SPARK
The Region A Partnership for Children began Region A SPARK with a year-long planning process through December 2002 that
was funded by the W.K.Kellogg Foundation. Three major outcomes of this process were:
1. A proposal to the Kellogg Foundation for further funding to strengthen systems alignment
in Region A.
2. Commitment from a large number of community partners to implement a plan for greater
regional collaboration and service to children and their families.
3. The creation of an extensive document, the Sourcebook,
containing input from communities and service providers throughout the
region about community resources currently available to families; strategies
for improving existing resources; and suggestions about new strategies
for more effective community support of children and families in the region.
During the planning year for SPARK, families and service providers established the following
goals for the five year implementation of SPARK:
At least 80% of children enrolled in SPARK will be successful
according to their individualized plans, through: strength based
developmental assessment of each child; appropriate linkages with
resources; and individualized strength-based plans for success,
developed for each child in partnership with the child's family.
There will be an increase in the capacity of parents of children
enrolled in SPARK to advocate effectively for services and resources
necessary for the education of their children through: family
centered activities and involvement of families in all aspects
of SPARK planning; greater family access to support services;
and learning partners who will support parents in being their
children's first and best teachers.
There will be an increase in the number of children who receive
culturally specific, family centered intervention services and
resources by age three and beyond through: training and cross-training
of service providers to foster culturally specific, strength-based
assessment of children and families and strength-based plans for
intervention; and SPARK activities that facilitate coordination
of planning and service delivery.
Children in Region A will have increased opportunities for smooth
transitions from infancy to preschool age, from preschool age
to kindergarten, and from second to third grade through: activities
to support effective partnerships among early learning systems
in order to more effectively address child focused needs at key
transitional times; community-wide opportunities for strength-based
assessment at age three to assist families in accessing services
for children; and activities that support timely exchange of school
readiness information among families, caregivers, and schools.
All public schools in Region A will have increased capacity to
provide excellence in early education from the beginning of the
child's entrance to school and in succeeding years through: more
comprehensive information about the specific strengths and needs
of children prior to the child's entrance to school; and Ready
Schools assessments and the development and implementation of
strategies for improvement.
For more information about the program, contact Janice
Edgerton at 828-586-0661.
Quick links:
An overview of SPARK from a national perspective (produced
by the Kellogg Foundation).
Commonly asked questions about SPARK (produced by the
Kellogg Foundation).
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