Pritzker Children's Initiative
Ready, Set, Grow!
Countless studies have proven that access to high-quality early care and educational opportunities, particularly in the first 1000 days of life, is critical to long-term academic success. Additionally, maternal health, both emotional and physical, is the foundation for the first 1000 days of a child’s life. Positive development and experiences in a child’s earliest years have a lasting impact on employment, lifetime earnings, college attendance, and health.
In partnership with Pritzker Children’s Initiative and Alachua County Stakeholders; Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County, Alachua County Department of Health WIC office, and WellFlorida Council, the Children’s Trust of Alachua County are working to transform early childhood care and education in Alachua County through the following objectives and programs.
- Improve the quality and availability of infant early care and education services by increasing the number of Gold Seal providers.
- Increase participation rates of those living <200% FPL in existing federally, state, and locally funded maternal and infant health programs.
Our Initiative will support the following:
Healthy Beginnings
- Help Me Grow Alachua
- Family Partner at Comprehensive Women’s Health and Healthy Start
- NewboRN Home Visiting Program
- Gainesville Thrives-Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Supported Families
- Project Youth Build Parenting Program
- Family Resource Center – Community Navigator Program
- Family Leader Network – Coming Soon
- Early Childhood Collaboration and Fatherhood Initiative- Coming Soon
High-Quality Infant and Toddler Care
- Transformative Professional Development
- Business Leadership Institute for Early Learning Masterclass Cohort
- Accreditation Academy
- Children’s Forum
PCI has assembled resources and a team from renowned organizations to support the Pritzker and Community Fellows in executing their ambitious community plans for increasing access to high-quality prenatal-to-three services. The Pritzker Fellow and coalitions receive technical assistance, coaching, peer networking, and professional development through this team. Below is some information on the PCI team supporting the Alachua County PCI Community Innovation Grant.
About the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI)
For more than a decade, J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation has championed the mission of fostering effective solutions in early childhood and women’s health. Through its’ Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI), the J. B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation has created the prenatal to Age Three community grant to support the development of ambitious local plans in 29 communities across the United States. PCI’s vision is for every child to be supported in their physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development, beginning prenatally, to build a strong foundation for success in school and life. They aim to equitably build on locally-driven effort and maximize the best practices across child care, health, early childhood education, and human services that are addressing challenges facing infants, toddlers, and their families. Learn more about PCI by visiting their website.
About the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT)
Funded by PCI, National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT) is committed to advancing policies and programs that ensure families have the support they need to give their infants and toddlers the foundation for a strong start in life. NCIT helps supports national partners, early childhood leaders, advocates, policymakers, and practitioners from inside and outside state and local governments and provides consultation, support services, and opportunities to share what is working. Learn more about NCIT by visiting their website.
About Vital Village Network
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Vital Village is a network of residents and organizations committed to maximizing child, family, and community well-being. Their place-based community engagement network mobilizes collective investment from residents, community organizations, and institutions to seed scalable and sustainable community change around child protection. It promotes healthy social and emotional development in early childhood. They have expanded their national footprint to create the Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing (NOW) Innovation Forum and Learning Community. NOW is designed to foster peer learning that empowers community-based efforts to succeed. Learn more about Vital Village Network and NOW by visiting their website.
About BUILD Initiative
The BUILD Initiative is a national organization that advances early childhood and maternal health work to promote equitable, high-quality child- and family-serving systems that result in young children thriving and learning. Since 2002, the BUILD Initiative has created a community of support by partnering with state-based organizations, early childhood innovators, government agencies, philanthropies, business leaders, and others. Learn more about BUILD Initiative by visiting their website.
