Lynn eligible for new United Way program

LYNN – Nonprofit organizations and early childhood care centers serving young, at-risk children in the city have been given an opportunity to apply for funding to help the United Way launch a new initiative called “Born Learning” this year.Lynn is one of 18 communities whose demographics make it eligible to receive funding for new program trials, which include activities that help young children develop language and literacy skills, motor skills and basic intelligence that will help them be more prepared for entering preschool or kindergarten.A 2009 study from the National Center for Education Statistics found that children living in poverty are less likely to have someone read to them, tell them stories or sing to them, which means most of the at-risk kids in the city may be heading to school with little to no educational foundation to build upon.United Way Studies have also shown that low-income children can begin kindergarten one to two years behind their counterparts for various reasons, including lack of time and knowledge about how and where to prepare children for school.In response to what has become a glaring problem in most urban communities, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is announcing the launch of Born Learning, which it describes as a public awareness campaign designed to provide families with information about how to turn everyday activities, from running errands to doing laundry, into learning opportunities for young children.The campaign is built upon the research that children are learning from the moment they are born and that even the smallest interactions with parents, grandparents and caregivers can encourage their development and school readiness.As part of the launch, United Way is announcing the availability of funding for the program trials.Lynn is one of 18 communities that will be eligible to apply for this funding. Applications are due on Oct. 9, 2009 and can be found at http://bornlearninghub.org.”You don’t need a lot of time or money to help a child learn,” said Michael Durkin, president and CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley. “With the opening of this Born Learning Trail and the funding for five more like it, we are launching a region-wide public awareness campaign aimed at connecting parents and caregivers to simple ways they can support their children’s learning.”