Irmo Police Officers to be Equipped with Informational kits for Young Children
In a novel initiative designed to support the younger members of the community, Irmo police officers will now carry informational materials and items intended for children. This endeavor is the result of a partnership between the police and the Lexington-Richland District 5 program, Ready By Five.
Ready By Five’s Contribution
Ready By Five has equipped officers with bags filled with a stuffed teddy bear, a book, and a postcard containing links to resources that families within the community can avail of. The goal of the program is to equip parents with the necessary tools to become their child’s first and most important teacher.
Aims of the Initiative
According to the school district’s website, the initiative has set several goals:
- Provide parents with developmental information about their preschool kids to help them plan for upcoming stages of development
- Encourage parents to engage fully in their child’s education from birth and throughout their school years
- Share age-appropriate activities with families for promoting development, family fun, and learning
- Share information about effective, research-based parenting
- Partner with schools in the district to help children and their families transition to public school
- Partner with community agencies to provide resources necessary for raising healthy, school-ready children
- Assess children for developmental milestones including intellectual, language, social-emotional and motor skills
- Provide vision, hearing and dental screenings
- Ensure children’s immunizations are up-to-date
Rolled Out to the Officers
All officers in Irmo Police Department have been briefed about the program and how it functions. Lt Andrea Grinstead of the Special Operations Division stated that the department is presently distributing the bags to each officer. Further, she added that the district is very supportive, expressing willingness to provide more bags as the need arises.
The resources included in the bags are sourced through the district’s partnership with South Carolina First Steps, a non-profit organization that focuses on school readiness.
Community Engagement and Early Child Development
“Our aim is to foster more community engagement, encourage children’s excitement about reading and equip parents and caregivers with the necessary tools for supporting their children’s development,” said Lt. Grinstead. The department credits Serg. Brett Mielke of the community services division for bringing the Ready By Five program to the department following a related workshop he attended.
In conclusion, Lt. Grinstead stated, “We are thrilled to be a part of this significant program aimed at preparing children for school even before their first day. This initiative also provides parents and caregivers with support and resources that can bolster their family, enhance their confidence, improve their knowledge and skills and promote the optimum development of their children.”
