A couple years ago, Meritsabel began noticing that her then-two-year-old son was showing signs of speech delays. “Raziel’s always had lots on his mind,” Meritsabel says, “and he lets you know.” She smiles as she recalls her son’s persistence. “He’d keep trying to say what he wanted until he got the words right or had his need met, but I could tell that Raziel was having trouble.”
She knew about a nonprofit that could help. Kids’ Corps, Inc. focuses on Alaskan families who qualify for services to help their children from birth to five-years-old. It also happens to be one of United Way of Anchorage’s funded partners and a Head Start grantee. Kids’ Corps has a whole-family approach to education, health, family services and parent involvement. It also runs a program that offers information and assistance to enhance parents’ interactions with their developing child.
Meritsabel’s family joined its Parents as First Teachers program. Raziel was assigned Miss Miriam as their home visiting professional. “Twice a month, for about one-and-a-half years, she came over with plans, materials and handouts about developmental milestones,” says Meritsabel.
Soon after the visits began, she took Raziel to a Kids’ Corps vision and hearing screening event. His results confirmed Meritsabel’s concerns: He needed speech therapy. Miss Miriam continued helping them at their home and integrated activities that encouraged Raziel to talk. This August, he started preschool at Kids’ Corps. Meritsabel exclaims, “Everything he learned is showing!”
Kids’ Corps believes that every child should be empowered to reach their potential, and their vision aligns with ours. Empowerment starts in childhood. Both our organizations foster a diverse, vibrant community where everyone can achieve their potential. We at United Way advance this work by engaging in results-focused collaboration with Alaska nonprofits—many of whom we fund as partners.
Families and children are getting the support that they need now and for the future, thanks to Kids’ Corps. It offers half-day and full-day preschool and childcare along with the Parents as First Teachers program, which allows families to receive their children’s services at home.
This assistance prepares them to start Kindergarten ready to learn in their classrooms with other students. Education gives kids a solid foundation from which to grow today so later they thrive. They’re prepared to succeed in high school and after graduation—where other initiatives, programs, resources, services and supports await them and all they will achieve.
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