Recent HIPPY graduation celebrates school readiness

Families involved with Safe Children Coalition’s HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program recently celebrated their children’s graduation from the program. In the coming school year, 42 recent HIPPY alumni will be headed to kindergarten, with their school readiness and future opportunities bolstered thanks to the award-winning early education program.

The graduation was emceed by the “Mistress of Ceremony,” longtime SCC educational outreach services director/HIPPY program manager Jone Williams. Barbara Aferiat and Carol Papish of the National Council of Jewish Women – the organization that helped to found the local HIPPY program several decades ago – greeted the attendees. HIPPY alumnus Rinaldi White, who is a co-founder and management consultant for Indelible Solutions, talked about how the program advanced his life and career.

After the processional, HIPPY kids led the Pledge of Allegiance, Karen Marmol offered a parent testimonial, former HIPPY participant/current HIPPY father Eric Pace spoke via a video testimonial, and Lisa Mitchell a former HIPPY Parent and staff member/home visitor, spoke in support of the program’s effectiveness.

In attendance were longtime HIPPY supporters Susan Wood and Tom Faessler from the Wilson Wood Foundation.

HIPPY is a home-based, family-focused program that helps parents provide educational enrichment for their preschool-aged child(ren). The program, which is designed to remove barriers to participation in education, supports parents who may not feel sufficiently confident to prepare their children for school. HIPPY's primary goal is to ensure children are kindergarten-ready, offering the greatest possibility that they will succeed in school and, ultimately, in life.

Since 1992, HIPPY Sarasota has served families with the greatest economic, social, and educational challenges. Since preschool may not be an option for every child, this program works to prepare youngsters ages 2-5 for success – starting with the first day of kindergarten. HIPPY is offered free of charge to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged and at-risk youth and families in our community.

This past school year, 125 children were served through the HIPPY program.

• The odds of passing the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener were almost two times greater for children who participated in the HIPPY program than a matched comparison group; and
• The odds of being promoted to first grade were five times greater (Payne et al, 2020).

Removing barriers and providing support for deserving families align with Safe Children Coalition’s mission of protecting children, strengthening families, and building community.

“The HIPPY program has been instrumental in helping new generations in our community to achieve success in school and life,” said SCC President and CEO Brena Slater. “We have seen multiple generations of families participate in the program since its launch in Sarasota in 1992. The annual HIPPY graduation is one of our most-anticipated – and certainly most adorable – events of the year!”

For more about SCC’s HIPPY program, visit sccfl.org/hippy.

About Safe Children Coalition
Safe Children Coalition, Inc. (SCC) serves as the lead agency for community-based care for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. SCC is a collaboration between local community agencies who provide services to children and families in need. SCC is committed to protecting children, strengthening families, and building community. The core functions provided by SCC include child welfare case management, foster care, adoption, independent living, prevention, diversion, quality management, and support services. Visit sccfl.org or call 941-371-4799.