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The fundamental right of every child to grow, learn and develop to his or her full potential, beginning with a strong early start in life, is the foundation of our work here at Collaborative for Children. It is this belief that

children’s lives: their families, their teachers, and their community leaders.

This year, we can’t thank each and every one of you enough for your role in helping us continue this work. Because of you, our faithful friends and partners, we touched the lives of over 84,000 young children in our community in 2010. We did this by helping their families make well-informed child care choices and strengthening parenting skills, partnering with their early childhood educators to create stimulating, meaningful learning environments in child care classrooms, and informing their community leaders about the best ways to protect and nurture young children during the most critical years of their lives.

Letter from Carol

Our CommitmentWE PARTNER with families to help parents

teacher in life.

WE IMPROVE the quality of early childhood programs to create rich early learning environments that better prepare young children for kindergarten and school success.

WE EDUCATE our community about the importance of the early years in a child’s life.

WE ADVOCATE for improved standards and resources for early education in Texas so that all of our youngest citizens have an equal chance of starting school prepared.

Children enjoy new playground at Walker’s Child Care Center, which will allow them to connect with and explore their new outdoor learning environment.

Parents participating in our Practical Parenting Education classes receive tools and strategies to help them be their child’s best lifelong teacher.

It is our hope here at Collaborative for Children that this report will mean more to you than an accounting of our annual activities. Instead, we hope that you will view it as a celebration of the types of accomplishments that

build school readiness today and for a lifetime.

Let’s continue to partner together to deliver the consistent outcomes that build a strong educational foundation for young children today so that we have a vibrant workforce tomorrow. Our children deserve nothing less.

President and CEOCollaborative for Children

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700new neuron synapses created per

few years of life 1

90%of the brain’s architecture is built during the

of life 2

$3,686spent per child enrolled in Texas Pre-K 3

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1. Harvard University, Center for the Developing Child2. Zero to Three, National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families3. The State of Preschool 2010, National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)

$12,328spent per child enrolled in Texas K-12 4

$450 millionspent on 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade repetitionin Texas 5

$35 billionlost lifetime earnings for 2010 class of dropouts in Texas 6

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4. The State of Preschool 2010, National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER)5. Texas Education Agency, 2009/2010 Performance Report6. Alliance for Excellent Education, Texas High Schools, October 20107. The State of Texas Children, Center for Public Policy Priorities, 2009-2010

2010 at a GlanceChildren

84,184children impacted through our

collective services that partner

with families, early childhood

teachers and community

people in a young child’s life.

Families

923families served through our

parent education services.

Using such curricula as the

research-based Practical

Parent Education curriculum,

strategies and training across

a wide range of customized

parenting topics.

112of families served participated

in our Parents as Teachers home

visitation curriculum that offers

one-on-one visits, developmental

screenings, monthly group

meetings and community linkages

and referrals.

25,111families served through our

child care resource and referral

services that help parents make

well-informed child care choices.

Early ChildhoodTeachers

6,250equipment and resource grants

family home providers with

essential education resources

such as children’s books, math

manipulatives, science and

literacy resources, outdoor play

equipment and nature-based

outdoor play spaces.

4,776early childhood teachers

and directors participated in

training and/or leadership

development workshops and

received scholarships to help

them continue their education in

Communities

12,162families educated about the

importance of the earliest years

in a child’s life through 52

community outreach events.

136key local, state and federal

provided with information on

the importance of early care

and education.

1,816hours of service contributed

by community and corporate

volunteers.

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Focus on Parents and Families

supportive parents and other family members have

need nourishment and food to help their bodies grow, children’s minds also need nourishment in the form of

lives. Research shows that if children fail to receive the cognitive stimulation they need early in life, when 90 percent of the brain’s architecture is built, important opportunities for intellectual growth are lost forever, which can place children at an increased risk for remediation and school failure later in life.

Collaborative for Children is committed to giving children the best start possible by partnering with parents and other primary caregivers to help them

child’s life. By helping families make well-informed child care choices and helping them create secure, stimulating learning opportunities at home, we ensure that more young children receive the strong foundations they need to succeed in life.

A mother and daughter met with other families to discuss parenting challenges and successes at a November 2010 Parents as Teachers group meeting.8

Services at a GlanceCHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRALThrough our web-based and call-in child care resource and referral services, we helped 25,111 families in 2010 make

their needs.

PARENT EDUCATIONUsing the evidence-based Parents as Teachers curriculum and nationally-recognized Practical Parenting Education curriculum, we partner with families to build parent knowledge and strengthen home environments so that young children have what they need to succeed. Our programs served 923 families in 2010 and helped them strengthen parenting strategies related to such issues as communication, child development, and guidance and discipline, among many others.

“The child care checklist for parents and list of additional questions to ask were helpful; it kept me organized and on track.” - User of Child Care Resource and Referral service, May 2010

completing a parenting class.

parents participate in parenting activities during classes at

Reynolds Elementary.

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Success Story

“After a domestic altercation in her home, a mother and user of our Child Care Resource and Referral service was required by CPS to attend parenting classes in order to be reunited with her children. The mother participated in a six-week series, during which she was very responsive and had perfect attendance. Upon completion of the classes, she was reunited with her children and was so enthusiastic about the skills she learned that her husband registered

- Deborah Bradford, Collaborative for Children staff member, March 2010

“When I received my CDA certificate,

I felt proud and con fident. I consider

mysel f to be a pro fessiona l and I am

an awesome presc hool teac her. I am excited to keep

learning and growing. Thank you for suc h a GREAT

opportunity.”

Nancy Camac ho, Teac her

Lil’ Champs Qua lity Learning

“We feel th at Collaborative for Children h as been instrumenta l in

provid ing qua lity improvements, and we are honored to work with suc h pro fessiona l staff and to be a part o f something so wonderful th at provides qua lity services for families and learning opportunities for teac hers. We are very grateful to be a part o f Collaborative for Children and to be a Texas Rising Star sc hool.”

Rebecca Gotting, DirectorSt. Thomas Aquinas Ear ly Childhood Center

“The continuing tra ining provided by Collaborative for Children h as inspired me to continue to learn and work

with c hildren. I h ave made my dreams become rea lity by continuing my education and striving to reac h the highest potentia l o f pro fessiona lism. I can truly say th at Collaborative h as c h anged my life because I h ave been given a mirac le.”

Leticia Hernandez, Teac herLil’ Champs Qua lity Learning

“I am very grateful for the sc holarship

opportunity th at Collaborative for

Children h as given me. It h as opened

my eyes to a whole new wor ld and brings me so muc h

joy to h ave been able to accomplish this goa l in

my life.”

Erika Sa lazar, Teac herLil’ Champs Qua lity Learning

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In June, Yao Ming teamed up with Collaborative for Children to sponsor and dedicate a nature-based playground for the Chinese Community Center.

Focus on CommunitiesAt Collaborative for Children, we know it truly does

important it is for our community to be well-informed about the importance of the early years in a child’s life and the decisions we can make as a community to get our children off to the best start possible for future success.

To increase our children’s chances of success, we educate key decision-makers and the community at large by:

and community leaders understand the connection between quality early experiences and a child’s chances for lifelong success.

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Services at a GlanceCOMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONWe reached 12,162 families through 52 outreach events and fairs.

PUBLIC POLICYTo increase standards on behalf of quality early childhood education, we contacted and educated 136 key local, state and federal

prior to the 82nd Legislative Session. Efforts were focused on Senate Bills 260, 265, 264, 400 and 76.

VOLUNTEER SERVICESCommunity volunteers along with volunteers

Oceaneering and Spectra Energy recorded 1,816 hours of service working on Collaborative for Children projects.

Volunteers spend their day building a nature-based playground at Sharp Early Childhood Development Center in September.

Families help celebrate early learning at Passports to Bright

Futures, a Collaborative for Children signature event held at the

Houston Zoo in April.

Volunteers from Spectra Energy rebuild a

playground at Walker’s Day Care Center

in October.

Children proudly display Collaborative for Children giveaways at the Houston Children’s Festival in April.

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Focus on NeighborhoodsIn spite of the many opportunities Houston has to offer its residents, numerous urban neighborhoods facing tremendous challenges are scattered throughout the city. Despite their proximity to Houston’s teeming healthcare and energy sectors, citizens from such neighborhoods all too often remain isolated by invisible barriers of low-performing schools and a seemingly irreversible cycle of poverty.

To address this challenge, Collaborative for Children teamed up with 13 partners to design College Bound from Birth, which works with families and teachers to reclaim the future for some of Houston’s children facing the greatest challenges.

Underway in the Sunnyside and South Park neighborhoods in south Houston, College Bound is designed to partner with low-income children and families when children are very young to 1) promote educational achievement, beginning at birth, 2) build parent knowledge, 3) expand access to healthcare, and 4) engage community leadership. College Bound’s 2010 accomplishments included impacting a total of 515

families, 90 teachers and 1,480 children through the program’s various components (unduplicated numbers).

Services at a GlanceIMPROVING EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSThrough intensive training and leadership development, scholarships, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, and classroom resources and equipment, we strengthened learning environments for 943 young children by working with 90 educators from a total of 19 child care programs and registered family homes.

BUILDING PARENT KNOWLEDGEIn 2010, we reached 396 parents through parenting education groups, 70 families through our Parents as Teachers home visitation program, and 98 families through counseling services provided by Family Services of Greater Houston.

FACILITATING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARECollege Bound partners assist families with health insurance registration and renewal, explain the health care plans/systems, identify health care services and provide regular educational opportunities on health and wellness. In 2010, 34 families were connected with health care services.

Young girls participate in College Bound from Birth,

a program that serves the Sunnyside and South Park

areas by improving child care programs, building parent

knowledge and reducing barriers to health care.

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Rating Scales

Inadequate Minimal Good+

Inadequate Minimal Good+

%1009080706050403020100

%1009080706050403020100

The graphs below demonstrate the percentage of early childhood classrooms that fall into various

categories of quality after participating in College Bound from Birth. Infant/toddler classrooms were the

23%

77%

43%57%

Inadequate Minimal Good+

Inadequate Minimal Good+

%100

908070605040302010

0

%100

908070605040302010

0

Infant Toddler Environments (17 Classrooms Evaluated)

Early Childhood Environments (8 Classrooms Evaluated)

46%31%

23%

57%

43%

Baseline After 2 Years

Baseline After 1 Year

“I have learned that there is no obstacle I can’t overcome with a little imagination. I have far more activities, and language development is up 100%! Thank you for this experience.”

- Starr, teacher

“I think that a lot more people need more opportunities like this. This opportunity made me become a better person as a teacher, educator and a professional.”

- Leslie, teacher

Score of 1-2.99

poor materials

health/safety issues

interaction between teacher/children

Score of 3-4.99

place for health/safety

interactions between teacher/children

Score of 5-7

Good to ExcellentMinimalInadequate

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

0%

0%0%

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Champions for Children

$1,000,000 and aboveHogg Foundation for Mental Health*Houston Endowment Inc.*Workforce Solutions

$500,000-$999,999The Brown Foundation, Inc.*United Way of Greater Houston

$100,000-$499,999U.T. Health Science Center at Houston

$50,000-$99,999The Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation*

The Powell Foundation*Rockwell Fund, Inc.

$25,000-$49,999

Bank of AmericaH-E-BKBRWells Fargo

$15,000-$24,999Montgomery County United Way*

$10,000-$14,999Datacert, Inc.The Frees FoundationMarathon Oil CompanyRobert R. and Kay M. Onstead FoundationA.F. Retzloff Memorial Fund

$5,000-$9,999Ms. Dorothy M. AblesRuth and Ted Bauer Family FoundationMr. and Mrs. Lee BeckelmanThe Brodsky FoundationCollaborative for Children StaffExxonMobil Corporation

Greater Houston TransportationKaplan Early Learning CompanyLocal Initiatives Support CorporationMACEIL Family FoundationMithoff Family FoundationMr. and Mrs. Victor SamuelsSpectra Energy Corporation

Funding Partners

Executive CommitteeMs. Janice E. CharacterBoard ChairExxonMobil Corporation

Mr. Juan TorresBoard Vice ChairMFR, PC

Ms. Julie R. HempelChair of Fund DevelopmentCommunity Volunteer

Ms. Neena NewberryChair of Human Resources

& Consulting, LLC

Ms. Pamela K. OnsteadChair of Strategic PlanningCommunity Volunteer

Ms. Stephanie RuddChair of FinanceCBC Bancorp, LLC

Board of DirectorsMs. Dorothy M. AblesSpectra Energy

Dr. Robert AustinTexas Children’s Pediatric Associates, Cullen

Mr. Dan F. Boyles, Jr.Vice Chair of Strategic Planning

Mr. Philip D. FraissinetThompson & Horton, LLP

Mr. Shawn A.J. Gross

Mr. Harlan HooksH-E-B Houston Division

Mr. Rick JaramilloBank of America

Mr. Stephen M. KaufmanClark Consulting

Ms. Amy Markwort

Program – Rice University

Ms. Virginia L. MithoffMithoff Family Charitable Foundation

Mr. Rodney E. NathanAllen Austin Executive Search Consultants

Dr. Barbara G. SamuelsUniversity of Houston Clear Lake

Ms. Paige Carlisle StewartSpring Branch ISD

Committee MembersMs. Amy Taylor EllishrQ, Inc.

Mr. Michael EllisTowers Watson

Ms. Linda JonesCommunity Volunteer

Mr. David Lopez

Mr. Jesse LozanoShell Oil Products

Ms. Leah NashSpectra Energy

Ms. Shareen NashEOG Resources

Ms. Vanessa SchulteSpectra Energy

Ms. Cindy SeffairContinental Airlines

Mrs. Patricia Snyder

Ms. Jocelyn Wright, SPHR

Murphy, LLP

Partners CouncilMr. Juan TorresMFR, PC

Ms. Kim Watts AndersonReach Out and Read Texas

Ms. Anna M. BabinUnited Way of Greater Houston

Ms. Pam J. BrasseuxThe Brown Foundation, Inc.

Volunteers and PartnersMr. Troy BushSt. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities

Ms. Laurie BrickerMunicipal Securities Group

Ms. Julia “Jan” Carroll

Houston, Inc.

Ms. Suzanne R. ChauvinStrong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard, LLP

Ms. Ann Beall CriderHouston PBS/KUHT

Dr. S. Brooke DurbinUniversity of Houston

Ms. Bennie GreenRockwell Fund, Inc.

Ms. Candy Kasserman Howard

Ms. Janelle JamesYoung Learners School

Dr. Kathryn JenkinsUniversity of Houston – Downtown

Ms. Dianne JohnsonPast HISD Board Trustee

Ms. Tammie J. KahnThe Children’s Museum of Houston

Dr. Patrick LeungUniversity of Houston

Ms. Linda LykosYMCA of Greater Houston

Ms. Sherea A. McKenzie

for Children

Ms. Judith MillerYoung Learners School

Ms. Nancy PittmanThe Brown Foundation, Inc.

Ms. Caroline J. SabinThe Powell Foundation

Dr. John SawyerHarris County Department of Education

Dr. Peggy B. SmithBaylor College of Medicine – Teen ClinicBen Taub Hospital

Dr. Jeffrey R. StarkeBaylor College of Medicine

Ms. Ann B. StilesProject GRAD Houston

Ms. Sue ThorntonLone Star College –

Ms. Kay TittleTexas Children’s Pediatric Associates

$2,500-$4,999BMC Software, Inc.

EOG ResourcesMr. and Mrs. Milt HempelHouston Community CollegeMr. and Mrs. Stephen KaufmanMr. and Mrs. Larry KellnerLakeshore Learning MaterialsMFR, PCMr. and Mrs. William PierpontMs. Regina RogersMs. Stephanie RuddTexas Children’s HospitalThompson & Horton, LLPTowers WatsonYMCA of Greater Houston

Ms. Carol S. Shattuck Mr. P.N. Calelly, CPA Mr. Sul Ross President and CEO Vice President of Administration and CFO Vice President of Programs and Collaboration Development

Ms. Andrea Francis Ms. Leslie Gerber Ms. Grace Hill Ms. Gail McClung Ms. Sharon SpillmanAVP of Family Engagement AVP of Community Engagement AVP of Fund Development AVP of Human Resources AVP of Provider Engagement and Public Relations and Administration

Senior Staff Members

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We also wish to thank our many valued supporters who gave up to $1,000 to support the work of Collaborative for Children. | *Represents Multi-Year Funding

Collaborative for Children dedicated to building a strong educational foundation for young children to succeed

in school and life. We achieve our mission by working with families, educators and

environments and driving community awareness and action, we ensure that our youngest

citizens receive the foundation they need today for a brighter tomorrow.