Four River Counties Community Early Childhood Council is of vital importance to the rural area of Far Western KY by serving Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman Counties. Extension FCS Agent in Fulton County has served as the council chairman for the past five years. This Early Childhood grant advocates for the young child and their families by improving quality childcare, increasing parent knowledge, improving school readiness, and collaboration to meet the needs of the families.  The committee was able to secure an additional $19,500 in supplemental grant funding.

Each event the CECC puts on such as Grow Event, Kindergarten Readiness Event and Laugh and Learn Playdates is for parents and families to receive information about utilizing the five developmental domains of school readiness at home, child development information and importance of reading at home with their child. The target audience is families and caregivers with children five and under. The event is held in partnership with school administration, Family Resource Centers, and Murray Head Start.

 According to the 2019 Early Childhood Profiles Fulton County was below the state average on all five developmental domains for school readiness. Fulton County Percentage Ready for Kindergarten was 38.9%. In 2020, Fulton County was above the state average on Language & Communication and Physical Wellbeing domains. 2020 Ready for Kindergarten percentage in Fulton County is 56.9%.