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ABOUT

Our vision is to be a community in which every child experiences well-being, is connected, and is ready to thrive.

Our vision is to be a community in which every child experiences well-being, is connected, and is ready to thrive.

Did You Know?

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Texas is ranked 43rd in the country for children’s well-being

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25% of the 12,000 children in Navarro County live in families with incomes below the official federal poverty threshold

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38% of the children in Navarro County age 17 and younger live in single-parent households

Our Priorities for 2024

pregnant woman making heart gesture on her belly
Young mom reading book to her infant baby
2024 Priorities
Young mother and her child girl reading a book
Portrait Of Family With Young Children At Home Together
What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
to our Early Childhood system in Navarro County?

SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
  • Community value of education—Scholarships, Backpacks of Love, etc.
  • Fine arts programs and cultural events
  • Prevalence of faith communities
  • Family centered community—outdoor and community space
  • Non-profits focused on supporting young families
Young black father and daughter blowing bubbles outside
OPPORTUNITIES
  • Community Pride—Netflix Cheer
  • Census in 2020-more $ possible
  • Generous trusts and foundations
  • Garner buy-in from local childcare providers to collaborate and grow
  • New programs for this age group—New Life, Hope Center, YMCA, Growing Together
  • Empower individuals who work in early childhood space
  • Engaging secondary communities outside of Corsicana
WEAKNESSES
  • Lack of Spanish speaking helping professionals
  • Transportation
  • Lack of mental health/special needs resources
  • Parent lack of education that they are their child’s first teacher
  • Low daycare enrollment and capacity/early childhood workforce challenges
  • Drug use by parents/lack of services for those parents
  • Cultural competency
  • Lack of fatherhood programs/men in coalition
  • Affordable/adequate housing
action kids
THREATS
  • Mental health/parent support stigma
  • Community Trust with diverse populations
  • Healthy relationships/social isolation
  • Duplicated services
  • Communication between nonprofits and government/funders
  • Lack of data/making data accessible and applicable
What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to our Early Childhood system in Navarro County?

SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
  • Community value of education—Scholarships, Backpacks of Love, etc.
  • Fine arts programs and cultural events
  • Prevalence of faith communities
  • Family centered community—outdoor and community space
  • Non-profits focused on supporting young families
Young black father and daughter blowing bubbles outside
OPPORTUNITIES
  • Community Pride—Netflix Cheer
  • Census in 2020-more $ possible
  • Generous trusts and foundations
  • Garner buy-in from local childcare providers to collaborate and grow
  • New programs for this age group—New Life, Hope Center, YMCA, Growing Together
  • Empower individuals who work in early childhood space
  • Engaging secondary communities outside of Corsicana
WEAKNESSES
  • Lack of Spanish speaking helping professionals
  • Transportation
  • Lack of mental health/special needs resources
  • Parent lack of education that they are their child’s first teacher
  • Low daycare enrollment and capacity/early childhood workforce challenges
  • Drug use by parents/lack of services for those parents
  • Cultural competency
  • Lack of fatherhood programs/men in coalition
  • Affordable/adequate housing
action kids
THREATS
  • Mental health/parent support stigma
  • Community Trust with diverse populations
  • Healthy relationships/social isolation
  • Duplicated services
  • Communication between nonprofits and government/funders
  • Lack of data/making data accessible and applicable

ADVISORY BOARD

Rachel Gillespie, Co-Chair, Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services

Deb Tamez, Co-Chair, The Eagle’s Nest

Lynda Sloan, Retired

Amber Payne, Corsicana ISD

Cody Beauchamp, Corsicana Municipal Judge

Shana Owen, Corsicana ISD

Kimberly Hidalgo, Corsicana YMCA

Jenny Bratton, Child Advocacy Center

Derek Kester, Compassion Corsicana

Faith Rivera, Help Me Grow North Texas

Josh Parsons, DFPS

Pam Crawford, Retired

Valorie Horn, VOICE Inc. 

Courtney Peterson, HHSC

Kids fashion

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Iliana Cazares

Dani Gonzalez Hernandez

Jamie Evans

Larasha Osborne

Claudia Gomez

Anna Crispin

Laura Taylor

Laura Martinez

A small child crawls on a mat

ADVISORY BOARD

Kids fashion

Rachel Gillespie, Co-Chair, Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services

Deb Tamez, Co-Chair, The Eagle’s Nest

Lynda Sloan, Retired

Amber Payne, Corsicana ISD

Cody Beauchamp, Corsicana Municipal Judge

Shana Owen, Corsicana ISD

Kimberly Hidalgo, Corsicana YMCA

Jenny Bratton, Child Advocacy Center

Derek Kester, Compassion Corsicana

Faith Rivera, Help Me Grow North Texas

Josh Parsons, DFPS

Pam Crawford, Retired

Valorie Horn, VOICE Inc. 

Courtney Peterson, HHSC

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Iliana Cazares

Dani Gonzalez Hernandez

Jamie Evans

Larasha Osborne

Claudia Gomez

Anna Crispin

Laura Taylor

Laura Martinez

Response to COVID-19

Our Early Childhood Coalition met on March 19th and determined we needed to intervene on the community level and provide resources to families, daycares, and community organizations. In response, three taskforces were created.

Pregnant Woman Using Laptop At Table Working From Home
Staying at Home Committee
This group created a stay at home guide for families at home together during the COVID-19 crisis using TBRI.



Close up of smiling young children sitting at a table eating their packed lunches together
Daycare Support Taskforce
This group put together care baskets for daycares who needed hygiene supplies such as toilet paper, towels, masks, and cleaners. They also found funds for local daycares to keep their workforce and maintain operations and put together an application for funds and dispersed funding to 12 local childcare centers.
Baby Boy Eating Fruit In High Chair
Local Crisis Resource Guide Taskforce
This group created an updated resource guide with information on local service providers, non-profits, and businesses and how they have varied their services to meet the community's needs.
Pregnant Woman Using Laptop At Table Working From Home
Staying at Home Committee
This group created a stay at home guide for families at home together during the COVID-19 crisis using TBRI.
Close up of smiling young children sitting at a table eating their packed lunches together
Daycare Support Taskforce
This group put together care baskets for daycares who needed hygiene supplies such as toilet paper, towels, masks, and cleaners. They also found funds for local daycares to keep their workforce and maintain operations and put together an application for funds and dispersed funding to 12 local childcare centers.
Baby Boy Eating Fruit In High Chair
Local Crisis Resource Guide Taskforce
This group created an updated resource guide with information on local service providers, non-profits, and businesses and how they have varied their services to meet the community's needs.

The Navarro County Early Childhood Coalition is sponsored by the Growing Together Program of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services

Growing Together welcomes all parents and caregivers interested in learning new ways to connect with and empower their child. Caregivers are provided new tools for their toolbox by learning parenting strategies that promote a strong foundation of children’s brain development and emotional well-being.

Parent Group Icon

Parent Café Support Group

Meets once a month

Support Icon

One-on-One Support

Meet in your home and help with parenting skills

Family Icon

Stronger Family Attachment

Create a foundation for healthy development & educational success

The Navarro County Early Childhood Coalition is sponsored by the Growing Together Program of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services

Growing Together welcomes all parents and caregivers interested in learning new ways to connect with and empower their child. Caregivers are provided new tools for their toolbox by learning parenting strategies that promote a strong foundation of children’s brain development and emotional well-being.

Parent Group Icon

Parent Café Support Group

Meets once a month

Support Icon

One-on-One Support

Meet in your home and help with parenting skills

Family Icon

Stronger Family Attachment

Create a foundation for healthy development & educational success

2024 Coalition and Advisory Board Meetings

Advisory Board Meeting

Minutes from Previous Meetings

July 2024

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May 2024

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March 2024

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January 2024

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November 2023

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July 2023

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May 2023

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March 2023

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January 2023

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November 2022

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July 2022

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May 2022

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April 2022

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January 2022

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November 2021

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2022 Coalition Meetings

2022 Coalition Meetings
July Meeting

A Little About Growing Together

Growing Together is open to any pregnant parent or those with a child 0-5 years of age residing in Navarro County, Texas that desires a stronger attachment with their child. Stronger family attachment during the infant, toddler and preschool years creates a foundation for healthy development and educational success.

We help by providing:

We believe these services are critically necessary.

Outdoor Head And Shoulders Portrait Of Family In Garden
mother and baby
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