About half of the children in the United States start kindergarten unprepared. Children who live in low-income and unstable homes are the most at risk for not being school-ready.

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Compared to similar children who do not attend, children in ECEAP preschools are:

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• healthier when they start kindergarten

• more likely to graduate from high school and go onto college

• more likely to be employed and to earn more as an adult

• less likely to be in special education or repeat a grade

• less likely to become pregnant as a teen

• less likely to become involved in a crime

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Volunteers of America Western Washington improves these risks by offering Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) preschool programs in Everett, Sultan, and Monroe.

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In addition to academics, our ECEAP staff have always supported our students' families to ensure they have what they need to grow and succeed together. We proudly continue our family support by:

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• providing home connection materials to students for hands-on learning

• regularly delivering food to our families

• connecting our families with the resources they need, including finding qualifying funding through VOA's North Sound 211 program

• staying in contact with our families to support them through any challenges or needs