50 years, 50 stories: Story #32 Washtenaw Success by 6

Ensuring Every Child in Washtenaw County Starts School Ready to Succeed

Change the first five years and you change everything. Research shows that children who receive the support they need in early childhood are more likely to succeed in school - and in life. They need fewer special education services, complete a higher level of schooling, and are more productive adults. 

Launched in 2006 by a community partnership between the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the United Way of Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, and Washtenaw County - the Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative strives to ensure that every family in Washtenaw County has access to quality early childhood programs and support services. 

In all, 40 organizations collaborate to strengthen the early childhood system to streamline and improve services and identify any gaps - ensuring more families in need have access to preschool, childcare training, health insurance, parenting classes, and more. 

Since the beginning, AAACF has awarded nearly $300,000 to support Success by 6. With a recent $40,000 grant, awarded jointly with the Washtenaw Coordinated Funders, the agency is working with a wide range of community partners to plan an early childhood family resource center for families in Ypsilanti and Willow Run. Director Margy Long notes, "We now have the opportunity to develop a comprehensive and holistic approach to supporting families with young children from the very beginning."


One of the many ways the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
supports all that is good in our community.

Read more "good" stories at: aaacf.org/stories