Luzerne-Wyoming LAUNCH - Luzerne-Wyoming LAUNCH (L-W LAUNCH) will develop a coordinated, comprehensive system serving children birth to age 8 with social/emotional/behavioral challenges in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties in North East Pennsylvania. L-W LAUNCH will promote wellness of young children and their families, and address social/emotional skill deficits, child care expulsions, lack of kindergarten entry skills, the risk for school failure, deprivation, and trauma. US Census Bureau data shows that there are 37,774 children birth to age 8 in the two counties. The Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center, shows that 32.2% of children in Luzerne County and 15% of children in Wyoming County under the age of 5 are living in economically high-risk families with incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. There has been a dramatic change in the racial/ethnic makeup of Luzerne County in the past two decades. Luzerne County's Hispanic population accounted for 1.2% of residents in 2000; by 2022, that percentage increased to 16%. African Americans comprised 5 % of the population in 2020, up from 1.7% in 2000.
Parents and child serving agencies report significant numbers of children who are not being accepted by child care programs due to social/emotional behaviors. Schools report that children are entering kindergarten not accustomed to structure and discipline, with little understanding of personal space, manners, and showing aggressive behaviors. The COVID experience was traumatic for many families as it disrupted economic and social supports that are especially essential for young children. Data from the Casey Foundation Kids Count for 2021 show that there were reports of abuse or neglect for over 500 children in the two counties, and an estimated 20% of children were in homes where there was intimate partner violence.
L-W LAUNCH involves numerous goals and objectives. Screening will be done to identify young children at-risk (1,000 children to be screened each year, 5,000 over the course of the grant). Comprehensive service planning will be done for at-risk young child and their families (200 families each year, 1,000 over the course of the grant, including 10% increase each year in the number of Black and Hispanic families served). There will be training and education for families (100 families to be served each year, 500 over the course of the grant) and provision of training for service providers (75 staff per year, 375 staff over the course of the grant). Linkages will be established between primary health and young child serving systems (collaboration contract with 1 primary care provider in year 1, and 9 contracts over the course of the grant). Evidence-based behavioral interventions will be provided (50 children will be served per year, 250 over the course of the grant). There will be expanded use of Mental Health Consultation so that there is a 10% increase each year in the number of child care and early learning centers utilizing Consultation for young children. A Young Child Wellness Council will be established to improve collaboration across child and family-serving systems (5 memorandums of understanding each year), develop a comprehensive public education campaign, and guide L-W LAUNCH implementation.
As a result of L-W LAUNCH Luzerne and Wyoming Counties will be caring communities with widespread understanding of how to support social, emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioral development of young children. Effective systems will be built to coordinate resources to help young children and their families throughout Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. There will be tangible, real-life outcomes: 75% of children served across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds will exhibit improved behavioral functioning and school readiness; 60% will display improved social-emotional skills; and 60% of parents will report improved caregiver practices and child-caregiver interactions.
