The READY Projects web site has been revised and updated to provide information about ongoing early childhood initiatives throughout the Southeastern region. Formerly known as Regional Projects, the READY (Regional Evaluations Addressing the Developmental Years) Projects team has experience working with state and local agencies to evaluate education and early intervention programs, to provide technical assistance and strategic planning, and to facilitate community planning projects. The READY Projects team works collaboratively with Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University and Georgetown University on many of its projects, and strives to blend research with practice and public policy.

This web site is designed to provide information regarding each of the READY Projects' exciting early childhood initiatives and evaluations. Executive summaries and data reports are also available at the site.

Current and ongoing projects include:

• LA4 Program Evaluation – LA4 is a federally-funded, state-run prekindergarten program in Louisiana for unserved, at-risk 4-year-old children. UAB is working in collaboration with LSU and Georgetown University in the evaluation and longitudinal research of the program.
• Meridian / Lauderdale County Early Childhood Initiative – Following the Civitan Center’s "Multidimensional Model for Child Health, Well-Being, School Readiness, Student Readiness, and Parent Training,” this oversight group is in its 4th year and makes recommendations and records progress in early childhood programs.
• Mississippi County Project – This ongoing collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Education and Mississippi State University has the goal of developing approaches to empower communities to improve and expand early childhood program options for children ages birth to five.
• Louisiana Early Childhood Supports and Services (ECSS) Program Evaluation – ECSS is a new program through the Louisiana Office of Mental Health focused on improving collaboration among providers of infant mental health services and subsequently reaching TANF goals. Members of the READY team will evaluate progress toward those objectives.
• West Feliciana Parish Early Childhood Initiative – The Civitan Center’s “Multidimensional Model” is utilized to empower community leaders to develop recommendations to improve and expand early childhood programs.

Recently completed projects include:

• Summit II – Louisiana Early Childhood Initiative – March 18-19, 2003 in Baton Rouge, LA
• Early Childhood Initiatives in several counties and parishes including: Ouachita Parish (Louisiana), Pearl River County (Mississippi), and Pike County (Mississippi)
• Louisiana’s First Summit on Young Children
• Easter Seals’ Delta Project Evaluation

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