This installment of Health Matters will talk with our friends from the Great Start for Great Futures Coalition about each of our roles in helping the children of Stark County realize their potential for a Great Future. We welcome Jen Griffing and Krista Allison to share their passion and vision for the youth in our community.

Talk First Stark - is a Stark County strategy geared towards families with children from prenatal to age 3. The initiative promotes the importance of language nutrition as the foundation for healthy growth during this critical time in a child's brain development. Progress made during the first 5 years of a child’s life is extremely predictive of future school successes and struggles. Kindergarten readiness predicts 3rd grade reading achievement, which predicts 8th grade math achievement, which predicts high school graduation, which predicts postsecondary attainment.

For more information about Talk First Stark visit http://www.edpartner.org

This is part of a series of four programs. Don’t miss Part 2, and Part 3 and Part 4 here.

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