Early Childhood: Community Partners

Community Partner Highlights

Our partners are always doing great work to support early learning for children and families. Each quarter, we’d like to shine a light on a specific community partner who contributes to childhood wellbeing and learning.

This Quarter's Featured Partner: Virginia Literacy Partnerships

To support reading success for all children, VPM is partnering with Virginia Literacy Partnerships (VLP) on the Reading Doesn’t Just Happen messaging campaign

Most people understand that becoming a reader is not just critical to a child's academic success, but success in life. What isn't common knowledge is that reading doesn't just happen automatically in school; the foundations for reading must be taught.

VLP, housed in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia, partners with educational and community leaders across the Commonwealth to improve literacy for all students. Their team is dedicated to the translation of reading science to evidence-based literacy instruction in community and classroom settings. They do this work by engaging with policy makers, state-level education leaders, administrators, teachers, and families.

Learn more about the Reading Doesn’t Just Happen messaging campaign.

More Featured Partners

Elkton Family Pharmacy and Rockingham County Public Schools

Thank you to Elkton Family Pharmacy and Rockingham County Public Schools for your partnership to establish the VPM Learning Wall and The Little Free Library. This is a wonderful collaboration to make educational resources and books available for families in the community.

The Elkton Family Pharmacy, an independent family-operated pharmacy, has been serving Elkton, Shenandoah, Eastern Rockingham County, and Page County since 2012. The pharmacists have 75 years of experience, and the friendly staff treat you like family. Their mission is to provide the community with the best healthcare and to be a part of your community! 

While you are at the pharmacy, please visit the VPM Learning Wall and The Little Free Library for early learning information and resources. Help yourself to a children’s book or bring a book to share with your neighbors.

Augusta Health Center

“At August Health, contributing to a healthy community is at the heart of everything we do.”

Thank you to Augusta Health Center, for participating in The VPM Basics training for your employees. We are thrilled that you are able to share The Basics messaging and kits with your families through your mobile health unit.

Wildrock

Thank you to Wildrock for partnering with VPM to create permanent signage for The Basics at the preschool playground area and bog garden at Booker T. Washington Park and for your dedication to bringing the therapeutic benefits of nature play to children and families throughout our community.

Read more about our work with Wildrock

Birth In Color

Thank you to Birth In Color for participating in The VPM Basics training for families. Thank you for supporting maternal health, dismantling health barriers for Black women and women of color and supporting families with our earliest learners. (Photo: Nicole Totten)

Meeting Families Where They Are

In partnership with Smart Beginnings Greater Harrisonburg, our team shared The Basics Principles with employees of Cargill, a poultry processing plant in the Harrisonburg region, to encourage child development through everyday activities at home.

In response to community concerns about pandemic learning loss, VPM partnered with Richmond Public Schools and The Market at 25th in Richmond’s East End to simplify preschool enrollment for families in the community with a summer enrollment event on site at the supermarket.