Capital Beginnings

Overview

Capital Beginnings is a dynamic early learning and school readiness initiative of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) serving children and families in the Capital Region. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities that improve school readiness by increasing the overall quality of early learning available to underserved children from birth to age five. This is vitally important because children who are not prepared for kindergarten, start behind, and stay behind throughout their entire school career.

History

The Capital Beginnings program was originally funded through a grant from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This grant program was eliminated in the 2012-2013 budget. TFEC, however, remains committed to this program and is actively seeking grant support to sustain the program.

Benefits

In order for a child to succeed, there needs to be a strong relationship between the family, school and the community. Studies have shown that for every $1.00 spent on high-quality early learning, $7.00 to $13.00 will be saved in future costs. Capital Beginnings partners with families, schools and community organizations to help children develop to their fullest potential.
Positive effort in early learning result in:

Capital Beginnings reaches children and families not currently being served in an early childhood program; children on waiting lists for Head Start, families in shelters and using food pantries, stay at home families and families where one or both parents are incarcerated.
Capital Beginnings promotoes the importance of early literacy by providing:

Lasting Changes

Capital Beginnings uses early literacy as the keystone of its engagement and education activities. The foundation for literacy is laid long before the child enters school. Early language skills, the basis for reading ability and school readiness, are based primarily on language exposure, resulting from parents and others talking to young children. However, one in four children grows up not learning how to read. Capital Beginnings uses early literacy as the cornerstone of all activities and works with a number of community partners to bring literacy and readiness to families in Dauphin County.

This program has an immediate, and long-term, positive affect on the lives of children in our community.

News & Events
For more information on any of these events, please contact Jeanne Predmore at jpredmore@tfec.org

Dauphin County Transition to Kindergarten Breakfast - May 21, 2013
	On Tuesday, May 21,Capital Beginnings will be hosting a Dauphin County Transition to Kindergarten Breakfast at Steelton-Highspire Elementary School library from 7:30 - 9:00 am. Please join us for a discussion about transitioning our children to kindergarten. This round table conversation, will be an opportunity for Kindergarten teachers, early learning providers, head start staff/teachers to promote positive transition practices for children entering kindergarten. This is free for anyone that attends. To RSVP please contact Jeanne Predmore by email at jpredmore@tfec.org or call 717-608-0974.
Early Literacy Day - June 2, 2013
	On Sunday, June 2, Capital Beginnings will be celebrating Early Literacy Day at the Harrisburg Senators game. Individuals are encouraged to bring a children's book to the game for a donation for other children and/or to participate in a book swap. There will be information about the importance of starting to read at a young age and every child will receive a book. Game starts at 2 pm; gates open at 12:30 pm. For more information, please contact Jeanne Predmore at jpredmore@tfec.org.

Is your child Ready & Registered for Kindergarten?

Click here for more information on school registration.
Click here for more information on kindergarten readiness.