Early Childhood
Corning Promise recognizes that “children’s lives are intertwined with the life of their whole community” (The Context of Meaning of Family Strengthening in Indian America) and early gains in the first years of life have enormous impacts on the child’s future. “We cannot afford to postpone investing in children until they become adults, nor can we wait until they reach school age—a time when it may be too late to intervene. Learning is a dynamic process and is most effective when it begins at a young age and continues through to adulthood.” (Heckman 2000, pg. 50) A supportive, healthy start at this stage, from a safe and loving home to the early stages of formal schooling, ensures children develop skills that set them up for emotional, academic and life-long succes
Our Corning Promise Vision
Corning Promise envisions a community where our youngest children are supported in their development to become strong, vibrant and healthy individuals, with strong foundational skills that set them up for life-long success. Parents, as children’s first teacher are acknowledged as pivotal figures in the child’s development. An emphasis on early childhood development and school readiness supports sets our students up for success throughout their years at Corning schools.
What we’re doing
The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indian tribe collaborates with regional organizations to supports the youngest learners by investing in a comprehensive early childhood system that give young children and their families the support they need to thrive, including investing in early learning, family supports and mental health programs, supporting parent development, and building high-quality learning programs.
The strategies supported through Corning Promise (Everett Freeman Promise Neighborhood) using federal and state Promise Neighborhood grant funds include:
- Recreation and Enrichment (ballet, tiny tots learning, etc.)
- Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) classes offered to families
- Home Visiting Program using Parents As Teacher curriculum
- Screening and developmental Tracking of children under 5
- Strategic family support model (connect families to community services and resources)
- Postpartum Support International Program – develop professional capacity of providers
Partnerships
City of Corning * First 5 Tehama * Northern California Child Development, Inc. (NCCDI) * River Cities Counseling (RCC) * Tehama County Department of Education (School Readiness and State Preschool), partnered with seven center-based private, state, and Early/Head start programs in Corning * Tehama County Health Services Agency (TCHSA – Healthy Family American/Healthy Beginnings) * Center for Optimal Brain Integration * Tehama County Library * TCDE - Help Me Grow