mission
Positive social and emotional development is critical to a healthy childhood. Our work in Healthy Child Development (HCD) supports the latest scientific research and innovative practices and programs to help prepare children for kindergarten and a lifetime of achievement.
updates
Connected Beginnings
Connected Beginnings Training Institute is a United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMB/MV) initiative which addresses the need for research based mental health training for professionals who interact with children ages birth to five. The institute provides, coordinates, and evaluates statewide mental health training to enhance the social and emotional well-being of young children within their families, their communities, and their early education and care programs.
Early Childhood System of Care Pilot Project
On February 2, 2007 United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMB/MV) released a request for proposals to all of its Boston-serving Healthy Child Development affiliates for a new Early Childhood System of Care (ESOC) Pilot Project. The initiative is envisioned as a four-year demonstration project supported with funds from UWMB's Millennium Fund.
Boston School Readiness Initiative
Under the leadership of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the City of Boston and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMB/MV) launched a city-wide school readiness initiative on December 5, 2006. The goal of this public-private partnership is to prevent the achievement gap in early childhood.
events, research & resources
Launch of Workforce Development Taskforce
In the fall of 2005, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMB/MV) and the Schott Fellowship in Early Care and Education convened a series of discussions among practitioners, policy makers, funders and higher education to define the necessary features of a viable statewide professional development plan. The ideas generated from this meeting series were published in a report - Making it Work: Creating a Professional Development System in MA for the early Education and Care and Out of School Time Workforce. This report was the first step in a continuing commitment by UWMB and the Schott Fellowship to support Department of Early Education and Care efforts to build such a system.
United Way staff
- Peg Sprague, VP - Community Impact (CI)
- Caroline Ross, Senior Director - Communty Impact (CI)
- Clare Sanford, Director - Community Impact (CI)
- Ligia Pena, Administrative Assistant - Community Impact (CI)