United Way of Weld County officials announced that the Promises for Children Early Childhood Council was selected for funding of the Family, Friend and Neighbor Providers Advancing School Outcomes (PASO) program.

Promises for Children and Child Care Services will work with non-licensed Latina – Spanish speaking – childcare providers who care for Latino children from birth to 5 years of age in their homes. These care providers are family, a friend, or a neighbor (FFN) who have little or no training in early childhood education and are committed to completing the training program. Mentoring support is provided by PASO Tias.  A bi-lingual Tia (mentor) will visit with enrolled providers for practical support on implementing information learned in training sessions.

The goal of the PASO program is to increase the quality of learning services for Latino children so they will enter school ready to learn, reducing the achievement gap that exists between Latino and non Latino children in the Greeley area.

“This grant will assist with Promises for Children’s efforts to reduce the achievement gap that exists for many Latino children when they enter the school system,” said Promises for Children Director, Sheila Watson.  “We are very excited to have the opportunity to educate and train this group of childcare providers how to teach school readiness skills and create a strong foundation for the children they are responsible for. At United Way we want all children to enter school ready to learn.”

The program will replicate the existing PASO program in Boulder and will be housed at United Way of Weld County until 2011.  The grant received is over $167,000 and will help Latino children be successful in school.

For information about the PASO program contact United Way of Weld County at
970-353-4300 or visit www.unitedway-weld.org