Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, January 03, 2011

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The gift bags for new moms will include books and other resources pertaining to babies from birth to age 1.

Fayette County Public Schools and its community partners say “It’s About Kids” learning through Delivery to Diploma, a broad-based initiative that aims to ensure all families receive resources to support their children’s development from Day 1. 

The umbrella concept will offer multiple projects, activities and materials emphasizing the importance of life-long learning.

“We’ll be caring for our children from the moment they’re born until they graduate,” said Alice Nelson, the school district’s family/community liaison.

The New Year launched the inaugural project at Lexington hospitals. From now on, every family will receive a Delivery to Diploma gift bag filled with helpful materials, including “Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader – A first book for babies and parents” from FCPS and a letter from Superintendent Stu Silberman.

The initiative’s founding partners also contribute. The Child Care Council provides a baby bottle and child-care tips, United Way of the Bluegrass donates postcard magnets featuring a Q&A on baby development and 2-1-1 referrals, and the Lexington Public Library gives out a hardback picture book as well as information about library cards and story times.

Other groups will join in soon with additional resources relevant for newborns through age 1.

“This is such an exciting project for our community, and we are very thankful for the support we have received to allow this to move forward. We believe that providing these materials free to all new moms along with ongoing follow-ups will be a great service to our families,” Silberman said.

In addition, the bags contain a card that families can return to FCPS in order to receive ongoing support as their babies grow. Delivery to Diploma will provide a newsletter and suggestions for age-appropriate activities and materials to use at home, as well as details about communitywide learning opportunities.

“We want families to send us back their information so we can start a database and follow up every year until their child starts kindergarten,” said Whitney Stevenson, the school district’s early childhood gap intervention specialist. “We want to raise awareness of developmental milestones and provide families with activities to do to enhance their child’s growth.”

As Delivery to Diploma expands, its logo will become a familiar icon around Lexington. On a city bus, for instance, people might notice a game that promotes counting skills. Or they may recognize the logo at the library, stores, the YMCA, the Explorium and many other locations. FCPS will also use the logo in its kindergarten registration packets.

“We want families to see that FCPS and the community have come together under the Delivery to Diploma concept to provide all these great resources to enhance their child’s learning and development,” Stevenson said.

Did you know?

• Each year, about 8,000 babies are born at Central Baptist, the University of Kentucky’s Chandler Hospital and The Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East.

FCPS resources:

• Early Childhood Department (including Early Start and kindergarten)
• 2020 Vision’s “early childhood experiences” final report
• Family and Community Involvement

Contacts:

• Whitney Stevenson, early childhood gap intervention specialist
• Alice Nelson, FCPS family/community liaison