About Success By 6

The first years of a child's life, birth through age five, are the most important years for building a strong foundation for future success in school and in life. Why? Research shows that in the first five years of a child's life, the brain grows faster than at any other period. The people who have the most influence in building this strong foundation are parents and other caregivers with whom the child spends the most time. The loving care, positive learning experiences and supportive environments they provide make a child feel secure and safe - all extremely important in nurturing a child's brain growth and development.

In Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky, Success By 6 is working with numerous stakeholders - United Way of Greater Cincinnati, school districts, the business community, local non-profit agencies, parents, community leaders and public agencies - to raise awareness about the importance of the early years and to make early childhood a top priority for resources and funding.

Ensuring high quality programs and services for all children and their families requires commitment from health care providers, early childhood education programs, parents, public officials, community leaders and the general public. Success By 6 engages local partners to ensure that the developmental needs of our youngest children are understood and met. In doing this, not only are children likely to succeed in school, they are more likely to achieve in life. According to James Zimmerman, founding chair of the Hamilton County Success By 6 Steering Council, "this is the single most important work we can be doing in this community."