Assignment: Presenting, evaluating, and reflecting on Your Capstone Project experience To complete this Assignment: Use the Capstone Project PowerPoint Presentation Template Download Capstone Project
MS in Early Childhood Studies
Capstone Project Proposal
Project Purpose
Area of Focus: Promoting the Well-Being of Children and Families
Community Issue or Problem:
Food insecurity among households with young children in Laurel, MS, whose children are impacted by nutrition, growth, school readiness, and emotional health.
Capstone Project Title:
Nourishing Futures: Supporting Food Security and Family Well-Being in Laurel
Summary of what you intend to do to assist in addressing this issue or problem:
That would have a coordinated resource guide - working with local organizations such as The Good Samaritan Center, WIC, and Laurel’s Head Start Program, and monthly healthy snack pack distribution for families with small children. I'll also develop outreach materials to promote nutrition and health services to families and to reduce stigma and barriers to access.
Project Goals (at least three):
Reach over 50 families with young children per month with Healthy food in 6 months.
Increase family utilization of community nutrition and health services through outreach and education.
Foster collaboration between community agencies/organizations to develop an enduring safety net for food insecure families.
Who you anticipate will benefit from this project:
Young children and families of Laurel are facing food uncertainty, local organizations providing family support, and early childhood programs.
Who you will collaborate with to make this project a reality:
The Good Samaritan Center, WIC program, Laurel Head Start, Jones County Health Department, area churches and nonprofit organizations.
Project Rationale
How the project aligns with the area of focus you chose:
This project is consistent with this focus by targeting child and family well-being directly. Children benefit from better health, more positive development, lower family stress, and more opportunities to participate in learning and playful activity. Finally, by promoting teamwork and respectful outreach, the project also preserves the dignity and uniqueness of each family and guarantees that interventions are culturally sensitive and empowering.
Project Outline
Steps necessary to meet your goals:
Hold meetings with the major community partners to assign roles and resources.
Produce and mobilize a guide to resources that provide food, health and family services.
Coordinate monthly healthy snack pack distributions via partners including Head Start centers.
Develop and distribute culturally sensitive educational materials to families publicizing what to eat and where services can be accessed.
Gather families′ and partners' input to fine-tune the project.
How these steps align with achieving your goals and making a positive impact for young children and families in your community:
Each level contributes to improved access to healthy foods, increased family knowledge and involvement and deeper community partnerships. This is a way to ensure that the project makes sense, and it makes sense because we can manage it and we can ensure it's feasible and it makes sense because we know it's meaningful for families and for stakeholders.
Who you will collaborate with and who you will reach out to for feedback regarding your efforts to meet your Capstone Project goals:
I will work very closely with The Good Samaritan Center, WIC staff, Laurel Head Start teachers, and Jones County Health Department employees. I will also request input from participating families and community organizers to make sure the project is a responsive intervention that honors the dignity of families.
