Whole Child Leon is a communitywide effort to get our children off to the best start in life by ensuring they have everything they need to thrive. Families with young children often need help: some lack education, information or economic stability, or they may not know where to go for help. Even busy, two-parent, working families may struggle due to a lack of time, information or adequate child care. Other families are strained by the many demands of caring for young children or dealing with a child with special physical or emotional needs.

We cannot leave it to government or human service agencies alone to meet the needs of families. Whole Child Leon seeks to engage the entire community in a commitment to our youngest residents because we recognize their future – and ours – hinges on ensuring the best start for every child.

A growing body of research shows that the first five years of life are crucial to brain development, to acquiring social skills necessary to grow into good citizens, and to developing emotional strength and physical and mental health.

Individually, many agencies and organizations serve one dimension of children’s wellbeing, from immunizations to early learning programs. Embracing the idea that we must nurture the Whole Child, requires the entire community working together. A child who is fully immunized but spends the day without stimulating educational experiences will not realize his full potential. Similarly, a child who has quality child care, but an unsafe home environment may never become all she could be. Ultimately, our community will pay the price for failing to fully nurture the treasure that is our children.

Adoption of A Statement of Commitments to Children 0-5 and their Parents:

Whole Child Leon and Whole Child Manatee have each adopted a statement of commitments to children to identify what they believe is necessary to demonstrate that their community is working together to make sure children thrive and to measure progress over time. Whole Child Jefferson is adapting the Whole Child Connection to their community and plans to launch the system in 2008.

The Whole Child Leon’s ten commitments to children are as follows:

1. Love. Feel loved and valued.
   
   
2. Prenatal Care. Have access to quality prenatal care, including parenting education.
   
   
3. Health Care. Have access to health care, including mental, behavioral, dental and nutritional care, with emphasis on preventive care.
   
   
4. Assessment and Early Intervention. Receive early and
   continuous assessment of developmental progress and early intervention.
   
   
5. Early Childhood Education. Have access to quality early childhood education and development involving parents and families as essential partners.
   
   
6. Freedom from Abuse and Neglect. Live in a safe, caring home, free from neglect, physical and mental abuse.
   
   
7. Adequate Income and Support. Live in families that have the opportunity to gain adequate income and support to be the primary providers of love, nurturing, security and stability for their children.
   
   
8. Safe Neighborhoods. Live in a safe neighborhood that
   provides opportunities to play outside and interact with
   other children and adults in a clean and healthy environment.
   
   
9. Respect for Others. Develop respect for others, appreciation for diversity, tolerance, and the ability to solve problems constructively.
   
   
10. Sense of Hope. Have a sense of hope, a feeling that they are not alone, a positive connection to their community, and the confidence to explore and discover the possibilities of life.

To learn more about Whole Child Leon visit their website at:    http://www.wholechildleon.com