Unlocking Every Child’s Potential and Raising Kindergarten Readiness
HELP ME GROW Supporting Children’s Development and Building Brighter Futures
Multiple Benefits Arise From Reading Initiative
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Donte Sheppard
BUILDING BRAINS PROGRAM MANAGER
Imagine building a magnificent structure from tiny, individual blocks. Each block is crucial for the stability and grandeur of the structure. Similarly, raising a child involves experiences and interactions that act as critical building blocks for their brain. Research shows that 85% of a child’s brain develops by age three, forming the cornerstone of their cognitive, emotional and social growth. This highlights the importance for parents, educators and the community to positively influence a child’s early years.
Since 2017, the Studer Community Institute (SCI) has committed to enhancing kindergarten readiness in Escambia County, Florida. Their mission is to ensure every child enters school ready for success. Through research and innovative tools, SCI has pioneered initiatives to lay strong building blocks for our children’s futures. This dedication yields tangible results, with kindergarten readiness scores improving, reflecting the collaborative efforts of families, educators and communities.
A key strategy has been engaging over 5,000 parents, providing them with crucial information and resources. Facilitated through local hospitals, parents
To improve the quality of life for all people in the diverse communities we serve.
The Studer Community Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
The Studer Community Institute is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 47-5657008) and is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to solicit contributions (Registration #CH48388). Donors can deduct contributions under Internal Revenue Code section 170.
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.
Bert Thornton
Bruce Watson
Joy Powell
Kathy Sandstrom
Katie Crawford
Laura Jackson
Mort O'Sullivan
Quint Studer
Shannon Libbert
Sena Maddison
Sonshine Moorer
Van Mansker
Will Dunaway
LEARN MORE BY VISITING STUDERI.ORG
receive guidance on fostering early development, from brain-stimulating play tips to creating nurturing environments. The ultimate goal is to ensure every child has a healthy start, from prenatal care to toddler development. By empowering parents, SCI shapes future leaders, innovators and problem-solvers.
You can be a crucial part of this mission. Be the block that builds a child and our community. Your involvement can make a difference, whether you’re a parent, educator, healthcare provider or community member. Reading to a child, engaging in meaningful conversations and providing emotional support significantly contribute to a child’s brain development.
Building a child’s brain is like constructing a grand structure, block by block. Each interaction and supportive gesture lays a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and growth. The Studer Community Institute’s work exemplifies the collective effort needed to shape society and our children’s futures. Let’s commit to being the building blocks that foster a thriving, resilient and intelligent future generation. Together, we can ensure every child has a strong foundation for a brighter tomorrow.
Informing, equipping, and supporting parents is key to raising kindergarten readiness rates
Science and passion explain the effort
Help Me Grow Escambia empowers families through early intervention
Providing parents with critical support, education and coaching
Big brothers and sisters can build brains, too
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BY Steve Nissim STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
We all want to live in a community where every child is given the chance to be the best they can be. This is possible when all parents have the knowledge and tools to build their baby’s brain from day one, because the opportunities and resources to grow young brains are everywhere.
Studer Community Institute is committed to making the Pensacola area an Early Learning Community. So much is being accomplished through initiatives, partnerships, outreach and coordination, with more work ahead to reach our shared goals.
Extremely low kindergarten readiness rates in Escambia County were the
impetus for SCI to get into the business of “Building Brains” and create a partnership with Dr. Dana Suskind from the Thirty Million Words Center at the University of Chicago. Her research shows that around 85% of the brain is developed in the first three years of life, and the number of words a child hears in that critical stretch, creating a positive language environment, is the key to unlocking their potential.
Working with experts, SCI developed programs to inform, equip and support parents on the importance of early brain development. It’s essential to ensure children are ready for kindergarten and on a path to success.
The effort starts where life starts. SCI has partnered with all Pensacola
area hospitals (Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist, HCA Florida West and Santa Rosa Medical Center) to provide difference-making information for every baby born in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Parents are shown the Build A Brain video and receive a Brain Bag filled with resources.
Based on research by Dr. Suskind, the video is four and a half minutes long and can be a life changer for parents. It offers many easy-to-grasp and utilize takeaways on why early brain development is so important and what they can do about it.
“It’s really reassuring how easy it is for brain development,” said first-time dad Craig Johnson after watching the video. “Just talk and be proactive with the baby.
It’s nice to know that’s developing the brain. That video helped a lot for me.”
The Brain Bag is filled with resources to equip parents for the job. Most importantly, the Baby Steps book is a milestone guide for brain development. It tells them what they should be seeing at different stages and includes questions to ask their pediatrician.
“I’m definitely excited to read into the milestones because I wasn’t sure what her milestones should look like,” said first-time mom Kayton Baker.
The effort to reach every family in the hospital continues to become more efficient. In 2023, almost 90% of new parents (over 6,000 total births) in the Pensacola area received a Brain Bag, the most since SCI started the project in 2018.
After leaving the hospital, support continues by signing parents up for Basics Insights text messaging service. Developed by Harvard professor Dr. Ronald Ferguson, the free program sends texts twice a week throughout the first three years of life with science-based tips, activities and reminders to foster brain development.
SCI signed up over 1500 parents in 2023, a nearly 40% jump from the year before. “One of the best tips is to constantly communicate with my daughter. She’s so young; I didn’t think that she would even comprehend. But little did I know, she’s learning, so you have to keep communicating with her,” said new dad Ivory McDonald. “I think that was so instrumental because I did not know those things.”
The information and resources are proving a difference maker for so many families. “They helped me learn some things that I didn't know with my two other kids, especially about their brain development and how it kicks in (so early),” said mom of three Dee Dee Malone. “I have noticed a difference between him (her new baby) and my other two children, with me interacting more with him.”
Another SCI program making an impact is Sibling Brain Builders (see the full article in this magazine), which empowers third through fifth graders to read to younger siblings at home, helping them
SCI proudly partners with local hospitals to provide essential information for the parents of babies born in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, thus nurturing the mission to improve the quality of life for people in the Pensacola area.
make an effort to build brains while also improving their reading skills.
SCI’s “Building Brains” work is part of the larger vision to create an Early Learning Community. Collaboration, joint planning, shared resources and cross-promotion between the Pensacola area’s many organizations focused on early learning are key to maximizing the impact for everyone. VPK registration, deficiency screening, eliminating barriers for lowincome families and numerous health initiatives are among the complementary efforts that are making an impact.
All the work is producing signs of progress. Kindergarten Readiness scores recently released by the Florida Department of Education show that 50% of Escambia County children were ready for kindergarten in 2023, up 5% from 2022 (45%) and 8% since 2021 (42%). Moving the needle on kindergarten readiness is a critical measure of success.
“We’re thrilled to be part of making a difference,” said SCI executive director Katie Ballard. “But the work is far from over. While the news is encouraging, 50% of kids being ready for kindergarten means 50% are not. We are dedicated to continuing to work with our partners in the community to keep the momentum going.”
Learn more about SCI’s Building Brains program and how you can help at studeri.org/EarlyLearningCity.
Help us build an Early Learning Community by donating to SCI’s pivotal Building Brains work!
BY Steve Nissim STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
Saying that your goal is to give every child the opportunity to be the best they can be, immediately earns a lot of head nods and support. But digging a little deeper to really show the “why” behind the Studer Community Institute’s (SCI) Building Brains Program inspires a high level of buy-in.
That’s the aim of the SCI Building Brains “Why” video. In under four minutes, hearing from people who created, inspired, implemented and benefited tells the tale of why it’s so important.
Naturally, it starts with the man who envisioned the program, SCI founder Quint Studer, sharing his why—“I just think every child deserves every chance to be as successful as they can be. So, how do we optimize somebody’s human potential?”
That’s where the science comes in from Dr. Dana Suskind, the brilliant surgeon and researcher at the University Of Chicago who founded the Thirty Million Words Center. Suskind inspired and collaborated on SCI’s programs, starting with her first visit to Pensacola in 2016. After briefly
explaining the brain science (85% of the brain is developed in the first three years of life, with nurturing talk and interaction as the key factors), Suskind exclaims, “It is and has always been about the power of parents."
That sparked and guided the development of SCI’s programs to inform, equip and support parents on the pivotal importance of early brain development.
Hospitals play a critical role in reaching the parents right from the start. “We do the hearing test while they’re in the hospital. We teach breastfeeding and show moms how to bathe their babies when they are in the hospital,” said Studer. “Just like I want their child to be fed well, to be bathed well, I want them to be able to learn.”
Baptist Health Care’s motherbaby nurse, Catherine Koveleski, has been implementing the program since 2019. She’s become so invested and a model for how to make the connection with parents. “It’s putting their child behind when they’re not talking to their baby, looking them in the eye,” Koveleski shares in the video, “and once you tell them, we all love our children, we see that light go off, that they want to do the right thing and they want to build their baby’s brain and be a good parent.”
Of course, the biggest payoff of the work is the impact on parents, which is a key element of the video. Moms and dads expressing how the information affected them and their children’s lives shows
what “Building Brains” is all about. It would be tough not to be sold after hearing Denisha Rogers say, “He (her son) got a little more of the energy and love because I was learning. It’s not just school that teaches them. They learn at home as well,” or Kristen Pesce share, “I felt so important, and it made it more important. We have this kid here who is going to grow, and we get to develop him instead of wondering what kind of tools we needed; it was here’s the tools that we needed.”
The results are starting to show with rising kindergarten readiness rates in Escambia County. That hammers home the importance of Studer’s declaration toward the end of the video—“Every day we miss is a day that we take away from that child’s potential to have success.”
It’s Koveleski who gets the last word and sums up “why” we all should be invested — “Just something so simple from the very beginning, right after the baby’s birth, is hopefully changing the community over time.”
Watch the SCI Building Brains “Why” video
The early years are a whirlwind of discovery for children. From mastering new sounds to taking those first wobbly steps, these formative years lay the groundwork for a lifetime of learning and success. But what happens when a child’s development doesn’t quite follow the expected path?
Help Me Grow Escambia: A New Resource for Early Intervention in Escambia County Escambia County families can now benefit from a new and valuable resource for their child’s development: Help Me Grow Escambia. This program is an affiliate of the Help Me Grow Florida network and is supported by The Arc Gateway and by funding from Escambia Children’s Trust.
Free Developmental Screenings and Family Support
Help Me Grow Escambia provides free developmental screenings for children ages birth to eight. These screenings assess a child’s progress in crucial areas like social skills, communication, motor skills and cognitive abilities to identify potential developmental delays. Early intervention is critical—research shows that nearly 80% of brain development occurs by age three. By addressing challenges during this window, Help Me Grow Escambia can significantly improve a child’s long-term outcomes, preparing them for social interaction, effective communication and academic success. Studies have shown that children who receive early intervention are less likely to require special education services later in school.
Our Unique Strength: Early Intervention Services for Ages 0–3 Help Me Grow Escambia stands out from other Help Me Grow programs in the fact that they are the only Help Me Grow that offers early intervention services directly for children ages birth to three. This means a team of Infant and Toddler Developmental Specialists (ITDS) works directly with families, employing engaging activities and strategies tailored to each child’s needs. This personalized approach
Scan to begin a free screening.
Reach out to the Help Me Grow Escambia team at (850) 378-0322 or visit their website at helpmegrowescambia.org.
ensures your child receives the support they need to thrive, whether in the comfort of your home, the child’s daycare or even at the Pearl Nelson Center’s play area.
Collaboration for Success Help Me Grow Escambia leverages strong community partnerships to further support families. Their collaboration with Pearl Nelson Center, a co-located facility offering early intervention and pediatric therapy services, allows specialists to provide consultation and tailored strategies that seamlessly integrate into a child’s daily activities.
Empowering Parents, Building a Brighter Future Help Me Grow Escambia’s mission goes beyond providing services. They strive to empower families to become active participants in their child’s development. By offering screenings, support services and valuable resources, they equip families with the tools to nurture their child’s growth and unlock their full potential. If you have questions about your child’s development or are interested in learning more about Help Me Grow Escambia’s services, reach out today. Together, we can ensure that every child in Escambia County has the opportunity to thrive.
Dear Mom and Dad, Congratulations! Your journey as parents is just beginning. This is such a wonderful time, but we know it can also be overwhelming and scary. Healthy Start believes in you and your parenting and is here for you and your baby. Here is how we can help and be your ally in parenting.
New parents have dedicated resources available to them, free of charge, to help guide them through childbirth and beyond
the number of low-birth-weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes for all of Florida’s babies.
Healthy Start Care Coordinators provide support, including assistance finding a doctor, nutrition education, help to quit smoking, childbirth classes, breastfeeding support and education and interconception care. Women can be screened by their obstetric provider or self-refer to be eligible for Healthy Start services during pregnancy or after delivery.
Healthy State Care coordinators Jackie Mitchell and Margaret Blakely helped an expectant mother, Destiny, into prenatal care, which identified pregnancy complications leading to premature birth and diagnosis of a severe lifethreatening illness. Throughout her baby’s treatment, staff worked closely to provide education, support and resources to ensure a healthy outcome for mother and baby. Now, Destiny and her son
At Healthy Start, we provide a customized care coordination plan for moms to address their needs to keep mom and baby healthy. We offer a wide variety of programs and services, including:
Connect (Coordinated Intake and Referral):
Our coordinated intake and referral process ensures the optimal fit for families and eases their access to vital services. Simultaneously, it streamlines program enrollment and retention, reduces service duplication and builds a broader system of care. Connect programming helps pregnant women and new mothers with a one-stop entry point for essential services such as education and support in childbirth, newborn care, child development, food and nutrition, mental health services and self-sufficiency.
T.E.A.M. Dad: Many new fathers struggle to figure out their role when their wife or partner has a baby. Our new fatherhood program offers education, training and support to help men become responsible, engaged and empowered fathers their children need.
Our program can help with parenting and coparenting education, improving child development, building healthy family and community relationships, workforce development, economic stability and personal development.
Safe Sleep Ambassadors: Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition’s Safe Sleep program educates the community about the importance of providing a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of accidental suffocation injuries and deaths of babies in our community. In addition, we provide free Pack and Play cribs to Escambia County’s most vulnerable infants and children, largely thanks to the generosity of community members and donors.
Stork Stock: With gratitude for the overwhelming support of our community, Healthy Start is proud to offer free diapers, wipes and formula to those most in need. Our Stork Stock inventory is available to families at no cost. We are so appreciative to our donors for their support of this critical lifeline for families.
Interested in enrolling in Healthy Start or T.E.A.M. Dad?
Please call (850) 696-2291 to connect with our services.
BY Steve Nissim STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
In Escambia County, big brothers and sisters are a growing part of the effort to build brains.
Studer Community Institute’s (SCI) Sibling Brain Builders program empowers third through fifth graders to read to younger siblings at home, exposing them to more words and helping build their brains. The students turn in reading logs and are incentivized by gifts from SCI, including books, food and toys. At least seven elementary schools in Escambia County have participated in the program since it started in 2019.
The outreach is going further in 2024. Through an agreement with the Escambia County Public School District, Sibling Brain Builders is expanding to all four of the district’s underperforming elementary schools. Ensley, Global Learning Academy,
Comprehension is enhanced, literacy is fostered and fluency is boosted as siblings read to their younger counterparts.
Montclair and Warrington rolled out the program in May, with a full launch set for the fall school year.
Sibling Brain Builders is a big hit at Dixon School of Arts and Sciences, with an average of 30 kids participating in the last few years. “They have loved it, and it’s not just for the treat or the book we’re getting from the Studer Community Institute for reading,” said Dr. Kevin Kovacs, Dixon School principal. “They get this sense of purpose, this developing responsibility and this ownership of I’m not just reading for myself, but I’m
actually guiding and teaching someone else to read.”
C.A. Weis Elementary School has participated in the Sibling Brain Builders program since it started in 2019. It’s become a valuable resource for school librarian Jennifer Kemp. “It’s great because I just know the siblings, and I get a chance to ask them if they have a younger brother or sister and then give them that reading log and talk about how important it is,” said Kemp. “It’s just a part of the program in our media center now.”
There is science behind the effort as research shows that around 85% of the brain develops in the first three years of life, and the number of words a child hears in that critical stage is the key factor in unlocking their potential.
The young brain builders have come to realize the huge impact they are making. “I know that if I do that, they can graduate and become a doctor or a teacher, something like that; they’ll just be really smart,” said participating Weis student Neal Glass. It’s also been an inspiring mission for Joshua Matthews, a student at Dixon who reads to his younger sister— “She has been learning how to talk a lot quicker now because I kept on reading to her. It’s pretty cool because I know when she is older, she will
know how to read, and it's going to be partly from me.”
It turns out the program comes with an added benefit. The older kids who participate have seen huge improvements in their reading skills. “I’ve learned that it is fun to read because back then, I didn’t really like reading as much as I do now. It helped with my comprehension, too,” said Dixon student Ezekiel Chase. Kemp observed, “The benefits for the older child are so valuable and should not be overlooked because some of those older children might be shy to read in front of their peers, but they get a chance to read and actually improve their fluency by reading to their younger siblings.”
The Sibling Brain Builders program is a win for everyone, with grander payouts still to come. “When you interview or screen any incoming kindergartner, you want to see that they have some sense of a foundation, and these siblings are helping to develop that foundation. It’s just amazing and very, very helpful,” said Kovacs. “We’re just inspired by what the Studer Community Institute has brought to us.”
It’s another key initiative of SCI’s Building Brains efforts, with the goal to give every child the opportunity to be the best they can be and improve kindergarten readiness.
There is science behind the effort as research shows that around 85% of the brain develops in the first three years of life.
Watch
how Sibling Brain Builders is making making an impact at local schools.
Bringing a new life into the world is both exhilarating and overwhelming. As parents, you want to ensure your child has the best possible start in life, and a significant part of that is financial security. As your family grows and your children get older, finances only become more challenging but not impossible to manage. Here are some smart money moves that can help new and experienced parents build a strong financial foundation for their growing family.
The arrival of a baby brings new expenses such as diapers, baby formula, clothing, and medical care. It's essential to create a new family budget that accommodates these costs. Start by tracking your current expenses and identifying areas where you can cut back to make room for baby-related expenditures. Here are some steps to guide you:
• List all your monthly income sources.
• Categorize and list your fixed and variable expenses.
• Adjust discretionary spending to free up funds for baby-related costs.
• Use budgeting tools or apps to stay organized and monitor your progress.
By having a clear budget, you can ensure that your spending aligns with your financial goals and priorities, making it easier to manage the new costs that come with having a baby.
An emergency fund is key for financial stability, especially with a newborn. Aim to save three to six months' worth of living expenses to cover unexpected costs, such as medical emergencies or sudden job loss. Set a specific savings goal and timeline, then automate transfers from your checking account to your emergency fund. Reducing non-essential expenses can also boost your savings rate. Consider keeping your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account for better returns. Having a well-funded emergency fund provides peace of mind and financial security, ensuring that you can handle unexpected events without derailing your financial plans.
Childcare is a significant expense for many families. Start researching your options early, whether it’s daycare, a nanny, or a family member providing care. Compare costs and explore if your employer o ers any dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or childcare assistance programs. Research and compare local childcare providers and their fees, budget for additional costs like transportation, meals, and supplies, and consider the
long-term costs and plan accordingly. By planning ahead, you can manage childcare expenses more e ectively and make informed decisions that fit your family’s needs and budget.
Having a child can make you eligible for various tax benefits, such as the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Make sure you understand these benefits and take full advantage of them when filing your taxes. Keep detailed records of childcare expenses, consult a tax professional to ensure you’re claiming all eligible credits, and adjust your withholding if necessary to reflect your new family status. Exploring additional tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), can further reduce your tax burden. By leveraging available tax benefits, you can increase your available income to support your growing family.
Managing finances can be challenging, especially with a growing family. Consider consulting a trusted team to help you create a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your family's needs. At PenAir Credit Union, we understand the unique financial challenges that come with parenthood. Our Certified Financial Counselors are here to provide personalized guidance and support. They can help you create and adjust your family budget, as well as help you maximize your hard-earned dollars with a PenAir High-Yield Checking Account. Additionally, our Financial Counselors can help you develop a savings plan for your emergency fund, plan childcare and education expenses, maximize tax benefits, and understand financial aid options.
Our counselors are committed to helping you achieve financial stability and security. They o er one-on-one consultations to address your specific needs and goals, ensuring that you have a solid financial foundation to support your family. To get started, schedule a consultation with one of our Certified Financial Counselors, bring any relevant financial documents and questions to your appointment, and work together to create a personalized financial plan that aligns with your goals. By seeking professional financial advice, you can navigate the complexities of managing family finances with confidence and ease.
Building a strong financial foundation as new parents involves careful planning and disciplined money management. By creating a budget, saving for emergencies, planning for childcare costs, taking advantage of tax benefits, and seeking professional guidance from PenAir Credit Union’s Certified Financial Counselors, you can ensure a stable and prosperous future for your family. The financial decisions you make today will have a lasting impact on your child's well-being and opportunities.
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