The Save the Children literacy program provides families and their children with the early steps to school success.
Maydorena del Angel, a Save the Children Early Childhood Coordinator, operates the program for families in Dumas. The bilingual program is open to all families in the Dumas School District.
The program offers free services such as prenatal program, home visits ages 0-3, remote visiting will be offered for a limited time until the coordinator and families can meet in person again, and a digital book bag exchange program age 0-3 and 3-5
There is a 20 child limit for 0-3 age program and 30 child limit for the 3-5 age program. There is a waiting list, but as children turn 3 years old spaces open up in the 0-3 program. There is no deadline to enroll in the program as long as the child is between the ages of newborn and five year old or a pregnant woman can enroll in the program.
Children ages 0-3 receive two books each month with activities. Children 3-5 receive one book per month with activities.
The early STC Early Steps to School Success Program lays a critical foundation of language and literacy skills for children from birth to 5 years old so they enter school ready to succeed. Through remote home visits, book exchanges, supportive parenting groups and emphasis on transition to school. Early Steps staff can help with language, social, and emotional development and equips parents and caregivers with the skills to successfully support children growth.
When Angel signs up a new family, she does first and second month assessments. The first month, she will need the child's name, address, the mother and child's Date of Birth, the baby's weight. The second month determines the learning needs of the child, like speech, cognitive social emotion or a doctor's referral. She conducts home visits and virtual home visits depending on the participant.
She gave an example of one family with a shy child. They worked on the child's social emotional skills to work on controlling the child's emotions and to help them socialize better around people. After being enrolled in the program, the child is still shy, but they are not crying and is more playish.
“We get them ready for when they do come to school Pr-K, Kinder-garten. They are ready and they are not falling behind,” Angel said.
Angel started working at Central Elementary in a Pre-K classroom in 2012 and with Save The Children since June 2020. She uses her experience in Pre-K and Kindergarten to assess the education needs of the children in the program.
During Covid-19, they switched from home visits to phone calls or virtual communication like zoom, pictures or videos to monitor the child's progress. She gets to know her families by weekly phone calls, and also visits the family's home once a week if the family permits. The program also hosts a monthly parent groups meeting.
“This is really a good program that we can all benefit from,” Angel said. “I am just trying to get the word out there that people know there is this type of program.”
Interested families can sign up for the program by contact Angel at maydorena.delangel@dumas12.org or call her at 870-382-4954 or on her cell at 870-377-1403.
