Ready, Set, Grow…CT Kids! is a nonpartisan statewide campaign to build public support for the goal of ensuring that all Connecticut children born beginning in 2004 enter kindergarten healthy and ready for school success.
The campaign will recruit "Friends of CT's Young Children" and engage "Children's Champions" to press for supports and resources essential to accomplishment of the public goal.
While Ready, Set, Grow does not itself deliver early childhood services, it is a major component in the effort to create a greater sense of priority among policy makers, encouraging them to seek effective solutions to Connecticut's crisis in school readiness.
Who is Ready, Set, Grow…CT Kids!?
Ready, Set, Grow is a collaboration of Friends, Children's Champions, and Partners who are committed to building strong, public support for the public goal of “all children ready”.
Friends of Connecticut’s Young Children: These are adults who publicly support the goal of “all children ready” by adding their name to the growing [1] online list of Friends. We hope to enlist one Friend for every Connecticut child under the age of five. Ready, Set, Grow requires nothing more of its Friends than permission to use their name in public support of the public goal. In order to keep Friends informed about the progress of the campaign, we provide periodic electronic and print updates.
Children’s Champions: Champions are Friends who have agreed to take some public action on behalf of the public goal. We believe that at least 10% of Ready, Set, Grow Friends will become Children’s Champions. Many are actually Champions already by virtue of their everyday work. [2] Some examples of the work of Children’s Champions include inviting others to become Friends, hosting meetings to talk about early childhood investment, and supporting the local work of the Discovery Community Initiative or School Readiness Councils. Like Friends, Children’s Champions will be recognized on the Ready, Set, Grow…CT Kids! website.
Partners: Partners are organizations and associations that endorse the public goal and contribute substantial resources (time/expertise/funding) to the campaign.
Why do you need all of these Friends and Champions?
It is estimated that up to a third of Connecticut’s five year olds enter kindergarten unready for school success. We all have a stake in closing this “preparation gap” – parents and mayors, businesses and grandparents, providers, funders, legislators and advocates. But, sometimes our state and local leaders need a little encouragement to do the right thing. We believe that when thousands of Friends and Champions express their support for the goal of “all children ready” our state and local leaders will listen and act.
When I sign up as a Friend, what will you do with my name?
We will list your name, your city, and if you wish, your organizational affiliation and job title on our website as a supporter of the public goal. No other information will be posted, and we will keep your address, phone number, and email address strictly confidential. Ready, Set, Grow respects your [3] privacy. We will never sell or give your personal information to any other organization. You can remove yourself completely from our database at any time.Does Ready, Set, Grow solicit donations?
Ready, Set, Grow…CT Kids! is currently funded entirely by foundation grants. With additional support, the campaign could reach even more Friends and support even more Champions. We appreciate and accept donations, but they are not required for participation in the campaign. We do reserve the right to occasionally contact Friends, Champions, and Partners with opportunities to contribute financially, should they choose to do so.
I want to recruit more Friends … what should I do?
Thank you for turning your Friendship into action. You are now a Children’s Champion. Here are some ideas that we have gathered from other Champions who have successfully recruited new Friends:
[1]: http://www.readysetgrowctkids.org/friends/friends.cgi?action=list
[2]: http://www.readysetgrowctkids.org/chatter.html
[3]: http://www.readysetgrowctkids.org/privacy.html
[4]: http://www.readysetgrowctkids.org/media/rsgbrochure.pdf
[5]: http://www.readysetgrowctkids.org/media/rsgbrochure.pdf