In the Spotlight

Free To Grow (FTG) is a national demonstration program testing an innovative approach to two closely related public health problems – substance abuse and child abuse. Free to Grow is not a curricular intervention. Instead, FTG utilizes a comprehensive approach bringing together Head Start’s collaborative efforts with broad based community partners to support locally tailored, integrated approaches to strengthening families and communities. Program strategies target the young child’s overall environment, not the child.

The Marathon County Child Development Agency, Inc.(MCCDA) was chosen as one of the fifteen national demonstration sites for the FTG program. Over the past four years (2001–2005) MCCDA’s Head Start program along with their partner agencies have incorporated a broad range of strategies, including enhanced family and community assessment activities designed to identify the strengths/needs of families of young children; intensive case management, substance abuse and mental health treatment for high risk families; and community action to implement community change. The FTG initiative in Wausau, WI hopes that our local efforts has started the process which will continue to build environments and systems where children are truly “Free to Grow”.

For additional information on Free to Grow’s program in Marathon County contact: Cathy Howe, Director, MCCDA Head Start (715) 845-2947  chowe@mccdahs.org; for information regarding the FTG national demonstration program visit the national website at www.freetogrow.org.

Previous In the Spotlight:

Dane County Parent Council, Inc.

Sheboygan County Head Start

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