OJ Semmes and Lincoln Park elementary schools, librarians will provide pupils with books and reading materials to take home to share and read with their younger siblings to help stimulate and build their brains. 

The goal of SCI’s Brain Builders is to ensure that young children reach developmental milestones and are ready for kindergarten when they began school.    

Early Learning Initiatives

An Early Learning City is community that give parents the tools, advice and support they need to help their children be ready for kindergarten. From healthcare to business, everyone has a part to play.

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