Smart Beginnings Fluvanna Louisa

Fluvanna, Louisa

www.smartbeginningsfl.org

Before the 3rd grade, children learn to read. From the 3rd grade on, they read to learn.

Smart Beginnings Fluvanna Louisa is a comprehensive collaboration on behalf of early care and education services to promote school readiness. Both Fluvanna and Louisa are rural counties located between Richmond and Charlottesville. The Fluvanna Smart Beginnings Coalition has been meeting since 2008. As some members of the Coalition also provide services to Louisa County, joining forces with the Louisa community was a natural fit.

The Coalition co-chairs are Tracy White, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, serving both Fluvanna and Louisa counties, and Patty Culotta, recently retired assistant superintendent of the Fluvanna County Public Schools. Current Coalition members include:

• Children, Youth and Family Services 
• Fluvanna County Chamber of Commerce 
• Fluvanna County Social Services 
• Fluvanna County Public Schools 
• Jefferson Area CHIP 
• Louisa County Public Schools
• Louisa County Social Services 
• Louisa County Chamber of Commerce 
• MACAA 
• Head Start 
• Piedmont Virginia Community College 
• Private business representatives 
• Thomas Jefferson Health District 
• United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area 
• University of Virginia Community Credit Union
• Virginia Cooperative Extension

The Coalition has adopted these Strategies to provide a comprehensive, community-wide approach, engaging all sectors of both communities to ensure that children arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed:

1. Increase and enhance effective parent support and educational resources on school readiness for families with children age 0-4.
2. Expand quality preschool and early education opportunities.
3. Increase community awareness and engagement in support of the needs of young children.
4. Provide accountability, coordination of services and sustainable resources for school readiness for Fluvanna and Louisa children.

For more information contact:

Dianna Wissinger
Coordinator
177 Main Street
P.O. Box 216
Palmyra, VA  22963
(434)589-2585
dianna@smartbeginningsfl.org
www.smartbeginningsfl.org