Connections has evolved from the collaborative effort of several key agencies providing services for children. These include LEARN, Child & Family Agency, TVCCA, Head Start, and various childcare and preschool centers including the Connecticut College Children's Center, Mitchell College Children's Learning Center, U.S. Coast Guard Academy Child Development Center and the New London Public School Preschool Program.

The New London School Readiness Council supports Connections by requiring all programs which receive state school readiness funding to attend these meetings. This group came together to create a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten. The group consists of kindergarten teachers from five New London elementary schools, staff from community preschool programs, preschool coordinators of the New London schools, CFI and Head Start. It meets once a month to hear a speaker or participate in a training course on topics related to preschool and childcare, discuss what goes on in the various centers, and share ideas on how to facilitate solutions for concerns which may arise.

Connections has three main goals. First, it aims to improve transition into kindergarten by getting more children registered early. With a smoother registration process, families have a positive first experience with school. Second, the group educates parents about readiness skills and "life in kindergarten" by teaching them how to promote school readiness at home. Third, it helps parents participate in early screening and intervention to ensure a smooth transition to public school.

Desired outcomes were increasing the percentage of families connected to kindergarten before the first day, family-friendly access to kindergarten and the schools, and easing transitions for young children.

At its inception, team building was a primary concern. Strategies used to promote team building in the group included:

	joint planning meeting to identify activities and designate tasks and responsibilities.
	involving community agencies in the registration outreach to parents.
	joint development of informational, motivational, and curriculum materials.
	bringing new resources from within and outside the community to achieve the goals.

Out of the Connections sessions came a comprehensive transition process to take families from preschool to kindergarten. This process includes uniform kindergarten registration packets for parents in their native language and a comprehensive advertisement of the dates and times of the registrations. Evening registration was instituted for the convenience of working parents. Substitutes were hired to aid school nurses and secretaries in devoting individual time to parents. School nurses also helped in scheduling physical examinations for families at the local Community Health Center. By the end of the first year, preregistration of children eligible for kindergarten increased from 70% to 93%.

Connections began with a grant from Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Children First Initiative also provided financial as well as technical assistance for childcare when parents were involved in activities, for food and refreshments at meetings and activities, for materials used in assessments and kits, and for a portion of staff salaries. Additional funds were made available from the School Readiness Quality Enhancement grant. The various centers making up the group provided in-kind assistance.

Registration packets were distributed to preschool staff and community agencies. Door-to-door outreach was done in low turnout areas. Flyers and posters were sent to religious organizations, stores, community agencies, and neighborhood associations. An announcement of dates and requirements for registration was made in the local newspaper. Schools and community healthcare providers hosted special "clinics" and made physical examinations more available. A registration "team" was at each school. An evening open house/registration was held at each school, and summer registration was held at the New London Public Schools Central Office.

To encourage school readiness, every child registering received a copy of Franklin Goes to School. Kindergarten teachers visited preschool programs to meet parents, and preschool staff visited kindergarten classrooms. Children and their parents were encouraged to write "Dear Kindergarten Teacher" letters. A cable TV program showed what kindergarten is like and how parents can help children prepare for school. Children made individual visits to kindergarten class before school started and practiced riding school buses. Booklets were given to parents for home learning activities, and books and stuffed animals were used to promote classroom rules. Kindergarten teachers also made home visits during the first weeks of school.

To encourage bonding to school, "veteran" parents were recruited to welcome new kindergarten parents. The schools hosted a Family Night Out with social and educational activities for parents, children and staff. The school system also considered needs such as full-day kindergarten programs or wrap-around childcare transportation. The Connections group also published kindergarten, childcare and preschool "directories."

Connections is now part of a school system that works, one that assures the smooth transition of children who are ready to learn from preschool into kindergarten.

Challenges include data collection for documenting outcomes, involving the City Council, funding, involving parents in planning and decision-making, and establishing and maintaining a system of resources and referral.

In the New London community, a very tangible result is the cooperative relationship established between the various agencies, childcare and preschool providers and the public school system. Other accomplishments include: the adoption of a tool for screening all children before entrance into kindergarten; creation of a lending library of books and videotapes available to childcare, preschool centers, and parents; a motor skills kit for use by the various centers; and creation of a science kit and training for its use.

Additionally, the program developed a standardized screening tool for all New London public elementary schools for gathering baseline data, curriculum planning, early connections with families, and information collecting. For children unable to fit into childcare centers due to behavioral difficulties, the program also established a Helping Hands professional group to handle assessment and appropriate referral services.