BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- Taking those first steps toward reading is so important, a Tristate partnership of businesses, schools and social service agencies is calling it "early work force development."
The idea is to promote children's literacy while involving families, Covington School Superintendent James Kemp said Tuesday during a kickoff event at the James E. Biggs Early Childhood Education Center.
The Steps to Reading program is a partnership among Northern Kentucky Head Start, Children Inc., the Biggs Center, the Hamilton County Community Action Agency and Fidelity Investments.
The education centers and day cares develop courses to promote learning and reading for children between the ages of 2 and 5. Fidelity provides the funding.
"We want to encourage early parent involvement," said Kevin Canafax, Fidelity's director of Midwest communications. "If we can get to that level, hopefully we can get a lot of support." At the Biggs Center, parent involvement is almost a requirement. Mary Bedinghaus, whose two children attend Biggs, often volunteers her time.
"I like the fact that everyone on the staff listens to what you say and everyone works with you," Ms. Bedinghaus said.
Jenny Zumdick, whose daughter Gracie attends Biggs, said she likes the center's welcoming atmosphere.
What educators do at the Biggs Center is getting regional and statewide attention.
"I know in Kentucky we're not starting from scratch. We've got models like yours," said Nikki Patton, a volunteer adviser with the Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development and Gov. Paul Patton's daughter.
Ms. Patton spoke Tuesday at the Biggs Center about the early childhood development office and her plans to look for the best practices in the state. She wants to bring Gov. Patton to see the Biggs Center and talk with parents.
The partnership is also a model that other communities in the state could follow, Mr. Canafax said.
"Our hope is that other businesses get involved," Mr. Canafax said. "We don't want parent involvement to end in the classroom." The office's goal is to make child development a priority, setting up programs in communities that serve children from the prenatal stage to age 5.
"We're talking about making investments," Ms. Patton said. "This isn't about new programs. It's about supporting parents doing what they do best -- raising their children."
