Early Childhood Health

Significance

Research has shown that the period of early childhood represents a time of substantial brain development that has a significant impact on children's later emotional and intellectual development. What children know and can do at the time they start school helps determine their educational and lifelong success. Nationally, it has been estimated that 25-40% of children are not ready to be successful in school. In Virginia, a number of critical challenges exist for families.

• 62% of children under 6 years of age live in a home where both parents work
• 65% of children birth to 5 years of age are in some form of early care and education programs
• 36.3% of parents of children under age 5 years were concerned about their child's learning, development, or behavior
• 30.5% of children were overweight or at risk of being overweight
• 30.2% of children lived in households where someone smoked
• 54% of first, third and tenth grade students had tooth decay
• Annual state & federal investments per child from birth-5 years is $1,068 compared to the annual state & federal investment per school age child of $7,654

Local, state and community agencies must collaborate and provide integrated systems for providing early childhood services to children and their families.

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