GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — On Tuesday, Kent County residents will see a millage proposal on their ballot focused on our youngest residents.
The people behind the Ready by Five Early Childhood Proposal say what happens before kids are even old enough to go to school can make all the difference in their lives.
Studies show most of the brain develops before the age of three.
"There are huge gaps in services for 2- and 3-year-olds," said Annemarie Valdez, CEO and President of First Steps Kent.
Valdez knows how important those first years are and how it affects families and the community when a child falls behind.
"A healthy child is a well-prepared child. If we are able to get services and developmental screenings for children to catch delays, it will save them so much trial and tribulation," said Valdez.
The Ready by Five Early Childhood Proposal would provide more funding for proactive measures like vision, hearing, speech and autism screenings, allowing childhood development issues to be caught early.