Support in Transitional Poverty: Optimizing community, Nurturing children, Empowering families
STP ONE
The Need.
Children from low-income households typically enter kindergarten behind their peers, and research shows that it is difficult to catch up from there.
It is critical for children living in poverty to have someone they can trust and venture outside their comfort zone to learn from. Providing children with these strong and supportive relationships early in life has shown to prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress.
When administered early and meet recognized standards of quality, early childhood education can provide significant developmental gains for children who otherwise may fall behind in school as a result of growing up in poverty. Yet, these children often experience barriers to participating in early childhood programs, such as lack of awareness, high mobility of their families, transportation issues, and the ability to pay for education.
What is STP ONE?
STP ONE (Support in Transitional Poverty: Optimizing community, Nurturing children, Empowering families) partners with community programs to ensure children, birth to 5, living in transitional housing have access to free high-quality early childhood education, access to therapy, case management, and support services to mobilize the family to move out of poverty, creating a foundation for multi-generational change by impacting both the parent and the young child.
STP ONE meets each child and their family “where they are” and ensures
parents are connected to resources such as job placement, school/training, financial training, counseling, food assistance, housing and more, while providing a high-quality early learning environment for the young child. The program is built around the needs of the whole child, while also equipping the family with customized education, tools and resources to continue an interactive and stimulating learning environment at home. This strategy reaps double benefits, as it supports both the child and family in moving out of poverty.
A Story of Impact
A young mom left an extremely abusive situation while pregnant, found a shelter, and was brought into the STP One program. She came to us without trust. Over time, we worked on building a relationship with the mom and her son. The Mom enrolled and completed her Associates Degree at NWACC and made the Dean’s list multiple times. She received the All Star scholarship to attend University of Arkansas afterwards where she will work towards a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. NWACC awards one All Star scholarship every year based on recommendations from the faculty and GPA.
The Mom is volunteering her time to show people in current abusive situations that change and getting out is possible. Her son is doing extremely well, and is meeting or exceeding developmental milestones. The Mom’s whole demeanor has changed; she has more self-confidence, trusts us, has open dialogue, and is an engaged and active parent. She recently gained custody of her 5 year old daughter, who also now attends HWCEC, and is thriving.
Application Process
Applications are accepted year round and the program is administered on a first-come, first-serve basis until all funds are exhausted.
All applicants will be considered for tuition indexing without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, handicap, disability, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Children Meeting or Exceeding Expectations in Development.
Time and time again, STP ONE has been successful in impacting the child across all developmental domains.
Parent Status.
Time and time again, STP ONE has been successful in supporting the family in moving out of poverty.
Make a donation.
Support STP ONE to provide free high-quality early childhood education, therapy access, case management, and support services. Your donation will help mobilize families to break the cycle of poverty, creating a foundation for multi-generational change by positively impacting both parents and young children. Join us in making a difference today.