Ready to Learn
Pre-K FAST is our preschool aged program (ages 3-6), designed to assure that all children have a chance to enter school ready to learn and capable of achievement at their own level. This program is capable of rapidly engaging parents of young children and getting them to improve family function for the sake of their young children. Experts agree that providing a fertile learning and developmental environment early in a child's life makes a huge impact on how well they will do in school, allowing them to reach important milestones in their early elementary years.
Change is never easy, and many parents are so busy in their lives, that they sometimes aren't even aware of the threats their kids face, or the resources that are available to them to keep their kids on a positive course in life. A child is happiest when he or she is doing well in school, meeting expectations, and finding good friendships. Parents are relieved when they are sure their kids are growing and learning and appreciative of the opportunities given to them.
Pre-K FAST is a terrific readiness and engagement process to help give all children a chance to share in the prosperity and happiness that is their birth right.
Our mission is not to replace the parenting role, or to do what our preschools and day care facilities are doing. Rather, we provide a program that any parent can participate in, which delivers an process for personal growth and awareness for kids and parents. People come out of Pre-K FAST with the peace of mind that they are making important improvements in their lives and giving their kids the best chance to succeed.
Daniel Goleman psychologist and author. Emotional Intelligence
"What Every Preschooler Needs to Know," Child (June-July 1992)
Parents:
- share parenting and school readiness ideas with other caring parents
- learn ways to protect young children from the dangers they face
- establish roles and family management rules while kids are young
- find help for your specific needs and your particular family circumstances
- connect with parents, schools, faith organizations, and community services
- a great way to find confidential and professional assistance if you ever need it
Young Children:
- acquire good habits, and family roles and routines while kids are very young
- reduce stress, gain trust, and avoid environmental risks
- enjoy learning and dedicated time with your parents
- Learn positive, healthy behaviors and acquire resiliency assets
- find and learn from parents and positive role models
Educators:
- reach and involve hard to reach parents at an early stage
- identify with parents their needs and reassure them that there is hope and help as needed
- assure all children who enter school have every chance they need to succeed
- help parents understand how you can serve them, and how they can help you in your mission
- avoid problem behaviors that begin in elementary school
Law Enforcement:
- reduce in-home violence and stress
- builds neighborhood support relationships between young parents
- connects with whole families, not just the kids through school-sponsored programs
Health Care, Mental Health practitioners:
- helps lead a powerful forum for change and prevention
- keeps young children safe and healthy
- adds a valuable model to your service portfolio (providers)
- adds valuable skills to your organization (providers)
- attract funding and awareness (providers)
- meaningful collaboration with community
- gain referrals (providers)
Funders:
- practical, well-supported, recognized program that you can really get behind
- low risk, highly visible results
- low cost-per-family served
- multidisciplinary, holistic approach
- every site and participant is evaluated
- builds community social capital
How can I learn more about starting a FAST program?
Our programs are 100% evaluated, resulting in strong evidence that our program objectives are consistently met.
- reduced compulsive/impulsive behaviors by all family members
- reduced aggression, anxiety, depression in all family members
- reduced family conflict and stress
- improved parenting skills and child management techniques
- improved family unity, pride and communication
- improved social and service skills in children
- strengthened child development efforts
- Awareness of threats facing kids and skills to avoid dangers
- improved parental self-esteem, social skills
- strengthened coping skills of young parents
- personal relationships with schools, law enforcement and local community service providers
- ability of kids to make good choices and form good friendships
- improved school attendance
- improved respect and cooperation with school administration and teachers
- improved parental involvement and attention to school work
- awareness of a child's personal strengths and a rededication to building skills
- reduced levels of risky or toxic behaviors
- ability for a child to ask for and receive help
How can I learn more about starting a FAST program?
Program components include:
- Family unit strengthening:
- Welcome & personal introductions
- Music, singing & community building exercises
- Family pride activities
- Meal time and personal services
- Family Communications exercises
- feelings and nonverbal communication
- creative expression and family engagement
- Breakout groups
- Parents
- Parent group problem solving and mutual support
- Community service provider presentations
- Parent-to-parent peer communications and support
- Kids
- Personal and group play and problem solving
- Team activities and recognition
- Parents and Kids
- focused one-to-one dedicated time: personal engagement
- Attendance incentives, encouragement, and reciprocity
- Affirmations and closing routines
- At-home parent-child dedicated activities
- FASTWORKS ongoing mini-community interaction and ongoing education and support
How can I learn more about starting a FAST program?
- FAST enrollment is universal, yet allows schools and communities to have specified outreach goals
- Enrollees are shown program content overview; parents who commit to Pre-K FAST meet together weekly for ten weeks.
- Each session lasts approximately 2½ hours. Parents consistently tell us they wish they could meet more often.
- FAST programs are typically held at schools, child care facilities, and community centers
- Program cycles conclude with graduation ceremonies
- After graduation, parents meet regularly and support each other during their children's pre-school development years.
- Parent from the preschool or early childhood program
- Early childhood specialist
- Public school representative
- two different community agency representatives; can be recruited to meet the needs of the local FAST implementation
FAST programs are conducted with entire families present. All family members can contribute and learn from our programs.
We thoroughly train FAST teams and coach them through the process of delivering this exciting and absorbing program.
How can I learn more about starting a FAST program?
- 68% of teachers surveyed report noticeable improvements in the child's behavior
- 62% of teachers reporting behavioral improvements indicated that the child experienced "Excellent" improvement, which helped them engage kids in pre-K programs
- Teachers of FAST graduating early childhood kids report that 74% of parents benefited greatly or tremendously through participation in FAST
- Longitudinal studies consistently show that FAST graduating families outperform their peers in family functioning and healthy childhood behaviors
- 95% of parents report that their satisfaction level with the program was very high
How can I learn more about starting a FAST program?
Our programs are 100% evaluated, resulting in strong evidence that our program objectives are consistently met. Because our approach is uniquely multidisciplinary, FAST delivers results in children, parents and siblings in ways that offer the best chance for children to receive the attention they need to thrive, even in challenging environments.
- Social relationships Questionnaire (McDonald & Moberg, 2002)
- Social Support (Sherborne & Stewart, 1991; McDonald & Moberg, 2002)
- Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1981)
- Personal Effectiveness (Coleman & Karraker, 2000; Sherer, Mercadante, Prentice-Dunn, Jacobs & Rogers)
- Parenting Stress Index (Abdin & Sheral, 1986)
- Past 30-day substance abuse (CSAP GPRA, 2005)
- Parent Involvement in Education Survey (Shumow, Vandell amp; Posner, 1999)
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997)
How can I learn more about starting a FAST program?
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Training, per team* | $3,900 |
| Evaluation report, per cycle: | |
| First Cycle | $1,000 |
| Subsequent Cycles (includes licensing & registration) |
$1,125 |
| Aggregate report for 2 cycles: | $1,775^ |
| Aggregate report for 3-12 cycled: | $2,500^ |
| Technical Support | see Client Services Representative for free, customized detailed budget |
| Staff Time | see Client Services Representative for free, customized detailed budget |
| Activity costs | see Client Services Representative for free, customized detailed budget |
| Training travel | see Client Services Representative for free, customized detailed budget |
| Teacher curriculum cost | None! Our program is extracurricular |
* Curriculum included for reuse in licensed sites only.
^ Can be same semester, different sites, or different semesters, same site.
Please contact us for volume discounts
Leo Buscaglia