Jefferson Ready Start Network

Mission

Jefferson Ready Start Network aims to create a culture of high-quality, comprehensive early childhood services through engagement and partnerships with families, educators and community members.

Vision

All children birth to age 5 in Jefferson Parish have access to quality early childhood experiences that will prepare them to succeed.

Our recent behavior management training sessions were a success because of the incredible partners who helped make them possible. A special thank you to Jefferson Community Foundation for providing the training space, The Olive Branch Cafe in Marrero for generously sponsoring lunch, Chick-fil-A Harvey for providing coffee and Nothing Bundt Cakes - Harvey for sweetly treating participants with delicious bundtinis. We are also grateful to IMPACT LLC for facilitating engaging, practical sessions that equipped educators with strategies they can immediately bring back to their classrooms. Most importantly, thank you to the child care owners and directors who invested in their staff's professional development. Together, we are building stronger classrooms, stronger educators and stronger futures. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you to the early childhood educators who joined us on the West Bank this week for a day of professional development focused on understanding and supporting positive behavior in the classroom. During our sessions, ABCs Easy as 123: Understanding Behavior and Behavior Hacks! Proactive Strategies for a Smoother Classroom, participants explored how behavior serves as communication, identified common behavior triggers and learned practical strategies to prevent challenging behaviors before they occur. Through hands-on activities, group discussions and real-world classroom scenarios, educators left with new tools and ready-to-use strategies they can immediately apply in their learning environments. We are grateful for your commitment to creating supportive, nurturing classrooms where every child can thrive. ... See MoreSee Less
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Provider Spotlight ✨Founded in 2017 as a family business, Jazzie's Learning Academy began in River Ridge before expanding to Kenner, where it now has the capacity to serve up to 161 children as a Type 3 center. Named after the director's oldest daughter, Jasmine, the center was built on a mission of creating opportunity and ensuring every child has access to high-quality early care and education, regardless of their family's circumstances.Jazzie's accepts all forms of funding and recently opened its doors to share the building with Head Start, reflecting the center's collaboration and adaptable spirit. The director joined JRSN's Grassroots Committee to advocate for great transparency and help expand access to care for underserved families and children with disabilities. "At the end of the day, every family deserves a fair and equal chance." Thank you, Jazzie's Learning Academy, for the care and compassion you bring to Jefferson Parish families every day. ... See MoreSee Less
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In Jefferson Parish…

There are

28k children birth to age 5

of
those

15-21k are economically disadvantaged

and

~4k are served by publicly funded seats

Why Does This Matter?

  • 90% of brain development occurs before the age of 5.
  • Children in a quality early learning center are 25% more likely to graduate from high school and 25% more likely to graduate from college.
  • Children not in quality early learning centers are 70% more likely to commit a violent crime by age 18.
  • Parents who can’t afford early care and education are forced to miss work more often, making it hard on businesses to find workers.
  • The Louisiana economy loses over 1.3 billion dollars every year due to breakdowns in our child care system.

Jefferson Ready Start Network is driven by our community’s need to improve opportunities and inspire change for children from birth to 5. We aim to create a culture of high-quality, comprehensive early childhood services through engagement and partnerships with families, educators and community members.

Are you ready to join us?