His preschool is the first classroom experience for Juan and its already already difficult to keep pace with the three-year-old’s insatiable hunger for learning.

Preparing children for success through early education and child care programs

Every day Juan walks into the room like he owns the place and sets about exploring and discovering with all of his senses. He’s surrounded by children and  child care workers from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Not only does he learn about language and literacy, his teachers have been specially trained by Volunteers of America to teach lessons about violence prevention, personal safety and how to socialize in healthy ways.

And he’s not the only one learning in his family. Juan’s mother, Marit, is finally clean and sober, and through Volunteers of America’s Child Care Assistance Program she is able to afford child care while she attends classes at the community college. "My son is my entire life," says Marit. "I cannot underestimate the value of finding someone to truly care for him while I am able to attend school. Volunteers of America is helping prepare both of us for a better life."  

Creating a network of support for families and children

About half of US children start kindergarten unprepared, and children like Juan, who comes from low-income and struggling homes, are the most at risk.   Studies show how critical it is to combat this and to help kids feel successful from the VERY START.   It could literally mean the difference for their lives.

We aim to improve school-readiness by offering local child care providers easy, centralized information about appropriate training and resources. We provide access to books and literature to develop strong literacy skills, and a love for reading. We also recognize that as children grow, they need positive role models or mentors. Programs like Mentoring Children of Promise and Words Travel  support children and families with an incarcerated parent, giving children and young people positive life experiences upon which to draw. As a whole our Family and Children’s Services offer support and care for the future itself: western Washington’s children.

Learn more through information on this web site, or contact us by email or 800-633-3183.