Early Learning Program

Preschool for children ages 3 to 5

In Fall/Winter 2008, First Place will open a Preschool program.

First Place Preschool has two primary goals:
• To ensure that children are ready for kindergarten.
• To improve overall services to families coming through First Place by locating an additional service at the same location.
• To offer a high quality preschool program to families living in transition, and who live in the Central Area Neighborhood.

Last year at First Place, 9 of the 10 Kindergarten students began the school year lacking basic skills such knowing letters and numbers.

A recent evaluation by the Sound Families Initiative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation states:

“Lack of access to high-quality preschool programs prevents homeless children from being prepared for kindergarten. They lack the necessary pre-academic and social skills that will help them succeed in school.”

First Place wants each child to have the chance to succeed. The First Place Preschool offers families with highly complicated and chaotic lives an accessible, barrier-free opportunity to enroll their children in preschool at the same place they are receiving supportive services.

The Preschool Program will enroll both children whose families are struggling with poverty, and also open enrollment to the community.

To learn what additional services offered to the families with children enrolled in Preschool, please read about our Family Support Services program and Education program.

For more information, please contact Robyn Govan, Deputy Executive Director, (206) 323-6715.