The UK Cooperative Extension Service is a partner of the Community Early Childhood Council (CECC) in McCracken County. The CECC strives to bring opportunities for preschool aged children to learn and prepare themselves for kindergarten. We are working at a young age to build their "Life Skills" that will last them a lifetime. 

The following three statements are the goals of the CECC.

• Every Kentucky child will enter school ready to succeed
• Every parent will know what their child needs to be ready for school
• Every community will come together in support of their youngest children

The UK Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the CECC and other community partners to host a Story Walk event in which each family attending would receive a copy of the book highlighted. Families of preschool aged children walked around and read the story together as each page was featured on an easel at an outside family event. The CECC gave the famillies Parent Guides in which 76% of the families reported reading the guide that provides information on making sure their child is school ready.  Ninety five percent of the families reported reading the book again at home and felt like reading to their children was important for their academic future. 

This event brought the community together as over 850 people attended the Story Walk event. Ninety percent of those stated they would attend another event at the Cooperative Extension Service.