It Starts Early

For early childhood education, the cost of high quality care is a very real barrier in determining which children receive a solid start in learning and life, and which children don't. Advancing equity in Arkansas means eliminating these types of barriers that perpetuate inequitable opportunities for our community’s youngest learners. 

Last month, The Clinton School Center on Community Philanthropy recognized the Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center as one of 52 organizations advancing equity in Arkansas. The center's STP ONE program works to disassemble the economic barriers in Northwest Arkansas to provide a high-quality early childhood education.

STP ONE (Support in Transitional Poverty: Optimizing community, Nurturing children, Empowering families) gives families in transitional housing access to early education, therapy, case management, and support services to help families transition out of poverty. STP ONE also supports parents through resources like job placement, schooling and training, financial training, counseling, food assistance, housing, and more. With support for both parents and children through STP ONE, a foundation of education and empowerment is laid for both the current generation of children and generations to come. STP ONE can help our community advance racial equity and defy the odds placed on those living in poverty.

Find more information about enrollment and the sliding scale tuition model here: https://hwcec.org/enrollment