Dr. McGuiness, a network doctor and physician in Washington state, recently attended a CCR&R advisory board meeting and had the following comments to share with Docs For Tots network doctors:

"I am a recent member of the organization of Docs for Tots. After 23 years in private practice, I was invited to be on an advisory board that evaluates grants for the Foundation for Early Learning here in Clark County. I found myself in awe of the services my community already provides for families and children, as well as the hope for improving delivery of services to these families. Many counties are experiencing rapid growth, and the statistics indicate there is an ever increasing gap between those children that have a true chance of succeeding at school and those that do not. When my own children graduated from high school, I was made aware that in a "good" high school setting, in a public school that had an International Baccalaureate program, the graduation rate was somewhere in the high 60's to low 70's.This is truly appalling. As pediatricians, we must ask ourselves, how we can begin to have a greater influence, and provide our families with the kind of tools they need to survive, and thrive in today's complex world.  We can't do that alone, but I have found there are a myriad of programs available that are specifically geared to do this. In Clark County, we currently have five such programs that Support for Early Learning and Families is funding. These programs range from educating child care providers in early learning, to help them enhance learning in the child care setting, to providing school based early learning centers, where mothers of preschoolers can come and learn about growth and play in early childhood. We currently have a consortium consisting of our school districts, the public health department, Clark College, and Washington State University (which acts as a consultant and participate in training participants in early learning) as well as the local mental health agencies. They provide these very needed services in our local communities. All of these agencies are participating in several programs we have for early childhood development.

The focus on early learning gives families support and tools early on, so that parents feel successful in navigating through our complex culture and even some of the first barriers of pre-school. More that anything, each parent wants his/her child to succeed. Using the community resources we have available, I believe we can accomplish this goal, and that each parent can begin to feel comfortable to have their child truly ready for school. It will take mindfulness and focus for each of us, as we are often the ones who direct and help families to these services. I see my current focus as raising the awareness of the medical community to the various programs we already have in our community to support early childhood learning. Enhancing well child growth and development is clearly our path for the future.”