Vita Health & Wellness District Launches Parents as Co-Educators Project
 The Vita Health & Wellness District – a collaborative, comprehensive wellness initiative on Stamford’s West Side, spearheaded by Charter Oak Communities (COC), Stamford Hospital, and the City of Stamford – has launched a three-year research and development project designed to close achievement gaps, improve wellness, enhance education, and engage the local community by offering specialized support to immigrant families.
Called the Parents as Co-Educators program, the effort is a collaboration between Vita partners Family Centers, Childcare Learning Centers and Neighbors Link of Stamford along with affiliated agencies. It is intended to improve outcomes for children from non-English-speaking, low-income families. The program delivers comprehensive services to 20 families with children enrolled in Childcare Learning Centers.
The long-term goal is to help at-risk immigrant residents improve their parenting skills and reduce some of the socio-economic barriers that limit their children’s educational performance and eventual career options. Supportive services will be offered through in-home visits by a team of trained professionals. Program elements include education focused parenting education, case management, literacy/ESL (English as a Second Language) support and referral services.
“This program attempts to tackle culturally related achievement gaps by bringing a full spectrum of services to the families most in need,” said Vita Health & Wellness Administrator Leslie P. Sexer. “When parents become more active as co-educators of their children, we expect to see a measurable reduction of disparities in public school readiness.”
Vincent J. Tufo is executive director and CEO, Charter Oak Communities. “We’re very pleased to be a partner in this innovative program, which acknowledges the critical role parents play in helping their children succeed in school, in the home, and in their community,” said Tufo. “All parents need a variety of tools and assistance to enhance their childrens’ growth, access and opportunities. Supporting parents who face challenges economically, socially or educationally is a smart way to help their children better achieve their potential.”
The Co-Educators Program will feature a shared measurement system spearheaded by the Harvard Business School – Community Partners. Initial funding for the program is generously provided by the Lone Pine Foundation, Grossman Family Foundationand the Singer Foundation.
For more information about the Vita Heath & Wellness Parents as Co-Educators Program, contact Vita Administrator Leslie P. Sexer at 203-324-3167 or lsexer@familycenters.org.
About the Vita Health and Wellness District
Vita (meaning “Life”, in Latin) strives to help the people who live and work in our community be as healthy as possible. By improving living conditions including housing, access to health care, availability of nutritious foods, workforce training and planning public spaces for physical fitness activities, Vita addresses the aspects of health that are influenced by where you live. Vita is a partnership of Charter Oak Communities (Stamford’s public housing authority), Stamford Hospital and the City of Stamford and affiliated agencies along with an active neighborhood coalition. These organizations collaborate to identify opportunities for improved health and wellness in Stamford, and to promote the Vita concept. For a complete list of participating organizations, program descriptions and recent news, visit www.vitaStamford.com; or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VitaStamford.
| 
