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Thrive in Five

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A Collective Promise to Boston's Children Launched in 2008 by United Way and the City of Boston, Thrive in Five is a 10-year effort that for the first time aligns families, educators, health care and human service providers, the private sector, and city departments – working in collaboration with state agencies – to ensure that all children will be ready for sustained school success. Thrive in Five is based on an understanding that the collective effort of everyone involved in children’s lives will support their success: In the first few years of life, children’s brains develop at a faster pace than during any other time. That growth lays the foundation for all future development and learning. However, for many children the playing field upon school entry is far from level. Investing in children early is far more effective and efficient than treating problems at a later age. When children thrive through their first five years, they are poised to be strong lifelong learners, earners and engaged citizens. Progress toward universal school readiness will be reported regularly through Thrive in Five, Among the broader indicators to be tracked, Thrive in Five seeks to increase the percentage of:

  • Parents who report accessing information and resources they need to support their child’s development;
  • Nationally accredited early education and care programs in Boston;
  • New parents who are offered a newborn visit to connect to vital services;
  • Children ages birth to five screened for developmental delays, behavior issues and environmental risk factors – and connected with effective follow up services;
  • Parents who are civically engaged and registered to vote;
  • Circulation rate of picture books in the Boston Public Library system across neighborhoods.

Partners in the Thrive in Five initiative include:

  • United Way
  • The City of Boston
  • Children's Hospital Boston
  • Partners HealthCare and its founding hospitals, Brigham and Women’s and Mass. General Hospital, and
  • The Nellie Mae Education Foundation.