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United Way of Greater Knoxville is leading efforts to ensure all children and families have access to the resources they need to build brighter futures.
A thriving community is where families have access to high-quality, affordable childcare to ensure every child enters school ready to learn.
Children are born with great potential for development and learning. Positive early childhood experiences make a significant impact on a child’s trajectory. Research shows that the quality of care and education during a child’s early years significantly influences their life outcomes.
While we recognize the importance of high-quality early care and learning environments, this remains inaccessible for many families—particularly those that are economically disadvantaged. With 26,281 children too young to start kindergarten in Knox County, childcare centers are essential for working parents.
At United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK), we are working alongside childcare providers, schools, parents, community leaders, advocates and more to ensure all families have equitable access to high-quality early childhood programs. Our goal is to make Knoxville-Knox County the best place in the nation for a child to be born and raised. We envision the Greater Knoxville area with a strong educational system, thriving families and a vibrant community.
Kindergarten
Readiness
Building strong foundations for a lifetime of learning and success.
Knox Area
Afterschool Network
Advocating for safe, healthy and nurturing out-of-school experiences.
Academic Support
Ensuring all kids have access to learning supports outside the classroom.
Childcare
Expanding the availability of childcare spots in high-quality early learning environments.
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Nearly 16,000 childcare centers closed permanently between December 2019 and March 2021, denying working families access to childcare.
United Way of Greater Knoxville convened with Knox County Schools (KCS) and the YMCA of East Tennessee to pilot a “micro-center” to address childcare needs for KCS faculty and staff. The first micro-center is now open and serving local families in need of childcare. Teacher and mom, Devon said, “Having an opportunity to have childcare that’s also affordable is a big deal for me… They follow a curriculum, and they’re learning skills to become little students and then little adults.”
Email our team at info@unitedwayknox.org.
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