Looking to engage local parents in the process of their children’s education, Quality Start Los Angeles is putting on a “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Parent Summit” next month.
Partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, the Sept. 16 event will emphasize the importance of academic readiness, children’s health and social and emotional skills starting in early education from ages three to eight.
The summit includes bilingual workshops in English and Spanish, a community resource fair with information, games and giveaways, raffle prizes and breakfast.
“It will be a great resource for parents of young children as they enter the school system,” Boys & Girls Club CEO Matt Nelson said. “Any resource that would benefit young children, we want to have here.”
This is the local Boys & Girls Club’s first time partnering with QSLA. As the club’s membership starts at seven years old, the event will be helpful for young members and their younger siblings, Nelson said.
As a parent of a three-year-old, Nelson said he and his wife plan to attend the event to learn more about early education, how to enroll children in school, how to practice positive discipline and how to support teachers.
“My wife and I will be learning as well,” Nelson said. “Speaking as a parent with a young child, I don’t really know what’s out there.”
Children who experience a higher quality of early childhood education are likelier to graduate high school, pursue job training or higher education and earn higher incomes, according to Keesha Woods, executive director of Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Head Start and State Early Learning Programs.
“By assessing and elevating the quality of programs offered throughout the county, we are ensuring that our children have the necessary foundation they need to grow and thrive into academia and beyond,” Woods said in a statement.
Castaic Union School District, Saugus Union School District, Newhall School District and Sulfur Springs School District all partner with Quality Start Los Angeles and are among 800 providers they work with countywide.
Working onsite, QSLA provides coaching, professional development, family engagement and parental support. Also, they inform stakeholders about investing in programs for children.
The event will be held at the Boys and Girls Club on 24909 Newhall Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
To register for the event, visit santaclaritaparentsummit.eventbright.com.
