Early Care & Education

Equitable Early Care and Education Takes a Village

Overview

Early child care and education is a critical need in our community. Research has consistently shown the importance of a child’s first eight years of life in their academic, emotional, and physical development. The quality and accessibility of early care and education impacts everyone in our community, and the need for widespread, collaborative action is urgent. Regardless of socioeconomic status, family tree, or current academic proficiencies, every child deserves the early care and education that will set them up for long-term well-being and success.

Community alignment around early care and education is necessary to achieve sustainable solutions for the betterment of Knoxville-Knox County youth, families, and society at large. United Way of Greater Knoxville has defined the following goals and objectives for the initiative.

Ensure child health, mental health, and development is on track beginning at birth.

Steward the network between supported and supportive families and communities.

Create and sustain reliable access to high quality learning environments from birth to age eight.

United Way of Greater Knoxville is launching a number of initiatives, events, and community-engagement opportunities to realize these goals, including the launch of Bright Start TN. You can learn more about the Bright Start program and how it sets children up for academic success here.

Our Initiative

United Way of Greater Knoxville’s Early Care and Education Impact Initiative aims to provide the health, psychosocial, and educational foundational supports needed to ensure long-term success of Knoxville’s children, from cradle to career.

Programs geared toward uniting the community and its resources around early care and education have shown to bring positive benefits to individuals and the community.

Reduced health, criminal justice system, and regional education costs.

Returns of $7 for every $1 invested in early care and education and $13 for every $1 invested in economically disadvantaged children.  

Helps to ensure the future economic efficiency and productivity of communities and society.

Increased health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes.

Contact Us

Want to learn more about early care and education?

Reach out to learn more about how we’re working to create a strong foundation that will help our young people succeed.