(Click on headers to view program details)

The following section provides background on the environment in each city that participated in the Children First Initiative. Demographics, such as total population, ethnic breakdowns, age breakdowns, the economic climate, median household income, percent of children receiving free or reduced-price lunch, percent of homes where English is spoken as a second language, and percent of children who have had preschool experience, are provided to establish the need for particular projects. Graphs, interspersed throughout the overviews, portray the demographic statistics for the group. The statistics were taken from the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development website at www.state.ct.us/ecd/research.

The overviews also identify the key players who were involved in organizing and implementing CFI projects in each town or city. The political climate of each town is described as background on municipal support to the CFI. This section details how each local Children First Initiative group was founded and its role in the city. Collaborations within the city are noted, and successes and challenges are identified.