United Way of Southern Cameron County – Success By 6

Mission: Children are prepared for a life of learning.

United Way of Southern Cameron County – Success By 6 is committed to ensuring that children birth to 6 years old are prepared for school and a life of learning by increasing access to educational activities and providing parents and caregivers with ideas for turning everyday activities into quality early learning opportunities, because we know that every child in Cameron County is Born Learning. For an events calendar
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What is Success By 6?

Success By 6 is not a program or a product or as tangible as a piece of software.

It is one of the most important efforts United Way can undertake to ensure children’s bright future.

It begins when leaders come together, focused on doing whatever it takes to ensure the health, well being and school readiness of children in our community. This directly contributes to southern Cameron County’s quality of life, educational success, competitive workforce, and economic strength.

Success By 6 offers a structure, an approach, guidelines and a research based path that United Way of Southern Cameron County is following. Simply put, Success By 6 is a process and framework for galvanizing communities to change lives. It’s a nexus for action. What does it mean to be a United Way Success By 6? Success By 6 is a public-private partnership of community leaders who galvanize around a common concern or shared vision. All children are ready to succeed when they enter school is the core value driving Success By 6 leaders in developing a comprehensive action plan to address short- and long-term needs of children in the community.

The United Way Success By 6 framework offers a common foundation of proven strategies. Success By 6 initiatives approach the task in a logical, methodical way: they assess the needs, map out resources and identify measurable outcomes that can truly move the needle. They create a plan for action that includes public, private and nonprofit partners – and takes into account existing services and supports.

Success By 6 Activities

Success By 6 has created culturally sensitive ways to bring Hispanic parents, grandparents, and family/friend caregivers together for socializing, children’s play and parenting support. Trained parent educators use Born Learning material to provide useful action steps along with coffee and pastries in neighborhood-based meriendas and Let’s Be P.A.L.S. meetings.

The United Way Children’s Book Club also provides children with access to reading opportunities and books on a monthly basis. Newborn Packets are distributed to new mothers with informational resources and support for parents. A Parent Resource Room is also available at the United Way office to the community.

Born Learning

Born Learning is a national public engagement campaign launched by United Way of America, Success By 6, Civitas, Families and Work Institute, and the Ad Council. Born Learning helps parents, caregivers and communities create early learning opportunities for young children.

This informational campaign provides printed materials to parents and caregivers. In addition, a series of television and radio Public Service Announcements help parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities for young children. This information can be found in community clinics, doctor’s offices, and other social service agencies in the community.

Four Born Learning Trails located throughout city parks provide parents and caregivers with specific, “doable” outcome driven games – that are fun and easy to do and can be replicated in other family outings as a way to build cognitive thinking skills and vocabulary critical for school readiness.

A series of signs offering educational games (approved by experts) guide adults on specific ways to develop learning games and suggest tips to use at home. This outdoor interactive early learning Trail consists of ten signs, each printed with playful, engaging activities based on early learning outcomes. When Mom, Dad, Tia Sarita, and Grandpa take their young child for a stroll in the park, they are able to combine fun, games and exercise while spending time together–all important components of early childhood learning.