According to the Early Childhood Profile, approximately 40% of children in the Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon counties are not ready for kindergarten. The majority of children ages 0-5 in this area are not enrolled in childcare, therefore families need access to other educational programs to build kindergarten readiness skills.  The Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon Community Early Childhood Council was created to address this issue.  The Caldwell County and Crittenden County Family & Consumer Sciences agents, along with a representative from both Audubon Area Head Start and George Coon Public library, played an active role in securing funds for this council to provide programs across the area that will improve kindergarten readiness skills.   The council received $39,700 in grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood.  

Through this grant funding, partnerships with Imagination Libraries, HANDS, and WIC were developed, increasing the opportunity for children to receive high quality literacy items and child development resources.  Over 600 children are enrolled in the Imagination library and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten programs.  120 families are served through the HANDS program.  90 families attended literacy events, hosted by the council, that were designed to encourage family engagement and provide caregivers resources to improve kindergarten readiness skills.