Preparing Young Children For Life - United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County
Preparing Young Children For Life

The Challenges We Face

Poverty, lack of access to prenatal care, quality child care, domestic violence and substance abuse impairs our families’ abilities to nurture, protect and prepare their children for school and life.

  • 3,909

    children 0-8 in Bexar County were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect in 2021
  • 62 %

    of child care slots in Bexar County are in facilities that were not licensed with national accreditation or Texas Rising Star certification in 2023
  • 61 %

    (2 out of 3) children in kindergarten were assessed as not on track in at least one area of child development

Our Work in Action

Our Ready Children Impact Council ensures all children grow up in safe, stable and nurturing environments, are healthy in mind, body and spirit and are curious learners progressing towards their full potential.

REDUCING CHILD ABUSE

Growing up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment has long-term profound effects on a child’s well-being and development. We’re working to provide access to respite care services, parent and caregiver knowledge, and prevention and intervention information to make all the difference in our children’s lives.

ACCESSING PRENATAL CARE

All children deserve to enter the world healthy in mind, body and spirit. We’re helping mothers access prenatal care, transportation, insurance enrollment, mental health and other supports for basic needs.

INCREASING QUALITY CHILD CARE

All children are curious learners and increasing the availability and quality of early childhood education gets them on the right path right from the start. We’re working to increase the number of quality child care enrollment opportunities for children ages 0 to 5, support child care centers as they progress toward accreditation and provide professional development for education directors and teachers.

ENSURING KINDER READINESS

Performance in kindergarten informs much of their future performance in elementary school and beyond. United Way’s ReadyKidSA Coalition serves children prenatal to 8 years old and is a blueprint for helping families prepare their children for Kindergarten and life. “Kinder Camps” help pre-Kinder children develop confidence when taking the first steps toward reading, writing, developing social-emotional skills, being mindful of themselves and others and making new friends.

Our Ready Children Impact Partners

  • Autism Community Network
  • AVANCE – San Antonio
  • Bexar County Health Collaborative
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas
  • Blessed Sacrament Academy
  • Brighton Center
  • ChildSafe
  • Endeavors
  • Family Service Association of San Antonio
  • Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
  • Good Samaritan Community Services
  • Healy-Murphy Center
  • Madonna Neighborhood Center
  • Respite Care of San Antonio
  • Roy Maas Youth Alternatives
  • St. Paul Lutheran Child Development Center
  • St. Peter - St. Joseph Children’s Home
  • YMCA of Greater San Antonio
  • YWCA San Antonio

Our Impact

  • 526

    children ages 0-8 are at a lower risk to experience child abuse as a result of receiving appropriate support
  • 2,193

    children ages 0 - 5 are receiving appropriate services for identified social and emotional needs
  • 966

    child care slots are improved in quality through national accreditation or Texas Rising Star certification
  • 663

    children ages 0-5 are meeting age-appropriate developmental milestones