Education – FACCES – Family Adolescent & Child Community Engagement Service

Building a Strong Foundation Prenatal to Kindergarten

Starting Strong: A Family’s Guide from Prenatal to Pre-K

As a parent, your child’s future begins with the choices and actions you make today. From the earliest days of life, every step you take plays a crucial role in shaping their path to success. Whether you’re welcoming a newborn into your family or guiding your child toward kindergarten, now is the time to focus on the support, connection, and resources that will help them thrive.

Born Ready: Prenatal to 12 Months – Your Well-Being Matters

How are you feeling, parent? When you thrive, your baby thrives. The transition into parenthood can bring a whirlwind of emotions and changes, but it’s important to remember: you are the foundation of your child’s well-being. Research shows that social connections and support networks are key to managing stress and adjusting to these life changes.

In 2024, the Baby on Board Social Club launched—an opportunity for parents in our community to connect, share experiences, and focus on their own well-being in a welcoming environment. Whether you’re a first-time parent or you’ve been through it before, building strong relationships with others can help you navigate this exciting (and sometimes overwhelming!) time.

Join us to meet other families, share stories, and access valuable resources to support your parenting journey.

Click here to learn more about our Baby on Board Social Club.

Baby on board events

baby on board platform

Independence Ready: Newborn to Kindergarten – Preparing for the Big Step

Is your child ready for kindergarten? Whether they’re just starting their readiness journey or already preparing for their first day of school, now is the time to take action. Starting early can make a huge difference in setting your child up for success when they enter the classroom.

For families with children about to start kindergarten, it’s essential to assess how ready they are for this new chapter. Have you had your child’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Revised (KRA-R)? This assessment provides insights into your child’s development and will help you plan for their academic and social growth. This assessment is completed by the school your child will attend. FACCES K Ready Ohio can support you in developing your child’s skills to be kindergarten ready!

Tip: If your child is already in kindergarten, be sure to request their KRA-R report from their teacher and upload it into FACCES K Ready Ohio. The earlier you take action, the better equipped your child will be to transition smoothly into their educational journey.

Click here to access our Kindergarten Transition Toolkit and upload your child’s KRA-R scores to FACCES K Ready Ohio.

Upload kra scores

What’s Next? Let’s Stay Connected

At every stage of your child’s growth, it’s important to stay informed and connected. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of parenthood or preparing your child for kindergarten, our team is here to support you with resources, tools, and a community of families just like yours.

Don’t wait—your child’s future starts today. Take the first step now to help them thrive!

Feel free to reach out to FACCES by emailing education@thefacces.org or call (614) 319-6070.

FACCES Developmental Roadmap

Education – The FACCES Way!

We want to take you on a developmental journey across our Education Pillar. Buckle up because this remarkable ride spans from prenatal stages to adulthood, with important milestones along the way. Take a few minutes to listen to what the experts say, and then we will share all the FACCES programs and services that promote success for all the children and youth in your family.

Wow! The takeaway from the video is that early intervention is beneficial, yet it’s never too late to lay the foundation for lifelong health. Let’s explore all the ways FACCES can support your family’s developmental journey.

FACCES Developmental Roadmap:

Born Ready (Prenatal – 12 Months): At the end of this period, your babies are thriving and ready to engage with the world around them.

Independence Ready (12 Months to Kindergarten): At the end of this period, your young children are ready to do things by themselves.

Idea Ready (Kindergarten Through Elementary): At the end of this period, your children have the skills to figure things out on their own.

Breakthrough Ready (Middle School): At the end of this period, your youth understand who they are and their purpose.

Life Ready (High School): At the end of this period, your young adults have the skills and mindsets to be successful in a rapidly changing and complex world.

Learn more about our education programs at:

FACCES Parent SUpport services

The Big Table: Hearing the Voices of Our Families

FACCES Families & Community Conversation!

On September 25, 2024, FACCES hosted a Big Table discussion sponsored by the Columbus Foundation. This community-wide day of conversation empowers residents to discuss issues important to them.

Community members gathered around the FACCES Big Table to discuss the Future of Education providing everyone with an opportunity to reflect on the ever-changing landscape of education.

There were diverse voices at the table which provided unique perspectives enabling everyone to authentically share their personal feelings, ideas, beliefs, and solutions. An overarching theme was how important relationships are between all those in a community, families and school personnel in promoting good outcomes for children and youth. Many commented that what we were doing “having a conversation and really listening to one another” is something we don’t do enough off.

Thank you to all who participated in this important discussion; we look forward to using your feedback to foster meaningful change.

If you haven’t already, we invite you to take our quick five-question survey to help FACCES continue to better understand and serve families in our community!

quick survey

Free FACCES K-12th Grade Summer Program

Empowering Minds and Hearts

Families in the City of Columbus can look forward to an exciting summer ahead with the launch of the FACCES 2024 Summer Education Program. Scheduled to run from June 3rd to August 15th, this program is specially designed for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The program promises a diverse range of activities throughout the summer, including engaging field trips, community programs, and abundant opportunities for creative expression. Additionally, youth aged 14 to 17 can benefit from our career readiness, life skills, and job program with a starting pay of $15 per hour. With limited spaces available, registration for the program is now open. Don’t miss this chance to enrich your child’s summer with fun, educational, and rewarding experiences at FACCES 2024 Summer Education Program.

Click Here to Register!

Spotlight on Education

We are thrilled to bring this special family gathering, highlighting education, to you and your family! Our education pillar is focused on powering potential from birth to adulthood. As a parent or caregiver, it is such an important responsibility to decide which options are best for your children.

Your child is unique, deserving an educational approach tailored to their individual needs and interests. We want this virtual meeting to provide valuable insights as you and your child embark on their journey towards academic and life success.

FACCES K Ready Ohio

FACCES K Ready Ohio is our online kindergarten readiness platform for Ohio families with children under the age of six years. You can access FACCES K Ready Ohio 24/7 from any mobile device. FACCES K Ready Ohio equips you with the tools and resources necessary to support your child’s readiness for kindergarten and beyond.

We are currently serving children in Franklin County and in other areas across the state of Ohio. We’ve partnered with Early Childhood programs to support their families as well. We want to give a special shout out this month to the Columbus, Ohio families enrolled at Columbus Early Learning Centers, Fresh Start Learning Academy III, Future Scholars and Kids Care Academy who are actively engaging on the FACCES K Ready Ohio platform.

Your child doesn’t need to be in an early childhood program to participate. In fact, almost half of the families enrolled are not enrolled in a preschool or childcare center. In the new year, we have plans to visit Columbus Metropolitan Libraries during their Ready for K sessions so be on the lookout for us.

Your child’s success in school and in life starts today. Enrolling is easy, click on the following link FACCES K Ready Ohio – FACCES – Family Adolescent & Child Community Engagement Service (thefacces.org) and get started today. A feature that is a favorite amongst our families is the ability to create an individualized learning plan for your child with activities that you can do from the comfort of your home. Here is a short video about this cool feature Learning activities to support your child’s development (youtube.com)

For more information, please contact Jamie Gottesman at education@thefacces.org

FACCES Life Ready Afterschool & Summer Program

In partnership with Starting Point Learning Center, the Life Ready Ohio Afterschool & Summer Program, supported by 21st Century, is up and running. We were thrilled to support the young adults in our community in achieving their goals with the assistance of this grant.

We are hosting a “Pizza Party” and an information session on November 2, 2023 (sponsored by Papa Joe’s) Education: Life Ready Ohio Afterschool Program Pizza Party – FACCES – Family Adolescent & Child Community Engagement Service (thefacces.org) and November 9, 2023 (sponsored by Domino’s) from 2:45 pm to 5:45 pm Education: Life Ready Ohio Afterschool Program Pizza Party – FACCES – Family Adolescent & Child Community Engagement Service (thefacces.org) to share the exciting opportunities available to high school students who participate in the year-round program.

We know graduating is a big goal, and we are here to support their endeavors. In addition, we provide post-high school planning and coaching and access to Driver’s Education. We offer an individualized approach in a warm and friendly environment. While we prioritize Marion Franklin students, we can accept other high school students as space permits. There is a registration process to be added to the program list. Registration is now open!

FACCES K Ready Ohio – Will your child be ready?

Is your child ready?

There are about 2,000 days from when your child is born and when they enter kindergarten. Every one of these days’ matters! “Brains are built not born” (Jack Shonkoff) and a strong foundation is essential for future learning and success in both school and life.

FACCES K Ready Ohio is an online platform that provides 24/7 access to tools and resources to affirm, empower and educate you in your most important role as your child’s first and best teacher. Using your phone, you are a click away from understanding what you can do to support your child’s optimal development on this amazing journey. Click Here

For additional information email Jamie Gottesman at education@thefacces.org or join a FACCES K Ready Ohio Connect session. Click Here

FACCES Life Ready Ohio – 21st Century Grant

It’s been an exciting month for our sister organization, The Starting Point Learning Center. The program was awarded national accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This is an accomplishment and distinct honor as only 3% of early childhood programs in Franklin County are NAEYC accredited. The Starting Point Learning Center is also a 5-Star rated program; the highest rating awarded by Ohio.

In addition to these accomplishments, the Ohio Department of Education awarded them a 21st Century Grant. This collaborative effort with the Starting Point Learning Center will pave the way for supporting up to 50 students in 9^th to 12^th grades. A heartfelt acknowledgment goes out to Gervonna Flanagan, whose tireless efforts secured this transformative funding with enduring impact. Stay tuned for further updates in upcoming newsletters.

FACCES Life Ready Ohio Recap

The Life Ready Ohio Reflection event was hosted on July 28^th, 2023. This event featured teens who participated in both the FACCES Summer program and worked here at FACCES through the APPS job program. Our amazing youth participated in a panel discussion to talk about their accomplishments this summer. This event spotlighted all the remarkable things the teens were involved in with the community. During the reflection event, the teens shared what their daily tasks and responsibilities were, what they enjoyed most about their experience at FACCES, and what their goals and dreams are in the future with their careers.

Our teens participated in a daily seminar where they learned about the criteria on the Student Ohio Means Jobs-Readiness Seal Rubric while putting their newly gained knowledge into practice in real work, in real time.

In fact, one of the teen participants decided they would like to work in the field of early care and education as a result of her experience this summer. The teen was connected to our sister organization, The Starting Point Learning Center once the summer program concluded. They are now going through the new hire onboarding process. Regardless of career path, we have confidence this group of teens are well on their way to work and life success.

All the teens commented on how much they gained because of participating in the FACCES Fresh Market from working as a team to giving back to the community. They also commented that working with the children taught them an appreciation for how different they are and how they need different things from people.

Here are what the teens shared regarding their greatest learning from this summer:

“I had the ability to do a lot of different jobs that I may not have tried or wanted to do before this experience;” Malachi

“I struggle with being on time, so this helped me take responsibility and be accountable; especially since it’s the policy to call Ms. Melissa if you are going to be late.” Aleigha

“I communicate better, I learned to listen more and take corrections and feedback. I hope others get to have the opportunity I had this summer. I have excitement for that.” Izaiah

“I have a better understanding that when there is a conflict that everyone has their own opinion and it’s important to work through it more than being right.” Karter”

“I found my voice; I am like a butterfly this experience opened my wings and new doors for me.” Kanayah

“The most valuable skill I have is learning agility. I’m curious and ask lots of questions. I put myself out there to find better and easier ways to do things.” Issac

“I grew the most in leadership and being a good role model with the preschoolers. I worked with them on their letters and numbers and read to them.” Kennedy

Stay tuned for future Life Ready programs and events.