The first 2,000 days matter

Published 10:00 pm Wednesday, June 18, 2014

There are only 2,000 days between the time a baby is born and when that child shows up in for the first day of kindergarten.
When we provide children with the experiences they need during their early years, we get a lifetime of results for our children, our state and our economy. The Partnership for Children of the Foothills invests in children in Polk, Rutherford and McDowell Counties, and works with many partners to ensure our children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.
“We believe our communities will grow stronger when we put the needs of our young children and their families first,” said Barry Gold, executive director.  “And, we know through research that high quality early education yields higher graduation rates, reduced crime, higher earnings and better jobs.”
The research also indicates that a child’s quality of life and the contributions he or she will make to society can be directly traced to the first few years of life, back to those first 2,000 days. As a result, economists estimate that every dollar invested in early education produces a ten percent return on investment through increased personal achievement and social productivity.
Early childhood investments produced sustained results at the local, state and national level and are critical to keeping the United States competitive in a global market.
To learn more, visit our website (http://www.rutherfordpolk.org) or call, 828-245-2802.
– article submitted
by Barry Gold

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