Discovery

Discovery is the second phase in the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund’s initiative for communities in the state of Connecticut.  The funding from the Children First Initiative was extended from seven to forty-nine communities in Connecticut in 2000.  Through Discovery these communities and other partners statewide are working with the Memorial Fund to improve the lives of young children from birth through age eight.  With focused attention on Parent Leadership & Engagement and in collaboration with early education, human service agencies, state and local organizations and each other, Discovery communities and their partners are pursuing four objectives:

• Expanding the supply of quality early education
• Improving the quality of existing early education
• Strengthening the connections between early care and elementary education
• Improving student social, emotional and academic performance

The Children First Norwich/School Readiness Council has taken on all four of the Discovery objectives with a particular focus on expanding the supply of quality early education and improving the quality of existing early education in Norwich.

The CFN/SR Council is a broad collaborative of people from human service agencies, education, early education and childcare, and other people with an interest in and passion for helping children and families be successful in Norwich.  An important task we will be working on this year is to update and expand our Community Report Card.  The Report Card, “A Snapshot of the Status and Well-Being of Young Children in Norwich” is a community-wide initiative that both celebrates the positive ways we help and nurture young children, and identifies the work that still needs to be done.  If you are interested in contributing to this update, please use the contact information provided.