United Way of North Central Massachusetts has been serving as a backbone agency for a regional early literacy initiative called the Early Literacy Zone of North Central Massachusetts. The project leverages volunteer mentors to provide 1:1 literacy support and a mobile app that allow children and parents to access hundreds of hours of literacy content in both English and Spanish.
The early Literacy Zone also serves as a platform for a continuum of resources to promote health and wellness for families including nutritional support, access to behavioral health, and resources to help families achieve financial stability and success. The presentation will highlight this effort including challenges and opportunities associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and how to think about implementing similar work in your community.
