NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The name of a nonprofit based in Newport News has changed over the years.
"Our roots and our origin story are in teaching teachers. So, it was called Preschool Partners twenty years ago," said Executive Director Diane Umstead. "And the vision was to work alongside teachers and classrooms to get them up to speed and the highest quality possible to provide young children from birth to five."
"Fast forward, when Governor Kaine was in office, he put in a network called Smart Beginnings, and we were one of those," Umstead said. "And the idea there was to build public-private partnerships and build public will around creating more access to early learning and making sure that it was high quality."
Smart Beginnings covered nine regions across Virginia.
Then, last year, after the Smart Beginnings brand ended in the Commonwealth, the organization became known as FirstSpark.
"The name FirstSpark gives a nod to the first years, but also the spark that comes when you're having a baby or the baby's learning how to walk or the child is learning how to speak or the community sparking ideas that will meet the needs of children and families birth to five," Umstead said.
And with the recent name change also came an expansion of the group's reach.
"We are the lead agency for Ready Region Chesapeake Bay, which spans sixteen counties and cities from the Peninsula to the Middle Peninsula and the Northern Neck."
One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the nonprofit's mission.
"What we're doing is working in all those communities to expand access to early care and learning settings, to raise the level of quality in those settings, and to engage parents so we can find out what their preferences and needs and choices might be," Umstead said. "We are a collaborative organization providing leadership in the community so that children are born healthy and enter school with the tools they need to succeed."
FirstSpark helps shape early education and development by helping parents prepare children up to age five for kindergarten and beyond. Programs like Mixed Delivery give parents the ability to choose a publicly funded, high-quality early childhood program that meets their child's needs. The StepAhead Texting Program keeps families up to date on the latest available resources and opportunities.
"We... know that when a child has two years of a preschool experience, they do better. But we don't [want to] make that choice for families," Umstead said. "We want to say, 'Here are the kinds of things that are most important in a child's development, and here is FirstSpark and all of our partners that can help resource you in those areas.'"
The nonprofit also provides teachers with access to free and low-cost professional development, as well as help with becoming regulated through the Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) program.
"FirstSpark is in 817 classrooms, working alongside teachers to make sure that they are the best in their child interactions and understanding child development," Umstead said. "So, we are teaching teachers and we are resourcing families starting prenatally so kids have the foundation and parents know where to go to get the information when they choose a program along the way."
The group also encourages lawmakers and communities to rally around children and aid in their success. Members visit businesses, civic organizations, and faith groups to discuss the needs of early learners and the importance of quality early childhood development.
"In society, we know inherently that investing in young children is important. But we haven't quite invested with the resources that we need," Umstead said. "And that's why FirstSpark is focusing more on the resources that we need because as we expanded into those new areas, we're learning about community need and we're learning about the gaps and we're learning that there aren't enough resources to go around just coming from these state funds."
The nonprofit believes inspiring young children is transformative for communities because a tiny spark today may light up the world tomorrow.
"Ninety percent of a child's brain is developed in the first three years of life. So, what we do now makes a difference for a lifetime, and it starts prenatally," Umstead said. "Childcare is good for business, childcare is good for the workforce, and childcare is good for families. What FirstSpark is trying to do is to light a spark across all of these sectors so young children succeed in school and life."
You can help FirstSpark reach its fundraising goal for this year of $70,000. Click here to make a donation and learn some of the ways those funds will be used.
Parents of small children are invited to join the Family Council to help the group identify regional needs and priorities that will be impactful.
You can also learn more about volunteer opportunities and early childhood resources by contacting the nonprofit or visiting its website.