BankNewport Vice President and Newport Branch Manager, Jennifer Pratt joined Baby Steps President, Charles Shoemaker, MD for a recent Baby Steps session for children and parents held at the Florence Gray Center in Newport.  BankNewport extended a $5,000 grant to Baby Steps to expand its community outreach and program evaluation.

Baby Steps was started in the spring of 2009 by volunteer representatives from the local medical profession, Newport public school system and local social service agencies in an attempt to increase the verbal and non-cognitive skills of children.  A key component of the program is parent involvement, encouraging them to understand and embrace their critical role as teachers in the Pre-K years and throughout their child’s education. 

The Baby Steps initiative mirrors that of the “Baby College” program offered at the Harlem Children Zone in New York, where young parents are invited to a Saturday session to interact with their children on educational and fun activities to improve the child’s literacy and social skills.  It also introduces parents to important methods of behavioral modification so their child will be attentive when ultimately entering formal schooling.

Baby Steps of Newport is a similar program, utilizing generally volunteer community resources – educators, members of the medical profession, social workers and other volunteers – to implement a comprehensive integrated program.  Newport sessions for parents and children are held on the second Saturday of every month for two hours at the Florence Gray Center.  Valuable resource information is shared with parents on topics related to behavioral issues, speech and language, and safety in the home.  Interactive breakout sessions for parents and children include reading and singing, creative crafts and physical activities.

Baby Steps is committed to raising the literacy and social skills of children, ages zero to three, and to foster parental involvement through interactive programs between parents and children so that the children will eventually succeed in the K-12 regular school program and ultimately attend and graduate from college.  For more information on Baby Steps, contact Dr. Shoemakerat 401-846-3388.